Luminescence

by Braden Bell
Paperback, 320 pages
Expected publication: March 11th 2014by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
ISBN 1462114059

Summary

“He’s alive!” she yelled. “He’s alive!”
As Lexa spoke the words, she knew they were true. She knew with total certainty.
“Dr. Timberi’s alive!”

When Lady Nightwing kidnapped Dr. Timberi, everyone assumed their teacher had been killed. So when Lexa discovers that he isn’t dead, Conner can’t believe his ears.

Determined to rescue their favorite teacher, Conner, Lexa, and Melanie confront their worst fears and use their powers in unexpected ways to defeat Lady Nightshade, the treacherous Darkhand leader. But when the trio makes a terrible choice to save Dr. Timberi, their powers may not be enough to keep everyone alive. A thrilling conclusion to the Middle School Magic series!

Your favorite characters return in this satisfying conclusion of the Middle School Magic series! Filled with plenty of twists, humor, and adventure, Luminescence will keep you guessing until the last page.

Study hall? Definitely. Substitute Teachers? Absolutely. Rescuing people from brutal villains? Bring it on!

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About the Author

During his middle school years, Braden Bell was the least-stable, lowest-achieving student in the history of the world. He shocked every former teacher by graduating from high school and college, and then going on to earn both a Master’s degree as well as a Ph.D. A teacher by day and a parent by night, he is around teenagers 24/7. He teaches music and directs plays at a private school, much like Marion Academy in The Middle School Magic series. Whether he fights evil after hours is something he cannot disclose.

Braden Bell holds degrees in theatre from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. from NYU. A committed educator, he has been directing plays and teaching school now for over twenty years. Braden lives with his family on a quiet, tree-lined lot outside of Nashville, TN, where he teaches theatre and choir at a middle school. The author of The Road Show, The Kindling, and Penumbras.

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BOOK REVIEW

Here are my two cents on this trilogy.

I had to read the first two books in order to catch up to read the third and final installment of this trilogy. At least, I think it's a trilogy. It doesn't look like it's going anywhere after this.

When I first looked at the books, I thought, Oh, my, that's 900 pages of reading! And I have other things in my life to attend to! But, the reading went fast, because the writing is solid, captivating and clever. Keep in mind, I'm in the heads of 3 middle grade students all through the series and as they think a bit more linearly than adults, there was a lot less distraction and gobbledy-gook to muddle through. It was an easy and enjoyable read.

Personally, I think writing Middle-grade is the toughest genre to write to. You have to keep it on their level without being insulting or childish, but not begin so adult that it goes over the young reader's head! It makes me tired just thinking about attempting it!

Mr. Bell's trilogy is a master class in how to write MG Fantasy. Totally awesome! And he ties in their emotional hang ups without making them whiny (except in those moments when it's intentional to the character). Great world building and I will never ride It's a Small World at Disney World in the same way after reading this. And, I wish we could all take up streaming.

You can easily hand this to your grandmother, BFF, teenager or 9 year-old. I gave it to my 9 year-old. Here are her thoughts on this trilogy:

It's a great series, full of excitement, joy, and it'll make you cry. It's a wonderful story. It's one of the most exciting books I've ever read. I'd recommend this book to everyone.