The Second Release in an Epic Bible Adventure Series for Kids The last thing fourth-grader Kai Wells remembers (before the world as she knew it disappeared) is being surrounded by bullies on her walk home from school. What happens next can’t be explained as Kai finds herself on the run for her life in ancient Egypt! Imagine. . .The Ten Plagues is the second release in an exciting, brand-new epic … exciting, brand-new epic adventure series for kids ages 8 to 12 written by schoolteacher Matt Koceich. The Imagine series brings the Bible to life for today’s kids as they ponder what it would be like to live through a monumental biblical event.
Don’t miss Book 1 in the Imagine Series–Imagine…The Great Flood
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Imagine……….The Ten Plagues Starts off with a brouhaha and then it moves on to an even bigger one from there. It takes you to mysterious adventures – a great big adventure – a great big adventure that I wish I could have seen for myself. Mr. Koceich really knows how to weave a fantastic yarn – a deep yarn. He makes the familiar characters come even more to life. Characters from The Bible woven with fictitious characters from today. The story is so very special and enjoyable – I cannot wait for his next book. His last book was so out of bounds I didn’t know if this book would be able to be as good as the last ones but let me tell you this book was even better. It knows how to weave Biblical stories with everyday life – what a faintastic job. I really hope that I can do Justice to this book. I hope I have the privilege to be able to blog his next book – they are that good. I hope you have the chance to read them as well. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.
if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com – I look forward to seeing you there
If you haven’t read my review of the first book in this series, ‘The Great Flood’, then check it out. Not only do I, obviously, review the book but I also talk about what started me down the path to read this series – Munchkin. As we know, access to Munch right now is about nonexistent. There are no more weekends to split with his Mom to which I can abscond with him for a few hours or even days. Trust me, I miss that. His wit, his sense of humor, even his attitude but most importantly his back rubs (kid is a MASTER!). However, I had an investment with this series and this book is sitting on my NetGalley shelf and will not read and review itself.
I’ll just say it, I didn’t love this book as much as the first one. Kia is being bullied at school by someone she once considered friend. With a bit of violence (for Pete’s sake the other girl punched her!) and Kia finds herself back in ancient Egypt, recognizing Moses and Aaron almost immediately. She experiences the plagues, kind of, finds herself at the hands of an Egyptian bully, stands up to him, finds out about previous visitors, and returns home to some weirdness. You could say it left me with some serious mixed feelings. I didn’t get the hint of spiritual understanding that I left the first book with.
The Biblical elements themselves were really glossed over, more a tell me they are happening than a show me they were happening. There was little to no interaction with how other’s were experiencing them. There was no thoughts or feelings or experiences or anything that gave me depth. That and it was laid out like they happened all told in like a weeks span, which doesn’t begin to feel accurate. The weird booklet that Kia was given in the temple with pictures, dates, and names of other ‘visitors’ was weird too. It felt forced and awkward. I mean we are only in book two of the series but apparently Corey, from the first book, was tracked by this guy all these generations later? Or was back again? Or something because he was in the book. Along with someone who visited in the 70’s (our time? again how was this a thing that was so calmly understood and put in a book?). The last part I had issue with was the setup for future supernatural elements. I know spoiler but I gotta go there a minute. These three people that made it into the booklet are brought together as Kia returns and there’s hints and talk of what is to come while a bird hangs out nearby (it references back to the story). First, it’s a middle grade reading level so some of the glossing over I get but again it did these readers a disservice in faith growth. Second, it’s a middle grade reading level, and in book two we are setting up convoluted (and forced feeling) supernatural elements to come that even to an adult reader don’t make sense. Yes there is action and adventure that will draw in the younger reader but it also seems to lose track of where it all started. This book just left this cranky old woman feeling meh.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
This is the second book in the Imagine series and this time it is a fourth-grade girl who is allowed to time-travel when she returns to the time of Moses, Aaron and their efforts to help the Jewish people escape the brutality of the Egyptian Pharaoh. Kai is an eleven year old who has become the target of a group of bullies and after an extremely violent encounter she finds herself transported to Egypt and back to the era of the Ten Plagues that is found in Exodus 7-12 of the Old Testament Bible. Kai is familiar with this story so she knows what will happen next and she is soon involved in an adventure full of danger and excitement!
The author has chosen the very relevant and timely topic of bullying to write about in The Ten Plagues. I appreciated how he used this Biblical account to show that yes, we may encounter hardships and yes, we may be the target of bullying but we are never truly alone. God was there to help the Israelites escape the brutality of the Egyptians and He will also be here to help us.
I am giving The Ten Plagues five stars because it is perfect for the audience that the author hoped to reach. It is a good length for the 8-12 age group and its 112 pages are filled with mystery, action, adventure and Biblical truths! These young readers are being taught and entertained at the same time and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.
This is a fast paced adventure book for children ages 8-12, but I also found it enjoyable. I will share this with my granddaughter and look forward to discussing it with her. I found it brings the Bible story to life and shows a child that it is real and God is with them during the hard times. It deals with bullying which is very prevalent today and makes it relevant to children. I recommend it as a great series to buy as gifts for your children and grandchildren.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Once again, author Matt Koceich writes a book sure to capture the imagination of any young reader. This book started off action packed and the reader is drawn into the story immediately.
The story is based on the Biblical story of the ten plaques in Exodus, but with a modern twist as Koceich pulls in a fourth-grader who experiences that time in history. This will definitely help your children put themselves into the time frame, also.
Addressing the subject of bullying, the story shows strength of character and faith in God. I recommend it for your young reader, although I think 11 and 12 year olds would be bored with it. This is more for those just into reading chapter books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.