Peter and David Wilson are two adventurous, adolescent brothers, who make a fantastic discovery in the nearby forest. One afternoon in late June, they stumble upon a huge mysterious cavern protected from the elements for centuries. Using dreams and deciphering riddles, they travel through underground passageways to meet the maker of their dreams. Through a series of strange and supernatural … encounters, Peter and David must rely on resourcefulness, perseverance, and love to lead them to an opportunity they could never have imagined and make a decision that will change their lives forever.
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Official Review: The Promise: a perilous journey
Unread post by Mindi » Yesterday, 04:56
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “The Promise: a perilous journey” by Hank Ellis.]
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It is not every book that can portray the true essence of childhood adventure, but Hank Ellis’ The Promise: A Perilous Journey does just that. It is a story that will keep both younger and older readers intrigued even though it appears to be written for a preteen level.
This story is about two brothers, Peter and Dave, who love nature and adventure. They explore a lot in the woods close to their home and discover a hidden cave which leads them to more extraordinary discoveries and adventures. Readers are kept on the edge of their seats while they wonder about the meaning of the boys’ findings.
I would define this book as a type of magical realism. I enjoyed the mix of magical elements and real-life situations that were intertwined throughout the story. There appeared to be a slight coming-of-age theme and various moral life lessons to be learned. It has a weird mix of similarities to Bridge to Terabithia, Chronicles of Narnia and an Amazon video series called Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street. Those stories are all among my favorites which is why I was drawn into this story so much.
One of the aspects of this book that I loved was that it portrayed childhood adventure as it used to be, before cell phones and other technology. There was no indication that the story was set in the past, so it sets a good example of modern-day kids having true childhood experiences without the use of devices. The book also seemed to promote respect for parents and kindness to others. There was also some religious symbolism which is one of the reasons I detected some similarities to works by C.S. Lewis.
This book had very good grammar and appeared to be professionally edited. If there is anything negative to say, I can think of a few times that the brothers’ exploring tended to drag out a bit and get a bit wordy. However, it may have been necessary to lead up to the extent of their discoveries. It definitely is not something that I will take off points for. It’s just a note for those who may read and feel like the storyline is dragging at times. It really does all come together in the end.
I feel like the ending leaves enough questions for a sequel. However, it is also just enough balance of questions and answers for it to be the end, if that is what the author intends. If there is a sequel, I will definitely read it.
I am giving this book 4 out of 4 stars. While I noted a few imperfections, I was very intrigued by Ellis’ writing, and the storyline was very interesting and appealing for all ages. It is a must-read for those with a love for the magic of childhood.