Review of Splash Adventures
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
- Dimi1
- Posts: 410
- Joined: 11 Jan 2021, 04:36
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 28
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dimi1.html
- Latest Review: One Woman's Long and Lonely Walk by Gail Hart
Review of Splash Adventures
Splash Adventures by Janice M. Pulsifer is the story of an eighth grader that will soon become a ninth grader who moves to a new neighborhood with his family and tries to fit in. James or Jimmy is an energetic kid that needs to make new friends and achieve his goal of getting a new bike with his own money. His target will lead him to get a part-time job in a nearby art gallery and getting involved in a mystery concerning some artworks and the waterpark that is about to be built and where his father is the construction foreman.
The book has an easy flow that anyone could follow. The wording seems simple and straightforward, and the storyline seems to follow the classic recipe of success consisting of decisive moments, rising action and a climax before concluding. Given these attributes, we are speaking about a pleasant reading for most readers. In addition, I noticed some minor grammar/ spelling errors, so the book seems well edited.
Despite the strengths identified above, I disliked the fact that there is, practically, no insight into characters. Considering that the book addresses teenagers aged 14 or more, one would expect at least its central character, i.e., Jimmy, to be further explored so as for children of the same age to be able to empathize with the character. We only get to know his reactions to incidents, and we fail to see his character as a whole and in relation to his family, friends and boss, which would probably justify his reactions and would lead readers to connect emotionally with him. All other characters involved are not developed at all. In addition, the book seems a bit superficial and doesn’t pass a particular message or value. The author surely gives a bit of mystery and a glimpse of noble values of honesty and consistency, but bits and glimpses, by definition, are never enough. In general, my feeling is that the book is rushed although the story seems interesting. Given that teenage bookworms are used to longer readings with a lot more details and new worlds introduced, I think that the author should probably further process it.
Overall, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars for being a pleasant and straightforward reading and for having minor errors. One star was deducted because its characters and plot seem underdeveloped and because it doesn’t seem to pass any value to the point teenagers will keep it and live with it, which I find critical for children’s books addressing the particular age group.
Since the book speaks about an eighth grader that is going to be a ninth grader, it addresses young teenagers aged 14 or more. It’s an unstressed reading with a decent storyline, so, based solely on these strengths, young teenagers could give it a shot.
******
Splash Adventures
View: on Bookshelves
- Astral Magi
- Posts: 1309
- Joined: 09 Aug 2021, 14:46
- Favorite Book: Name of the Wind
- Currently Reading: Crossroads
- Bookshelf Size: 523
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-astral-magi.html
- Latest Review: Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer
- Deprise Evans
- Posts: 169
- Joined: 20 Jun 2018, 14:16
- Currently Reading: Crazy Love
- Bookshelf Size: 18
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-deprise-evans.html
- Latest Review: The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
- Lauren Hanna
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 310
- Joined: 05 Mar 2021, 23:37
- Currently Reading: The Last to Vanish
- Bookshelf Size: 52
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-lauren-hanna.html
- Latest Review: Mamma & Me by Eloisa B. Lucas
-
- Posts: 155
- Joined: 27 Aug 2021, 06:45
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 13
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nkgchidimma080.html
- Latest Review: How To Be Successful by M. Curtis McCoy
- Reader-247
- Posts: 325
- Joined: 10 May 2020, 08:12
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 21
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-reader-247.html
- Latest Review: Randy the Irresistible by S M Goodier
- NetMassimo
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 6579
- Joined: 24 Jul 2019, 06:37
- Currently Reading: Flinx's Folly
- Bookshelf Size: 419
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-netmassimo.html
- Latest Review: Three Bullets by Charles Alexander
- 2024 Reading Goal: 60
- 2024 Goal Completion: 26%
Massimo
- Honest-reviewer
- Posts: 1562
- Joined: 17 Feb 2020, 10:18
- Currently Reading: The Lost Symbol
- Bookshelf Size: 118
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-honest-reviewer.html
- Latest Review: A Walk Through the Grapes by David Jackson
- Raluca_Mihaila
- Posts: 2849
- Joined: 03 Aug 2020, 14:52
- Favorite Book: The Brothers Karamazov
- Currently Reading: The Master and Margarita
- Bookshelf Size: 175
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-raluca-mihaila.html
- Latest Review: Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess by Dan E. Hendrickson
- Priya_Singh
- Posts: 242
- Joined: 26 Mar 2019, 10:13
- Currently Reading: Adrift
- Bookshelf Size: 46
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-priya-singh.html
- Latest Review: The Magician's Secret by Charles Townsend
-
- Posts: 2370
- Joined: 25 Feb 2021, 13:23
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 482
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-markodim721.html
- Latest Review: The Solution is Political Revolution by Jillion R Rising
- Kaushiki Parihar
- Posts: 666
- Joined: 13 May 2021, 08:34
- Favorite Book:
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 82
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kaushiki-parihar.html
- Latest Review: Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula by R.F. Kristi
- Katie Blackmore
- Posts: 173
- Joined: 15 Apr 2021, 11:00
- Favorite Book: The Glass Castle
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 21
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-katie-blackmore.html
- Latest Review: The Light of Canopus by Frasar
- Astral Magi
- Posts: 1309
- Joined: 09 Aug 2021, 14:46
- Favorite Book: Name of the Wind
- Currently Reading: Crossroads
- Bookshelf Size: 523
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-astral-magi.html
- Latest Review: Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer
- Ellylion
- Posts: 3249
- Joined: 01 Mar 2019, 15:33
- Favorite Book: The Altitude Journals
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 136
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ellylion.html
- Latest Review: The Islands Tell Of It by Patty Fischer