Billy Bobble Makes a Magic Wand
by R.S. Mellette
Elephant's Bookshelf Press
284 pages
For ages 10+
"E = mc2 is no longer the most powerful force in the universe. Your wand is." Twelve-year-old Billy Bobble and his best friend Suzy Quinofski didn't mean to change the universe. Billy, a quantum physics prodigy, just wanted to find a way to help his hoarding, schizophrenic mother – and maybe impress a coven of older girls in high school. Suzy, his intellectual equal, wanted to help her friend and cling to her last remnant of childhood, a belief in magic. Together they made Billy a real, working, magic wand, and opened a door to the Quantum World where thoughts create reality, and all things – good and bad – are possible.
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MY TIDBITS
Quantum physics, DNA and string theory are totally boring? Not when Bill Bobble and his best friend Suzy leave mundane mathematical formulas behind and head right into practical applications that throw the entire universe off balance. Billy manages to make every kid's dream come true, a magical wand that enables the impossible to become reality. Little does he know that he's not only blown all physical laws out of the water, but he's caught the attention of creatures, which were better left in the world of imagination.
This is an adventure story, which races from one sticky situation into the next. The story is masterfully woven between science facts and magical fiction, making the two seemingly very different poles mold into one. The theories behind Billy's magical wand are well-described but never become boring. There's no time for that word. The story is mostly told in dialogue, with only necessary thoughts and scene descriptions thrown in. And the action runs from one section into the other, leaving barely enough time to breathe. But it's never too much either. This is the kind of book which will keep kids glued to the pages just so they can see what happens next.
Billy Bobble isn't only about excitement though. There's a nice amount of science thrown in, which not only will make little physic friend's hearts beat faster, but will help kids realize that physics and biology aren't necessarily as dry as they might seem. Several social issues are also tackled in between gnomes, cops and dimensions. The popular children literature themes of bullying and fitting in are touched upon as well as larger topics such as living with parents with mental issues, sibling love, friendship and acceptance.
Summed up, this is a packed book which will take kids ages 10+ on a fantastical ride, which not only stretches their imaginations but touches upon real-life issues they can sympathize with and understand.
This is an adventure story, which races from one sticky situation into the next. The story is masterfully woven between science facts and magical fiction, making the two seemingly very different poles mold into one. The theories behind Billy's magical wand are well-described but never become boring. There's no time for that word. The story is mostly told in dialogue, with only necessary thoughts and scene descriptions thrown in. And the action runs from one section into the other, leaving barely enough time to breathe. But it's never too much either. This is the kind of book which will keep kids glued to the pages just so they can see what happens next.
Billy Bobble isn't only about excitement though. There's a nice amount of science thrown in, which not only will make little physic friend's hearts beat faster, but will help kids realize that physics and biology aren't necessarily as dry as they might seem. Several social issues are also tackled in between gnomes, cops and dimensions. The popular children literature themes of bullying and fitting in are touched upon as well as larger topics such as living with parents with mental issues, sibling love, friendship and acceptance.
Summed up, this is a packed book which will take kids ages 10+ on a fantastical ride, which not only stretches their imaginations but touches upon real-life issues they can sympathize with and understand.
The Buzz About the Book
"What a great read! I must have been under a magic spell reading it – read it in one day, which I only do if the book is very good. I encourage all readers to pick up this book and spend an afternoon with the quantum-physics-knowing, often-bullied, lovable Billy Bobble and his intellectual equal, best friend Suzy Quinofski." ~ Books4theSoul, Amazon
"My inner geek smiled a lot while reading this book. Theories and ideas I had never heard of flew over my head... but at every mention, I grinned. I LOVE a book that tackles tough subjects, embellishes them and embraces it. These characters aren't afraid of challenges, facing a bunch both personally and scientifically." ~ Kirstin, Amazon
"I think that this is a great book and I think that kids will like it a lot, because I did!" ~ Alec S., Amazon
And here he is. . .
R.S. MELLETTE!!!
Billy Bobble Makes A Magic Wand, is R.S. Mellette’s debut novel from Elephant Bookshelf’s Press. Prior to Billy Bobble, Mellette had Sci-Fi short stories published in the anthologies: The Fall: Tales from the Apocalypse, Spring Fevers and Summer’s Edge. Mellette is an Associate Director of Dances With Films (one of MovieMaker Magazine’s top 25 coolest film festivals in the world). He wrote and directed the multi-festival winner, Jacks or Better. He also wrote the first web-to-television intellectual property, “The Xena Scrolls,” for Universal Studio’s Xena: Warrior Princess. On Blue Crush and Nutty Professor II he served as script coordinator. He’s acted in Looney Tunes: Back In Action, Star Trek: Enterprise, Days of Our Lives, Too Young The Hero, and countless stage productions across the US.
Mellette is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of American and a regional board member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
1 comment:
I've always said that there are good reviews, bad reviews, favorable reviews and unfavorable reviews.
Thank you for such a well-written review. It's just an extra bonus that you also liked the book! :) Your words are very helpful as I'm going into a big re-write of book 2.
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