Eleven-year-old Jace Tanner is on borrowed time. He gets into trouble at school, so he’s frequently very close to being expelled. The problem isn’t that he’s a bad kid. The problem is that he can see monsters, and their misbehaviour is constantly getting him into strife with his teachers.
Facing this issue by himself is a lonely business until he is introduced to Alice and Felix – who are Seers like him – by a local museum curator, Mr Madz. It’s good to finally meet people who understand, but as Mr Madz teaches them about the ways of the Monster Realm, they realise things are much worse than they knew, and they find out that our human world is in grave danger.
Working with his new friends and his best friend, Eli, Jace plans and trains in the ways of the Defenders to help keep the people of Earth safe from the evil Monster Realm.
Sam Summers has crafted an intriguing universe in her debut novel and it’s an entertaining read. While highly creative, this book is also a little scary and dark, so I wouldn’t recommend it for the younger end of the 8-12 middle-grade bracket, but tweens with a thirst for excitement and monsters will love it. There are great themes of being unique, friendship and teamwork in this fast-paced small-town fantasy novel.
Reviewed by Amanda Brinkman
Age Guide 8+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sam Summers has had a lifelong dream be an author, to share her passion for creating magical worlds and relatable characters that captivate young readers and inspire them to embrace their own unique abilities. The Lost Defenders is her first children’s book and does just that.
Sam also runs a successful coaching business for mums returning to the corporate workforce to help them avoid burnout. She is mum to two kids, one of whom is a middle-grader who LOVES her MG stories.
(5/5)
I just received my copy today and can’t put it down. I’ll let my daughter read it next i guess haha