Cragbridge Hall, Book 1 by Chad Morris

Chad Morris is a writer friend of mine. I met him and his lovely wife Shelly online a couple of years ago, and we've had the opportunity to socialize at a number of writerly meet and greets. 

Well, Chad's got a book coming out this week called Cragbridge Hall, Book 1. It's a delightful middle grade story . . . but he's not going to any book launches.

Why, you wonder? 

Because his nine-year-old daughter had surgery last week to remove a brain tumor. As you can imagine, Chad and Shelly aren't worrying about the release of Chad's book. 

So, with Chad and Shelly so busy with real-life issues, I want to help   spread the word around. I had the opportunity to read Cragbridge Hall when I signed up to be part of a traveling ARC--I was even the first person on the list! 

What can I say about it? I LOVED this book. Here's the review I posted after I read it:

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

Imagine a school in the year 2074 where students don't read history, but watch it happen around them; where running in gym class isn't around a track, but up a virtual mountain; and where learning about animals means becoming one through an avatar.

Welcome to Cragbridge Hall, the most advanced and prestigious school in the world. Twin siblings Abby and Derick Cragbridge are excited as new students to use their famed grandfather's inventions that make Cragbridge Hall so incredible. But when their grandfather and parents go missing, the twins begin following a trail of clues left by their grandfather. They must find out where their family is, learn who they can trust, and discover what secrets are hidden within Cragbridge Hall.

Abby and Derick soon realize they are caught in a race with a fierce adversary to discover their grandfather's greatest secret--a dangerous discovery that could alter both history and reality.

MY TAKE
This is the best middle grade book I've read in a while. I loved it.

This book has a flavor of Percy Jackson in that the storyline is an interesting (and exciting) way to tease the reader with snippets--but of history rather than mythology. And just like the Percy Jackson books, this made me want to find out more about the historical events and people. The thing that I really found charming was the clever way Morris wove historical events through the tale and then let what the characters learned from history be part of handling various things that happen to Abby and Derick. 

Imagine that. Learning from history!

You don't know who you can trust as you move through the story, and I found it easy to sympathize with the kids as they tried to figure out how to proceed.

And all I can say is Carol rocks.

I've already purchased a copy to give to my nine-year-old grandson. I have no doubt his older sister will be sneaking it from him as soon as she can. She's thirteen, and it's just the kind of book she'd enjoy, too.

Goodreads         Amazon

And if you want to help make a little girl smile, do up a picture of yourself with a mustache and post it on FB for Chad to share.