The Chronicles of Avantia First Hero

           Title: The Chronicles of Avantia First Hero

   Author: Adam Blade

   Pages: 155

   Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

   Age Recommendation: 5th grade or lower

   On the back: Firepos had been a patient trainer. Tanner wasn't sure what he was being trained for, and when he tried to ask, his Beast would close her eyes and wait for the questions to cease. For a long while he hadn't been sure if Firepos understood him, until he realized that she could read his thoughts.
      He learned how to hold on to the Beasts back during her steepest dives, how to live on a mountainside without dying of exposure, and where to hunt in the most barren places. He was no longer the skinny seven-year-old who'd watched his father die. He was stronger now, in body and spirit. Firepos had taught him how to survive.

Plot: Tanner enjoyed his life living with is grandmother, Esme, and getting trained by his beast, Firepos, but he knew one day he would be called to action. Then a person named General Gor and his huge army came to his town, Forton. He wanted the Mask of Death that was said to be able to control all the beasts of Avantia. Will Tanner and Firepos be able to stop General Gor? Or will his army take Tanner and his hometown down?

Review: I was recommended this book my Ms. Plisko( my language arts teacher) to see if the book was at a 7th grade level. In my opinion the book was at a 5th grade level or lower, because it sticks with the themes of beasts, soldiers, and warriors, which seem to be below a 7th grade level. None-the-less I felt this was a really good book. I was interested and focused on the book the whole time. I can't say one time during the book that it got dull and not an enjoyable read anymore. I really enjoyed all the characters (my favorites the beasts) and I wanted to see the other beasts that would be in the next stories in the series like Nera and Falkor. One problem I had with the book is I wish there was more of a background story. I wish the author let me know more on how Firepos trained Tanner and how Derthsin started. Overall, this was a very good story, even though I think it was not at our 7th grade level. If another one came out in the series, I would be one of the first one to grab and read it.

                                                                     Casey Lowe