R.K. Mortenson's Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum ~ Reviewed

Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum
by R. K. Mortenson
Publisher: Barbour Publishing (October 2006)
ISBN: 1597893587


Landon Snow is in the middle of a football game with archrival Tangleriver when his vision goes askew. As he grasps the football, players from the opposing team fade away and a cadre of animals-bears, a wolf, a panther-materialize in their place. The football he's holding morphs into an unknown furry creature he throws aside. A bizarre chant peppers the entire unnerving experience. The vision fades as quickly as it comes, except for the referee who now looks like a zebra. And the gorilla standing where his coach should be. For the first time, Landon's adventure begins miles from his grandparents' home, and the library, in Button Up, Minnesota.

But the weirdness that is his latest adventure continues after Landon and his sisters arrive at the BUL. (Button Up Library). Bridget, his youngest sister, is along this time. They're at the library during the daylight hours instead of the middle of the night, and everything is wet.

Really, REALLY wet. There's enough water involved to float a boat. Or an ark. Or a pirate ship. Maybe even all three.

But Landon and his sisters have a completely different mission on this trip. They must travel deep into dangerous territory in order to right an earlier wrong. But the inhabitants of the Island of Arcanum will do what they must to stop Landon by whatever means necessary. But with the help of his friends, both old and new, Landon decides this is a task he must undertake. Especially for red-haired Ditty.

This is, by far, the best book yet in the Landon Snow series. Randy's experience in the Navy shines in these pages. His imagination continues to thrive, bringing alive the delightful characters and settings that is Landon Snow. Some teasers are dropped in here and there, hints to what may come later in the series. His opening scenes where the football players are replaced by animals drew me into this book and I didn't put it down until it was finished. Great book for kids of all ages. Highly recommended.

Review by Cheryl Russell
www.unseenworlds.blogspot.com