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Spell Robbers

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
A magical crime saga filled with marvelous thrills, high action, and extraordinary adventure, from critically acclaimed author Matthew J. Kirby.

After Ben Warner is recruited to join a "science camp" led by the eccentric quantum physicist Dr. Madeleine Hughes, he quickly realizes it's no regular science camp. Along with his new friend, Peter, Ben discovers the secret, powerful art of Actuation — the ability to change reality by simply imagining it differently.When a mysterious group of men invade Dr. Hughes's laboratory, abducting her and stealing her precious equipment, Ben and Peter are suddenly caught up in a turf war between dangerous actuators desperate for Dr. Hughes's innovative technology. And as Ben and Peter are pulled into a perilous, hidden world full of impossibilities now made possible, will their combined powers be enough to save Dr. Hughes and vanquish their enemies before it's too late?From Edgar Award-winning author Matthew J. Kirby comes a fast-paced, boldly imagined tale of friendship, deadly adventure, and the infinite power of imagination.
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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      November 25, 2013
      When grandmotherly Dr. Hughes’s afterschool science camp turns out to be a training ground for “Actuators,” 12-year old Ben’s life becomes much more interesting. Using quantum mechanics and augmenting equipment, he learns to manipulate his thoughts to create clouds, rain, and lightning. After two groups of rival scientists, the Dread Cloaks and the Quantum League, discover that Dr. Hughes has invented a “portable augmenter,” Ben is enmeshed in a power struggle of cosmic dimensions. Kirby (The Lost Kingdom) infuses this action-packed spy thriller with layers of moral ambiguity. Identified as an actuating prodigy, Ben struggles to decipher how to manage his gifts and which side to use them for, knowing his choice has high stakes. Although tempted to believe one leader’s warning—“Evil people can do great harm with very little power.... We are not perfect, but we are all the world has”—Ben questions the dogma and tactics of all combatants. This first book in the Quantum League series provides satisfying partial closure, while intriguing storylines to be developed will leave readers eager for the next installment. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stephen Fraser, Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency.

    • Kirkus

      November 15, 2013
      When 12-year-old Ben joins an after-school science club, he has no idea that the price of membership will be the loss of everyone he loves. Ben has always been a science nerd, but when his abilities in quantum mechanics prove to be more than just academic, it is only a matter of time before his proficiency makes him a target for some very dangerous people. Ben and his new friend Peter are recruited into the Quantum League, a group of special agents with the ability to bend matter to their will or to "actuate." Actuators can create fire from the air, manipulate another's emotions, or "detach" a child from his or her family, severing all connections and even memories. When a rival group kidnaps Ben's mentor and steals a dangerous device, he agrees to help the League if they will reattach him to his mother. This high-energy spy story is enhanced by the addition of scientific theory (if rather unsteadily grounded) and authentic characters. Ben's integrity, bravery and desire to forgo his special-agent status for his mother differentiate him from other familiar genre heroes. Unfortunately, uneven pacing, loose threads and a meandering plot are ultimately the story's undoing. An open ending promises a sequel. Refreshingly different in some ways but ultimately unsatisfying. (Adventure. 8-12)

      COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • The Horn Book

      July 1, 2014
      Twelve-year-old Ben attends a science camp where he learns the art of Actuation, the ability to bring about an event through thought. He's soon drafted by the Quantum League, "a global agency that monitors quantum activity around the world," to help its effort in a Quantum gang war. This action-packed, plot-twisting story is not just for physics fans.

      (Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Formats

  • Kindle Book
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  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:4.1
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

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