With all the Young Adult reviews coming in I might have to start a Kids section of Fantasy Fan soon! Kevin Gerard (Conor and the Crossworlds) brings us today another review of maybe not a classic fantasy, but definitely a kids fiction book. And a good one at that. Here it is:

Doc Wilde and the Frogs of Doom - Author: Tim Byrd

I became a kid again after reading three pages of this story. When we were young, all of us watched the biggest cartoon show on television - Johnny Quest. Johnny traveled the world with his father, Dr. Benton Quest, a guy who knew everything, could make anything, and never settled for failure.
Dr. Spartacus Wilde makes Dr. Quest look like the kid with the dunce cap in the corner of the classroom. He is the epitome of physical, spiritual, academic, and entrepreneurial perfection. Dr. Wilde travels with two friends who constantly bicker with one another. When called upon, however, Declan mac Coul and Phineas Bartlett stand and fight alongside Dr. Wilde.

He also travels with his son and daughter, Brian and Wren. What kid wouldn?t jump at the chance to learn dozens of fun skills, travel the world in the coolest transport around, and embark on spine-tingling adventures every month of the year?

The frogs of doom, creatures they encounter during their latest escapade, are more than just frogs. Not to give the story away, but they are different types of mutated frogs that are not very friendly to humans. Some are small, some are quite large, and some have fangs like shark teeth. Doc Wilde, his sidekicks, and his kids, travel to Hidalgo to find the senior member of the Wilde clan, Grandpa Wilde. Their journey takes many unpredictable and exciting turns as they venture deeper into the caverns of Hidalgo.

Favorite character: The gremlipoles and the nanites. There are many wonderful characters in this story, but the short interaction between these two small forces shows how resourceful Doc Wilde can be.
What I liked about Doc Wilde and Frogs of Doom: The book is small and will fit well into young readers? hands. It has a colorful, entertaining cover, as well as a large number of interior graphics that will add to their sensory enjoyment. The chapters are short, the story moves along nicely, and heck, who wouldn?t want Doc Wilde for a father?

What I didn?t like about Doc Wilde and Frogs of Doom: At first I had a hard time reading the book. It seemed to be attacking me as I turned the pages. The prose is fine, the sentences flow nicely, but for some reason, the combination of words and graphics seemed to be a little too much.

To overcome this I settled on a strategy I often suggest to those who review my books - I read the rest of the story with the mind of a twelve year old. In no time the book became more enjoyable. The graphics are there for a reason; assuming the psyche of a young reader allowed me the freedom to let everything gel together. The characters took me on a very entertaining journey.

I enjoyed this book. I think young readers will be demanding more books in the Doc Wilde series.


You can contact Kevin on the website of his Conor series: www.ConorAndTheCrossworlds.com.

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