This is a sweet tale of adventure where friends make all the difference.  The author, David Ward, has done a first-rate job writing a story that flies off the pages.  His style of writing is conversational, like a story teller sharing his tale in person.  Starting from the very beginning, the action is absorbing right through the conclusion.  It’s comfortable to read and written with kids in mind yet enjoyable for all ages.  Magic was employed in the sense that a wish was given and then made into reality.  Written from the point of view of a 12-year-old boy who enjoys a good bit of swashbuckling action, the characters are good role models, well-developed, and likeable.  The other main character is a 12-year-old girl who has to make some hard choices; however, a majority of those decisions help others in some way.  Incredibly, she chooses to be a hero when given the opportunity.  The author has written at least seven other books and after reading this one, I am eager to pick up another one of his tales.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  A creepy wishing well; mention of an old story of two kids attacked by men, the girl abducted; a guard threatens to chop off a boy’s fingers and head multiple times, no blood or gore; woman killed by sword; girls are being killed, no description of how but multiple mentions of families mourning and only at the beginning is the “why” explained; two boys, about 12-years-old, in prison, threatened to be hanged; man and girl tied up and held captive; soldiers fight 3 men & 2 kids, 1 man shot, blood mentioned.

Sex/Nudity:  Man pulls up his robe & urinates on side of road (partial nudity), but no mention of naked body parts, only of a puddle of urine on the dirt.

Mature Subject Matter:

Magic, death of parents, pending divorce, death, murder.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None