4 Stars.

Not because it's bad, but just it doesn't have the depth I would enjoy in a children's story, such as I found as a kid in Jules Verne novels, H.G. Wells novels, Robert Heinlein, Tolkien and others.

But modern writing doesn't seem to go as deep as the older writers have in the past. Maybe it's a sign of our times, I don't know. Let historians figure that one out.

Just finishing up the book four of the two in this volume.

Action is pretty much non-stop.

Characters are fun to read.

Fun read.

It's fun to think that young kids could have so much on the ball, though my own experience as a teacher tells me this is highly unlikely as most kids are too wrapped up in themselves to think about the bigger picture as these novels imply.

But still, could be inspiring to younger minds.

I know I read a lot of things that I could never have done at that age, but which now are part of the foundation of my being and have helped to some degree in developing my character and moral structure.

I'd recommend this series.

I will go back and buy the first two to fill in the gaps that 3 and 4 left in my reading, but 3 and four also stand on their own as excellent reading.

John Pirillo ( )