Akiko: The Training Master

Me and my kids love all these books. i read them when i was a kid.

Another good addition to a fun series. Interesting characters, mixing adventure and humor, offer a pleasurable bedtime read for both parent and child. The whole series is full of wonderful fantasy fit for boys and girls 7-12.

We consider this a true "find." My 6 year old daughter picked up the first book, the Planet Smoo, and fell in love with the ridiculous characters and nutty planets. Then all of a sudden, the 8 year old son was hanging around, enthralled by each adventure. We've enjoyed every book in the series and recommend it to kids between 4 and 12.

This is another great book in the excellent "Akiko" series. The first thing you'll notice is that Akiko has a new, more mature look and personality. The changes are realistic, though, so it feels more like she's growing up along with you, instead of like she's become someone unfamiliar. In this chapter of the series, Akiko, along with her friends, is sent to a tough training school on the planet Zarga Baffa. There, she must survive challenges such as Humbling Week, Yoodoo Egg Rescue, and Nagnog Lizard Riding. The plot moves at a fast clip (I finished it in 2 1/2 hours), and the tone is consistently upbeat and humorous, making it a smooth, enjoyable read for kids, teens and adults alike. It's also important to note that this can be read even if you don't have any prior experience with the series, since it starts off as a new adventure and ends neatly and happily. I would reccomend reading the other books first, though, because you'll be more familiar with the characters. Overall, this is a wonderful book for all ages and reading levels.