Pentalia [Unqualified]

Delightful, refreshing, outstanding, surprising. Parents and educators looking long for an intriguing story without the usual cowboy fight climax will be delighted at Evans' story. For middle readers, this story is as magical as the Harry Potter books, without the deep shadows or the challenging length. The protagonist children face adventures that challenge them in many ways - not just physically but also socially and ethically. How they succeed will be a delightful surprise. Unlike Potter's adults who seem consistently malevolent or irresponsible, most of the adults in this story are supportive. Nevertheless, the children must be self-reliant to master the situation. Set in a Celtic like fantasyland, all the magical elements have an ethical referent. Children will be charmed at the pageantry, never shocked by violence, gratuitous or otherwise, and creatively taught the very values that their adults would aspire to teach them.This in an outstanding work. We sincerely hope it will be the first in a series from this author.