This series is a little dated, but I’m finding that boys and girls of a certain age and interest are still looking for a story like this.  So, I decided to swing the spotlight around and shine it on The Zack Files, specifically number nine–The Volcano Goddess Will See You Now.

Why this one?  Well, if you must know…it’s because I fell in love with Pixar’s short film and the song Lava, earlier this summer.  I really enjoyed Inside Out, which it opened for, but I expected that.  I wasn’t prepared for the quick connection and abiding fondness I feel for the Lava song.  Have you seen or heard it?

Even this static version is irresistible! lol  But, there you go: Lava song = Zack File #9.

What’s to love about this series?  They’re a quick read, accessible to early readers or those with little patience for the big fat books I happen to love.  They also travel around a bit, allowing for escape and vicarious experience for kids who don’t get to do that, themselves.  And finally, while not exactly what I’d call sticklers for accuracy, they do sort of ‘celebrate’ a scientific mindset and explorative approach to the world that I think many kids would appreciate.  But, that’s not all!  On a more character-level they show a positive relationship between a boy and his parents, despite their being divorced.  Or rather, where the parents being divorced isn’t an issue, and serves as nothing more than a backdrop for Zack’s life and adventures.  I feel this is important because, while divorce can definitely throw kids for a loop and there’s a real need for books that address this challenging time…there’s also a need, I suspect, for books that show this side of many kids lives as something which can be lived around with reasonable comfort.

Alright, enough about the series.  What about this book?  Well, I’m hesitant to say too much cause these books are also kind of mysteries, and frankly, they aren’t terribly complicated so it’s easy to give away more than one means to.  But, I love the premise–that people’s stereotypical perception of Hawaii may be way off.  I remember as a child being shocked when I first read a book set in Hawaii, on a horse ranch with rolling green pastures.  My little-kid brain was blown by the fact that what I thought of as little islands could be big enough for horses to run on!  Who knew?  And this book plays around a bit with some of Hawaii’s stereotypes, as well.  It even touches on the concept of ecofriendly tourism–which is actually a rather important issue, when you think about it–without the child-readers every realizing they might be absorbing a lesson or moral.  It’s all just a part of Zack’s adventures!

Finally, it’s delivered in a very accessible voice and writing style.  Fluffy, yes.  Perhaps even what you’d call a kid ‘beach book.’  The kind of book that a reader can pick up and float into, without pushing through any barriers.  The truth is…that’s how I first read one.  My son got into them, and I wondered what nonsense (yes, that was my thought, most likely) he was reading now and picked one up.  Before I knew it, I’d read the book and looked around quickly as I set it down, wondering how that had happened and who’d seen me at it.  Since then I’ve learned not to view that kind of writing spell with suspicion, but rather to study it.  See what gears are spinning inside.  There’s a need for deep, beautiful books that provoke thought and leave the mind feeling stretched.  But there’s a need for the Zack Files, too.

Let’s find out what Apricot-kitty has to say:

“Cats don’t have pockets, and don’t bother with buying ‘stuff’ or carting it around, either.  Maybe if you humans didn’t feel the need to buy junk everywhere you went, you’d be better able to stay out of trouble.  Leave that to the cats–you’re not very good at it.”

There you have it–a quick easy series to recommend, and a bit of advice for the road! lol  Thanks for joining me for MMGM, and stay tuned in the weeks to come, as I have an exciting interview and giveaway coming up later in November.  It will be with Andrew S. Chilton, and we’ll be giving away a copy of his debut book, The Goblin’s Puzzle, which recently pulled in a starred review from Publishers Weekly!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday’s other offerings have been gathered on Shannon Messenger’s blog, and always make for a great way to start your week.  Stop by to check them out, and happy reading!

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