Children’s Book Review: The Last Guardian & the Reject Bike
February 21, 2010 by Karlynn Johnston
Filed under Book Nook
This delightful story is going to resonate with many young boys and girls who are standing on the threshold of the awkward pre-teen years, or are right in the midst of that hormonal hoopla that age 13 happens to be. It is so easy to identify with the main character in this book,what young teen doesn’t feel pudgy, inept at sports or completely out of place at a new school every once in a while?
There is also that deep-seated secret hope inside of all of us at times that makes us want to cross our fingers and think ” I really could have Super Powers, you know” or that a magical item will one day touch our lives, just like in the storybooks. Because that is what makes one heck of a good story.
And our hero Chuck embarks on that one heck of a good story, with the aide of his magical bike. Of course, the bike doesn’t look the least bit magical, when his dad brings it home, it’s a ugly “hunk-of-junk because in the fashion of the greatest of tales, the magical object is never the prettiest or the shiniest.
Chuck is a admirable character who is brave even when he doesn’t want to be, has faith in himself when it matters the most and most important of all, has a good heart beneath that slightly pudgy, not-so-good at sports exterior.
This was an fun and engaging story, sure to entertain the age group that it’s written for.
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Page Count: 304 pages
Publisher: iUniverse (September 25, 2009)
Publisher’s synopsis:
Chuck Smelton is a thirteen-year-old kid with real problems. He’s scared of the dark, he can’t hit a baseball to save his life, he’s struggling to adjust to his new school and he’s angry with his dad for moving the family to the city. Add into the mix the fact that the cool Heights kids and his teammates refer to him as “Chub” because he is rather pudgy in the stomach, and you have a kid who is going through a rough patch.
To make matters worse, his dad, the professor, brings home a gift for Chuck one day, the ugliest hunk-of-junk bike, a true reject from the ’50s; the worst-looking bike that Chuck has ever seen.
That’s when strange things start to occur.
For one thing, the bike seems to be watching him. Then, it shows up unexpectedly at his school. And Chuck can’t touch it without feeling like a bolt of lightning has shot through his body. Couple those experiences with some strange dreams about a giant knight with steam rising from his nostrils and a beautiful princess, and Chuck finds his life, really the entire world, for that matter, in danger unless he can find the hero within himself.
About the Author: First-time published author Darren Simon has always dreamed of writing children’s fiction to inspire young people to read. A newspaper journalist for 14 years, Simon has a Bachelors degree in journalism, a Masters in English, and currently enjoys writing for the Imperial Valley Women’s Magazine, a human interest magazine which features both men and women who have a positive impact in the region. A full time senior public affairs representative for the San Diego County Water Authority, Simon resides in southern California with his wife and two sons. You can visit his website at www.darren-simon.com.
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