Twelve-year-old Thomas has been searching for a book about magic—real magic—since the night his father told him, “Magic is real,” and then walked out of his life. Thomas has finally found one. Now what?

The beginning of this book was amazing. It told me everything I needed to know about Thomas’s world simply by showing his interactions with other people. By Chapter 4, I knew how Thomas dealt with the school bully, crushes, friendships, his widowed workaholic mother, and his best friend’s large, noisy, extended family. I loved that Thomas never really leaves his home life behind. Even when he travels away from it, his mother and friends still play crucial roles. The plot involved magic, of course, but Thomas’s logic, courage, and friendships were just as important. This fantasy was a great read! ( )

I consider Thomas a good role model for middle-grade readers that could potentially be interested in reading this book. He has a good, healthy, respectful relationship with his mother and his friends. Thomas does well and applies himself in school - despite the doodle wars with his best friend Enrique during class. It was refreshing to see Thomas finally decided to stand up to the ringleader of the bullies in his class in support of the withdrawn new kid - without resorting to violent action. Violence was implied but only as a last resort and in self-defense. Honestly, my dad told me essentially the same thing and to quote Marie from Aristocats - "Ladies don't start fights, but they can finish them!" Thomas and Enrique have a solid friendship that even extends towards each other's family (mainly Enrique's siblings) and have quite a few shared similarities. The wholesome teasing banter between the two friends did have me laughing out loud a few times as well as some choice comments from Professor Reilly towards the end.

We've seen this type of plotline in middle-grade before but regardless, I enjoyed it. It had more than enough action and new aspects that I was more than happy to get lost in this book. It only took me two sittings to finish this book. The only portions that I believe some middle-grade readers could have issues with is the text from The Book of Sorrows that is archaic English. There was more than enough action and events going on to constantly move the story forward although the acquisition of the crystals seemed a little anticlimactic until the last one. I am curious to see where the second book takes the group of friends who are more similar to a family.

I would like to thank Kelsey at Book Publicity Services for reaching out to see if I would be interested in a copy of Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows to read and review, I don't believe I would have found it otherwise. I will definitely be reading the second book in this charming middle-grade series. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )

Magic, Mystery, and adventure all rolled into one. I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were a lot of fun and relatable. It was a little young for me, but I highly recommend it for early teen readers. ( )

I want to start by explaining how this is both a personally purchased title, and a title I reviewed as a complimentary copy. I was meant to receive a physical copy of Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows by JM Bergen in the mail, and when I didn’t, I purchased the kindle version as I still wanted to review the novel. The synopsis had be excited and I thought this might be something like Percy Jackson or Harry Potter. I understood it was middle school going in, but I’ve previously read and really enjoyed others in the same age-range. Unfortunately, about twenty percent into the novel, I had to stop as I knew I would not be able to provide an appropriate review.

There are some books and stories that, while meant for younger readers, can still appeal to older audiences. There are others that are so clearly written for an audience you are not part of that you immediately feel like an outsider looking in. I believe that is the case for me. I think this is something that middle and older elementary school children will enjoy, but something that from the onset, will not necessarily resonate with older audiences. Myself, as an adult, I found myself wanting to get straight into the magic part and not caring about the side trips to school, to friends, especially once the magic was established. I, as an adult, found myself wondering how is this kid not angry at his mother for forcing him to raise himself or prep food, how is he not angry at his father leaving since it never once sounded like he died. I, as an adult and former educator, found myself wondering how the mother found herself grading all her papers in a night when either it’s scantrons or essay format. Scantrons/Multiple choice, easy. Essay format, there is no way a person would be able to next day it. Additionally, universities (out here in ny anyway…) rarely have classes that meet two days in a row. Schedules typically are Mon/Weds or Tues/Thurs, meaning there would be numerous days between to grade. So either this mom was really bad at planning and managing time or I have no idea. These are things my adult brain questioned that a middle schooler wouldn’t even think to think about.

If you know a middle schooler into fantasy, then I think they would enjoy Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows by JM Bergen. If you’re an adult, this is likely a hard pass. Can’t put a star rating because I am very clearly not the target audience and can’t judge it accurately.

// I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title. //

The plot was slow to start which had me considering pushing it off but once it picks up the book was hard to put down. Thomas can be impulsive at times while discovering the world around him but exemplifies a typical teenage boy in search of himself. A very worthy fantasy story for middle school students. ( )