All About Middle Grade Review: Journey to Galumphagos

Journey to Galumphagos by Seth Eisner, August 4, 2013. 84 pages. Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Source: blog tour/author.

Life can be tough for a loner like Emily. She's had enough of being the perfect target for bullies. She persuades her brother and sister to run away with her to Galumphagos Island, a paradise on earth. But they find out that the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the street, or even the other side of the ocean. They need all their courage and cleverness -- and a little luck, too -- to get out of the mess they landed in. Seth Eisner blends humor and non-stop action in his story about three young children who learn that real courage isn't just about adventures. It's usually about ordinary things, like asking that other lonely girl if you can share her lunch table.

First Sentence:

Chloe Miller stood at her easel in the Rec Room.

 I feel quite bad, I was supposed to review this for a tour a few months ago and I lost it (somehow it got wedged between some books on my shelf and I didn’t see it). With this being so late, I beg pardon from the author and tour host for a major fail.

After having finally located Journey to Galumphagos while reorganizing my books, I decided to read it without rechecking what the book was about. So, going in I had no idea what to expect from the book and was left with no expectations regarding it.

While I enjoyed it by the time I finished reading it, I admit that at first I did not enjoy reading about the characters. I guess you could say I was annoyed with their behavior and how they just ran away from their problems instead of doing something to make it better. Even though in the end they learned that things are not always easier when you strike out and abandon the things you dislike, I had a hard time liking them till they came to their senses.

    Even though I was a little annoyed with them at first, by the time the second half of the book rolled around I was zipping through the pages because I wanted to know how things would play out for them. As you can tell, my thoughts on the Miller children changed quite a bit from the beginning of the book to the end.

What I enjoyed most about Journey to Galumphagos would have to be how the children changed. I enjoyed seeing them realize the selfishness of their choice to run away to the island and how they dealt with the disappointment they were met with there. It was definitely an interesting read for that alone because we can all make selfish decisions now and again, but it takes maturity to realize that and to work towards fixing the fallout from that.

     So, do I think this is an interesting read for younger children, yes. I think they would enjoy reading about the Miller’s and what befalls them; and with the writing being so fast paced odds are they will not be bored while reading it.

All in all, the only thing that bothered me about this book would have to be the first bit- when the Miller kids runaway to Galumphagos Island. Even though I was annoyed with them, I enjoyed their adventure and the following mayhem that ensued when they returned. Y’all will have to read for yourself to find out what happened when they escaped the island because I’m not going to tell.

Final Verdict: Journey to Galumphagos- A fast paced read about three siblings and their adventure, or should I say misadventure, on the mysterious Galumphagos Island. 

Journey to Galumphagos earns 3.5 out of 5 griffins

This book was received in exchange for an honest review