All About Middle Grade Review: Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer

Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer by William Summerhouse, May 19, 2014. 274 pages. Published by Shake-A-Leg Press. Source: author.

Eleven-year-old Orion lives with his stodgy grandfather in eastern Maine, where nothing exciting ever happens. But then a series of strange events draws him into the mystery of a lost explorer, and Orion is swept up in a whirlwind of adventure that takes him to the top of the world. To survive he must outwit a scheming treasure hunter, team up with a gang of flimps, and take on a tyrant with an anger management problem. Can Orion solve the mystery and get back home alive? And just what are flimps, anyway?

Orion Poe is about to find out. Join him as he laughs, cries, bluffs, and shoots his way to the heart of one of the greatest mysteries in the history of exploration. Along the way he discovers that the world is far bigger—and stranger—than he ever imagined.

First Sentence:

If you read what Mr. Lumpkin wrote in the newspaper about my adventure at the top of the world, you only got half the story.

While there are many things to be enjoyed while reading Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer, there was just one thing that kept nagging me throughout the book.I'll touch on that later in the review, but, while I did have one thing that bothered me about this book, I found it to be an enjoyable read nonetheless.

Even though I did have some issues with a few things Orion said and did, this was definitely a fun and thrilling read. I do believe that William Summerhouse did an excellent job bringing to life the setting and danger of being stranded at the top of the world. The way he described the landscape and dangers the characters faced just pulled me in. It was fun to watch Orion try to keep his head, and fail more often than not, to keep himself out of trouble.
    While I wish he had thought more before he acted, instead of thinking of the glory and praise he would get for an action, and think things through before going off. It made for interesting reading because half the things that happened would not have happened had he not gone off alone and set things in motion (accidentally).

They story is what I found to be most enjoyable for me in Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer. I loved the idea of Orion finding a map that would take him on an adventure to discover what happened to a lost exploration party. Even more, I enjoyed the way the author pulled it all together and gave the bones of that story more depth by showing how the exploration party was not lost, but had chosen to make their living at the top of the world and the trouble that ensued when Orion and company got too close. It was definitely an interesting adventure to read about.

The only thing that I did not like about Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer would have to be that there were times when I felt that author missed the mark with the way Orion spoke. At points, I was left wondering is that actually the way an eleven year old boy would speak or terminology that one would use. I think not. So, while there were somethings that seemed out of character for a boy that age, I really did enjoy reading about Orion's adventure at the top of the world.

Final Verdict: This was definitely an adventure driven read that I'm sure readers from nine to twelve years would find highly enjoyable.

Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer earns

this book was received in exchange for an honest review