Can They Beat the Odds?

Seth Cox isn’t the most athletic kid, and he’s a bit surprised during the Little League draft when he gets selected by a new coach. It turns out that making the baseball team will be the least shocking thing to happen to Seth for a while. He makes the team with Alex, Chase, and super pitcher, Jared. Although they know each other, they aren’t close friends and even get into a disagreement during the first practice. This seems to be the reason Coach Mirkana tells them they will be staying late at practice from now on to help clean up. He directs them to go to the Snack Shack and ask someone named Retne for four cups of coffee and four Tixie sticks, which really confuses them. They find the lady they need to talk to sleeping and she gives them strange directions that lead them to Strxia, a parallel world. The foursome learn that odd numbers aren’t allowed to be used by most people in Strxia, only the elite, and the impact will be utter destruction. Seth, Alex, Chase, and Jared discover that they have to work together to get the Encryption Pack and beat the odds. But how will they do that? While they are away in Strxia their Earth selves will be living a parallel life playing in baseball games. Actions in either place will impact each other and reflect what is happening. Can they get the pack and make it out alive? Do they have what it takes to work together and travel through time and space? Will anger and stubbornness prevent them from reaching their goal? What will happen if they don’t succeed? Journey through worlds and discover if they have what it takes to beat the odds.

Strxia: The Odds Are Against Us by Maggie Daniels and Matt Michel is a sci-fi adventure. Starting off with baseball tryouts will appeal to those who love the sport, like Chase and Jared. Those who don’t love it will agree with Seth. The characters were each unique, and readers will be able to relate to at least one of them. Alex is fast and stands up for herself, which I really liked. Chase is always cracking jokes and would be fun to have around. Seth seems like a nice guy who is amazing at math and science and likes to think things through, which are all qualities I like in friends. Baseball fanatic, Jared, has the hardest time listening to what others say, but I like his confidence in his abilities. It was fascinating to see how their lives at each point in time intertwined. If they did something well in Stxia, they played better in the game, which was cool and definitely interesting to think about. I recommend this book to anyone age eight and up who enjoys getting lost in other worlds. Sci-fi can involve some tricky math and science and the authors did a great job making sure readers understand what's happening and how the worlds work. The story will appeal to those who love technology, baseball, math, and space travel. This adventure wraps up, but readers can tell that there's more in store for the foursome as they work to save Strxia. I look forward to reading the next book and finding out what else is in store for them!

Has anyone else read Strxia: The Odds Are Against Us by Maggie Daniels and Matt Michel? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Stop back Saturday for an interview with the authors. 😀

Happy Reading!

~L

*Maggie and Matt are generously giving away three paperback copies of Strxia: The Odds Are Against Us.  All you have to do is comment on this review or our interview tomorrow to be entered for a chance to win. Winners will be randomly selected. Good luck! 

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Even the Odds...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! This week we're counting the odds. Tune in Friday to find out how the answer ties into Lizzy's middle grade book review. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Add them up in a row; one is yes, two is no. Four is wrong, three is right—five is one in middle sight. With a total that's askew, can you guess which number queue?

What am I referring to? Answer: Odd numbers

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 

Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations

Fairday's Riddle: Skipping Digits...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? They can be tricky! ~ F

Add them up in a row; one is yes, two is no. Four is wrong, three is right—five is one in middle sight. With a total that's askew, can you guess which number queue?

What am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer.

I gave you a clue!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello, Readers! Happy New Year. We'll be swinging things into gear next week with a recap of our best of 2018, plus new stories to share. We wish all of our readers the brightest 2019, and we'll see you all around the book block.

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FAIRDAYSFILES.COM

Will it be Snowing Forever?

Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard loves science and explanations. She’s a very matter of fact kind of girl, and she’s still feeling sad after the death of her mother. When her father gets a job working on a special exhibition at a museum in a city where it always snows, she and her sister, Alice, get to go along. There the girls meet the beautiful and elegant museum curator. She allows them to roam around the museum and find what interests them most. It's during that time that Ophelia sees a boy dressed in very old fashioned clothes trapped behind a door in an isolated corridor. He tells her he needs some help and asks her to find the key to his door. It seems he’s been trapped in the cold museum for hundreds of years. He tells her he has no name anymore (to protect him from the Snow Queen), so now he is simply called the Marvelous Boy. The Marvelous Boy explains that he was sent far from his home long, long ago because the wizards thought he was destined to destroy the Snow Queen. But how can he do that if the time on the clock is winding down and he can’t even get out of the room. He explains when the clock finishes winding down the Snow Queen will take revenge on the Earth. Trying to help him, Ophelia is sent on a scavenger hunt around the museum trying to find special keys, a sword to kill the Snow Queen, and the “one other” who is supposed to help the Marvelous Boy complete his quest. Will Ophelia be able to complete the tasks before the clock finishes counting down? Will the marvelous boy complete his quest? You’ll have to read this book to see how this Snow Queen spinoff plays out.

I have had Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee on my reading list since I first read about it on a blog many years ago (so long ago I can’t quite remember which one). The story started out a little slowly, but the more I read the faster the pace seemed. With each page I cared more and more about Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. I was really rooting for him to complete his task and be saved. I also wanted Ophelia to figure out how to get everything on her scavenger hunt. This book has just the right amount of scary magic and characters that will tug at your heart. I would recommend this book to people that like fairy tales, fairy tale retellings, magical realism, and stories with quests. It would be a great book for someone who is in fourth or fifth grade. With all the snow and cold in the story it's the perfect book to curl up with on the couch and enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate. This is the first book I have read by this author, but I will definitely be reading more by Karen Foxlee! 

Has anyone else read Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy? Or have you read another book by Karen Foxlee? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
~L

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Falling Flakes...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! This week we'll be playing in the snow. Tune in Friday to find out how the answer ties into Lizzy's middle grade book review. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Water chilling in a cloud covers ground in a sparking shroud. Glimmering, fluffy, and oh so bright, it'll turn the day to white. Cold and cozy; watch it fall— packed tight, it's a ball.

What am I referring to? Answer: Snow! 

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 

Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations

FREE UNTIL 1/1/19

COUPON CODE: VB98D

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Fairday's Riddle: In Cold Water...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? Here in New England, we're bound to see more soon! ~ F

Water chilling in a cloud covers ground in a sparking shroud. Glimmering, fluffy, and oh so bright, it'll turn the day to white. Cold and cozy; watch it fall— packed tight, it's a ball.

What am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer.

I gave you a clue!