Mark Cheverton

Aliens attacking the world is more than serious business, but even high stakes can be accompanied with giggles galore.

Jimmy is twelve-years-old and not exactly the most popular kid at school, but he does have a great fantasy and is determined to protect his eight-year-old sister no matter what…well, his mom would kill him if he didn’t, so that may not count. When a strange object falls from the sky and crashes into a lake near the school, odd things start happening. The adults are acting show more more than strange, and his own teacher is rounding up all the kids together into rooms. Maybe, to cook them? After all, it is an alien invasion! It’s his job to save the world. Now, he just needs to figure out how and that with a rag-tag group of kids and an alien-escapee, and that while protecting his sister.

Imagination shifts into hyper-drive in this slightly ridiculous and oh-so-fast-paced read about a very unexpected alien invasion. The first pages/prologue set the tone as Jimmy introduces himself directly to the reader. He reveals that he’s in prison and gives a tiny bit of background to the entire situation. Then, the first chapter heads back in time and allows the reader to get a handle on Jimmy’s home and school life right before the aliens first land. There is a bit cliché introduction with Jimmy as the odd kid, who faces bullying and other school troubles, but that’s also where cliché ends.

More than a few aliens are involved in the invasion, and each has its own appearance and qualities. There is a simple illustration of each alien as it appears in the story. These carry originality and hold a slightly humorous twist. This matches nicely to the tale’s atmosphere. While Jimmy and his friends face one unexpected moment after the other, every moment is also fun with quirky reactions and witty dialogue.

There are a few messages surrounding friendship, bullies, and pushing past one’s own comfort zone, but this read is mostly about fun.

Note: The flip-book is found only in the paper/hard copies of this novel. Ebook copies do include a link for those who want to see it...just digitally. show less

Heroism isn't easy as a boy battles deadly beasts—inside and out.

Cameron might have saved the world last summer, but as another year rolls by, he hits summer camp with more anxiety than before. The hero's welcome is huge, but the Beast inside of him is sure it's not deserved and he'll only disappoint everyone...especially when evil shows its face again. Shadow-wraiths are threatening them all, and everyone is looking toward him to lead the fight. Everyone but a bully from his past. Faced show more against monsters from every direction, Cameron has no idea how he'll save anyone this time.

This is an imaginative tale packed with adventure, dangerous situations, and magic. From a secret society to monsters from another realm, Cameron finds himself wrapped up in more than most kids his age could ever dream of handling. The sticky situations pop up, one after the other, keeping the tension, at those moments, high and making it hard to guess what Cameron and his friends will face next. The stakes soar, the danger is deadly, and in order to reach the solution, Cameron is going to have to step beyond what he believes he's capable of...and that is exactly what rolls into one of the main themes, since Cameron's biggest problem is self-doubt.

It's interesting (and probably more realistic) to see a hero, who saved the world and knows it, return to normal life, where no one knows what happened, and have to face the same daily problems as before. His insecurities weren't blown away over night, but rather, have gained an extra edge due to the expectations others now have of him. So, that was a nice twist, especially when a bully from earlier in his childhood adds a constant reminder to Cameron's insecurities. Not that Cameron needs the reminder. His inner-banter constantly holds this insecurity up like a flashing red light, which end up getting more than a little repetitive. There are wise words from his therapist to help cope, but even these feel like they're on repeat. A little less would have been more. The tale, though, is exciting enough to smooth these over and keep the book interesting.

This is the second book in the series but can be read without visiting book one, and that even though the story builds from the previous adventure. The first chapters add a lot of backstory, which slowed the flow (especially for anyone who read book one) but made sure everything was covered to keep plot holes away as the adventure continues. Tossed in file entries from a secret society create a extra level of mystery and fun...although I'm not sure if these were in book one or not. Also, Cameron's friends sink into a bit of elemental magic, which adds a new twist on several ends.

While very message driven, this read holds more than a little excitement and adventure. I received a complimentary copy, am giving this 3.5 stars and rounding up. show less

Cameron and the Shadow-wraiths: A Battle of Anxiety vs. Trust is the second book in The Order of the Stones children’s fantasy series written by Mark Cheverton. The first book, Facing the Beast Within: The Anxiety of Cameron Poole, introduced Cameron, a sixth grader who arrives at Camp Pontchartrain for the summer. Cameron suffers from severe anxiety and debilitating self-doubt, compounded by the fact that he is small for his age and is frequently targeted by bullies. Mrs. Chakoté, the show more camp director, tells Cameron, his friends Bobby and Elisa, and two other campers, Leonard and Karl, that they have been chosen to defend New Orleans against a threat from a parallel world called Agartha. Mrs. Chakoté is a Warrier member of The Order of the Stones, a group dedicated to protecting Earth from the demons, gremlins, banshees, and other mythical creatures who live on Agartha. When Cameron discovers that Malphas, the Demon Lord of Agartha, plans to invade Earth, he must overcome his fears, both real and imagined, and rally the rest of the campers to defeat Malphas and save New Orleans and the world.

Although Cameron triumphs at the end of Book I, his self-confidence and courage disappear after he experiences another year of abuse and humiliation at school. Cameron no longer feels like the “Hero of Camp Pontchartrain” when he returns to the camp in Book II. He constantly faces Automatic Negative Thoughts, or ANTS, always imagining the worst things that could happen. At camp, Cameron reunites with his friends and reconnects with his former neighbors, Jessie and her twin brother Jamis. Mr. Wallace, the camp groundskeeper and a Warrior, Finder, and Amplifier of The Order of the Stones, begins teaching Cameron and his friends about Earth-magic and identifies the elements of magic each will use as spell Casters. Cameron is frustrated by his inability to summon his Earth-magic since it requires him to think positive thoughts and be at peace with himself. Cameron and his friends soon face a new threat when the shadow-wraiths of Agartha kidnap Jessie to lure Cameron to the Swamp of Forgotten Souls. Along the way, Cameron’s friends continue to disappear, one by one, adding to his increasing anxiety and his growing concern that he will be unable to save them. To rescue his friends, Cameron must break through his paralyzing fear and boldly embrace the Earth-magic, allowing it to flow through his body, reach his quartz amulet, and unleash the power of the stone.

The Order of Stones adventure series addresses several issues related to children who suffer from anxiety including bullying. The similar narrative arcs in Book I and Book II illustrate the likelihood that Cameron’s anxiety will be a life-long challenge. Inspired by the author’s experiences watching his son deal with anxiety, the series incorporates coping strategies and distraction techniques recommended by therapists for helping people overwhelmed by constant worrying and catastrophizing and includes online resources for parents. The series offers hope that children, like Cameron, will become who they are meant to be by managing their anxiety and learning to trust themselves. show less

Mark Cheverton has written a book that children today will be able to connect. He has taken his main character Cameron, who suffers from anxiety, and placed him in a summer camp. This isn’t any ordinary summer camp. That would make anyone anxious. This camp has monsters and it is up to Cameron and his friends to try to stop them from entering their world.

The world building is well done. Any kid who has gone to any type of summer camp or watched movies with summer camp will understand that show more for an outdoorsy person this is the best place to be. For a kid who suffers with anxiety, maybe not so much. They will be able to identify with kids, especially Cameron, being bullied. After all, they deal with or see things like this all the time. What this book does is shows what happens when someone steps up and faces their monsters. It shows how strong they can be, especially with the help of some friends. It shows that they don’t have to do things alone. What better lesson can one learn and in such a charming, and fantastical way. Well done. I look forward to reading the second book in this series. show less