Review and Giveaway: Crater Lake by Steve Westover

From Goodreads:  While visiting his crazy Uncle Bart at Crater Lake National Park, thirteen-year-old Ethan's world collapses when all the adults at Crater Lake disappear, including his parents. Now Ethan must rally his new friends and decipher the legends of Crater Lake to find the key to rescuing his parents from their earthen prison before he's captured too and their captivity becomes permanent.

Last month I flew into Portland on my way to Sacramento.  I happened to look out the window at the most perfect moment and saw this beautiful, incredible lake.  I thought, "wow, look at that awesome lake.  It looks like a crater."  Duh.  Then I realized what I was looking at.  Crater Lake.  I've never been there before but from the sky, it looks amazing. 



 What a great introduction to this new book by Steve Westover.  I'm glad to be a part of the blog tour for this book today.  My thanks to Cedar Fort for allowing me to participate.


Adventure, adventure, adventure.  That's how I would sum up this book.  Throw in a bit of magic and a common purpose and you get a great book.  There are several kids, brought together by the traumatic experience of watching their parents disappear.  In order to save them, they band together and face the challenges.  Swimming through freezing waters, exploring underground, fighting creatures, and near death experiences will keep you interested and entertained all the way through.


This is a middle grade book and I think it will especially appeal to young boys.  Not only because there are adventures that seem to be made of young boy dreams, but it's got that "boy scout humor" or, as I like to call it, potty humor thrown in here and there.  You know, farts and bathroom talk.


What I liked about the book was the overall theme of working together.  Here is a quote I really liked.  "There is much you can do."  Che-Tan thought about his words and then corrected himself.  "There is much we can do together."  These kids find out that working together is safer and better.  They accomplished much by working together.


You can find out more about Crater Lake:  Battle for Wizard Island by clicking here.  
You can read more about Steve Westover by clicking here and here.


Cedar Fort has generously offered up one copy of Crater Lake.  A print copy for US and an ebook for INT.  Just leave a comment along with your email address to enter.  Please indicate whether you are US or INT.  :)  Giveaway ends March 2nd.