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[Following is a volunteer review of "Beyond the Bowling Ball Bombing" by Kordel Lentine.]

Beyond the Bowling Ball Bombing by Kordel Lentine is a science fiction novel and the first book in the From Under the Sun trilogy. Terrance is taking the long way home from school to avoid some bullies when he barely escapes getting killed by an object that falls from the sky and devastates the neighborhood. When the police investigation establishes that a bowling ball fell from the sky, Terrance becomes a celebrity at his high school, which has the positive effect of stopping any bullies from tormenting him. When Terrance finds a strange puzzle box, things start getting weirder, to the point that he finds himself traveling in time.

The novel's beginning is an introduction to what seems like a normal situation for Terrance, who is trying to avoid some bullies. Sadly, he's physically small and the fact that he's a smart teenager seems to make him a target for some other kids who are not nice at all. Everything changes after a bowling ball falls from the sky, as Terrance becomes famous and his reputation in his high school improves a lot. Fame brings some positive consequences for him, including a beautiful girl getting interested in him.

Terrance slowly descends into weirdness after he finds a strange puzzle box and at the same time is surrounded by normal things. I liked how the author described the consequences of Terrance's experience, which include the creation of memes about him by other kids at school.

Most of the novel is about what happens after he solves the riddle in the puzzle box. Time travel becomes the central theme, to the point that several pages are about its rules. Terrance is taught many details about what he can do and what he can't do when he travels in time. I have mixed feelings about this part because the pace becomes slow with a lot of exposition but it's important for the whole plot.

My complaint is negligible compared to the merits of an imaginative story that is full of surprises. The novel contains almost no errors, so it's professionally edited. For these reasons, I happily rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Beyond the Bowling Ball Bombing has its own ending, so you can read it as a standalone novel even if it's the first of a trilogy. It's targeted mainly at teenagers and young adults, also thanks to the absence of sexual content and profanity, but I think it can be enjoyed by older readers as well. I recommend it in particular to readers who like time travel stories.

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Beyond the Bowling Ball Bombing
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I enjoyed reading your summary very much. It highlighted the main events of the story perfectly. I also agree with you that the middle part of the story had a slow pace that made me a bit bored with all the futuristic explanations. However, it was an enjoyable book despite that.

Omneya Shakeep wrote: ↑03 Oct 2023, 16:39 I enjoyed reading your summary very much. It highlighted the main events of the story perfectly. I also agree with you that the middle part of the story had a slow pace that made me a bit bored with all the futuristic explanations. However, it was an enjoyable book despite that.

You have to appreciate that kind of story to like this novel's central part. Thank you for your appreciation!

I love this review. As a 40 year old woman, I often enjoy books aimed at the highschool/college level reader. Life lessons are learned throughout life at different times, but there is never a bad time to relearn something. This review makes me want to read the book. Thanks!

Lauren Maserang wrote: ↑09 Oct 2023, 11:42 I love this review. As a 40 year old woman, I often enjoy books aimed at the highschool/college level reader. Life lessons are learned throughout life at different times, but there is never a bad time to relearn something. This review makes me want to read the book. Thanks!

Reading stories about people younger than us can be useful for remembering lessons. Thank you for your appreciation!

NetMassimo wrote: ↑21 Sep 2023, 06:58 [Following is a volunteer review of "Beyond the Bowling Ball Bombing" by Kordel Lentine.]

Beyond the Bowling Ball Bombing by Kordel Lentine is a science fiction novel and the first book in the From Under the Sun trilogy. Terrance is taking the long way home from school to avoid some bullies when he barely escapes getting killed by an object that falls from the sky and devastates the neighborhood. When the police investigation establishes that a bowling ball fell from the sky, Terrance becomes a celebrity at his high school, which has the positive effect of stopping any bullies from tormenting him. When Terrance finds a strange puzzle box, things start getting weirder, to the point that he finds himself traveling in time.

Most of the novel is about what happens after he solves the riddle in the puzzle box. Time travel becomes the central theme, to the point that several pages are about its rules. Terrance is taught many details about what he can do and what he can't do when he travels in time. I have mixed feelings about this part because the pace becomes slow with a lot of exposition but it's important for the whole plot.

The title of this book is attention grabbing in its own right; it clearly has a unique narrative as well! I've always enjoyed those "underdog" type characters, they are fun to root for. The riddle in the puzzle box is the draw for me, this sounds like an enjoyable read! This is a great review, thanks so much for sharing it!

Cara Wilding wrote: ↑11 Oct 2023, 17:36
The title of this book is attention grabbing in its own right; it clearly has a unique narrative as well! I've always enjoyed those "underdog" type characters, they are fun to root for. The riddle in the puzzle box is the draw for me, this sounds like an enjoyable read! This is a great review, thanks so much for sharing it!

The title is unusual, hence, it is perfect to grab your attention. If you like riddles, you'll have great fun reading it. Thank you for your appreciation!

The way the author has crafted this story around a typical nerdy boy facing bullying is quite interesting. I appreciate the choice of a nerdy main character, as it can make it easier for readers to connect with him. Additionally, the concept of time travel adds an intriguing layer to the plot. Thank you for sharing such an insightful review.

Sheza Akbar wrote: ↑19 Oct 2023, 06:43 The way the author has crafted this story around a typical nerdy boy facing bullying is quite interesting. I appreciate the choice of a nerdy main character, as it can make it easier for readers to connect with him. Additionally, the concept of time travel adds an intriguing layer to the plot. Thank you for sharing such an insightful review.

The beginning is very realistic exactly because it's about characters who might be your (ex) schoolmates. Then it progressivly goes into science fiction. Thank you for your appreciation!

NetMassimo wrote: ↑21 Sep 2023, 06:58 [Following is a volunteer review of "Beyond the Bowling Ball Bombing" by Kordel Lentine.]
The novel's beginning is an introduction to what seems like a normal situation for Terrance, who is trying to avoid some bullies. Sadly, he's physically small and the fact that he's a smart teenager seems to make him a target for some other kids who are not nice at all. Everything changes after a bowling ball falls from the sky, as Terrance becomes famous and his reputation in his high school improves a lot. Fame brings some positive consequences for him, including a beautiful girl getting interested in him.

Terrance slowly descends into weirdness after he finds a strange puzzle box and at the same time is surrounded by normal things. I liked how the author described the consequences of Terrance's experience, which include the creation of memes about him by other kids at school.

Most of the novel is about what happens after he solves the riddle in the puzzle box. Time travel becomes the central theme, to the point that several pages are about its rules. Terrance is taught many details about what he can do and what he can't do when he travels in time. I have mixed feelings about this part because the pace becomes slow with a lot of exposition but it's important for the whole plot.

My complaint is negligible compared to the merits of an imaginative story that is full of surprises. The novel contains almost no errors, so it's professionally edited. For these reasons, I happily rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

I enjoyed the opening of this book when it was the book of the day, and did think that I want to read more. Your review has convinced me that this is a book I should read. The fact that it only gets weirder after the bowling ball bomb incident is music to my ears. I think I would struggle with the slower points around explaining the rules of time travel in the same way as you, but I can also see where this would be a minor point.

Great review.

I appreciate how you highlighted the imaginative plot and character development in "Beyond the Bowling Ball Bombing" by Kordel Lentine. Your review accurately reflects the book's unique blend of normalcy and weirdness, and your balanced critique of the pacing during the time travel exposition does justice to the overall engaging and well-edited narrative.

I am happy that Terrance was able to get a break from the bullying. The school years are the worst for those that are bullied. I am always rooting for them. I am glad the author used a bullied child as the main character. The puzzle box and the time travel make the plot intriguing. I am adding this one to my bookshelves.

The idea of a bowling ball falling from the sky and turning a bullied kid into a school celebrity is really unique. I love stories where ordinary life suddenly gets mixed with something extraordinary. thanks for the great review.

I read and reviewed this book. I enjoyed the book and agree that some portions were just a wee bit off, and I had to re-read some parts. But I liked the overall themes and character development. I enjoyed reading your take on the book; thorough and engaging!