Official Review: OLGA by Ted Kelsey

[gali]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "OLGA" by Ted Kelsey.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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What a delightful book! "Olga" by Ted Kelsey is a middle grade fantasy, but adults would enjoy it as well. This is Ted Kelsey’s first novel, and Dillon Samuelson's expertly detailed black and white illustrations add a sense of life to the plot. This gem of a story follows the story of two awesome kids, Jack and Sally, who find themselves pulled into a magical world above the clouds. Sounds cool, right?? Wrong! Nothing in the clouds is as it seems and trouble is brewing in the cloud kingdom.

Sally and Jack are twelve year old kids who live in the town of Chilton built near Mount Chalktop. Jack is a curios and reckless boy, while Sally is the more responsible and mature between the two. Their lives take a dramatic turn one summer day, when they see a mysterious figure floating in the nearest field. Naturally they go to investigate and find themselves suck into a magical realm above the clouds. When Jack is captured by a mysterious being named Olga, it is up to Sally to save the day.

It was refreshing to read a tale where the girl takes the lead and doesn't wait for Prince Charming to come to the rescue. Sally manages to free herself from some sticky situations and shows plenty of resourcefulness, gumption and common sense. Giants, speaking cat-faced moths and magical weapons are all parts of this magical book, and they all seem perfectly plausible. I enjoyed the clever use in the story of something as mundane and everyday as moths. I also enjoyed the way the main characters grew and developed as the tale unfolded.

"Olga" is a delightful and imaginative tale that will bewitch the hearts of its readers, young and old. It’s fun, quirky, innocent and full of magic. The story is penned in the third point of view. It alternates between the perspectives of the two kids and the reader eagerly follows their story. The author does a good job of making the characters realistic and relatable. The author’s writing style is very engaging and easy to read. The descriptions of the setting and characters were especially well written. I especially liked the wink to classic fairy tales such as "Alice in Wonderland", "Gulliver's Travels" and "Jack and the Beanstalk".

I loved this story from start to finish and would recommend this book to readers in the age group of eight to twelve years and to anyone who loves fairy tales and fantasy adventure. This book is suited for younger readers as it combines an adventure story with themes of loyalty, friendship and courage while emphasizing qualities such as compassion, empathy and kindness. It was a sweet and fun read from start to finish, so I rate it 4 out of 4 stars!

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OLGA
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[zeldas_lullaby]

Great review! Your passion for the book really comes through. I don't normally go for fantasy, but this one sounds really good!!

[gali]

Great review! Your passion for the book really comes through. I don't normally go for fantasy, but this one sounds really good!!

Thank you. It is more like a fairy tale and I enjoyed it.

[zeldas_lullaby]

Oh OK. Cool!! I haven't enjoyed a good fairy tale in a while....

[gali]

I love good fairy tales. The book gave me craving for more.

[bookowlie]

Nice review! You have a knack for selecting great, quirky books. The cover artwork is gorgeous and so detailed.

[gali]

Nice review! You have a knack for selecting great, quirky books. The cover artwork is gorgeous and so detailed.

Thank you. I am very picky with my selections.

[bluemel4]

Wonderful review. I like fairytale retellings also. I am going to add this to my to-read list.

[gali]

Wonderful review. I like fairytale retellings also. I am going to add this to my to-read list.

Thank you

[bookowlie]

Nice review! You have a knack for selecting great, quirky books. The cover artwork is gorgeous and so detailed.

Thank you. I am very picky with my selections.

I like to think I am also picky, but the books I select don't always wind up being as good as expected. I always read the sample chapters, but sometimes the beginning of a book is better than the rest of it.

[Levi]

Great review Gali. Sounds like this author did a great job on his first book.

[gali]

Nice review! You have a knack for selecting great, quirky books. The cover artwork is gorgeous and so detailed.

Thank you. I am very picky with my selections.

I like to think I am also picky, but the books I select don't always wind up being as good as expected. I always read the sample chapters, but sometimes the beginning of a book is better than the rest of it.

It happens to me now and then, but not lately. :geek:

-- July 5th, 2015, 6:23 pm --

Great review Gali. Sounds like this author did a great job on his first book.

Thank you

[Amheiser]

Really nice review. Even though this book is for youth, it sounds like it would be a fun read. You mentioned a number of things in this review that make it sound like a very interesting story that I would like to read. The detailed illustrations, the magic, the realistic characters, and the descriptive writing all make this sound like an enjoyable read. Your enthusiasm for this book comes through very clearly.

[gali]

Really nice review. Even though this book is for youth, it sounds like it would be a fun read. You mentioned a number of things in this review that make it sound like a very interesting story that I would like to read. The detailed illustrations, the magic, the realistic characters, and the descriptive writing all make this sound like an enjoyable read. Your enthusiasm for this book comes through very clearly.

Thank you. The book was a joy to read.

[krood10]

This book sounds so cute! I will have to check it out to see if it's something my students would love. Can't wait.