Review of Daniel's Uncle

[Catherine Sweet]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Daniel's Uncle" by Martin Donald Smith.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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Daniel's Uncle by Martin Donald Smith is junior fiction about a young boy who spends the summer holidays with his uncle. His stay is full of surprises and adventure.
Daniel is nearly thirteen, and six months ago, his parents were killed in an avalanche while skiing. He was sent to boarding school but is going to stay with Uncle Charley, whom he has never met. His uncle lives near Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. He has two staff members, Ted and Jason. Daniel doesn’t know what to expect from his stay, but he soon realises it won’t be boring. Uncle Charley is an unusual character. He is an inventor, and Daniel comes across some of his inventions. There is the robot who runs the kitchen and makes the meals. When Daniel gets lost in the extensive grounds, flashing arrows appear in the air showing him which way to go. His uncle has also built a submarine, and he takes Daniel on an amazing adventure deep down below the loch. They discover the Lost City of Atlantis and have some exhilarating experiences with robots, aliens and people from the past.
One of the strengths of this book is the imaginative storylines. The narrative is pacy and action- packed. The technology is impressive and adds an inventive element to the plot. The reader is immersed in the story and feels part of the adventure.
All of the characters are likeable, but they are not well-developed. Uncle Charley, Ted, and Jason are all very similar. Daniel is the main character, but there isn’t much about his inner life, appearance, or flaws.
Daniel’s Uncle would appeal to young readers who like adventure, technology, and fantasy. It is an enjoyable and entertaining story. I have taken two stars off for lack of character development and editing errors. I award this book 3 out of 5 stars.[b/]

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Daniel's Uncle
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[Mark Lazarus]

It sounds like a fun and imaginative adventure, especially with the blend of technology, fantasy, and the mystery of Loch Ness. While the lack of character depth might be a bit disappointing, the concept of exploring Atlantis and encountering robots and aliens is intriguing. I’d probably give it a try for the adventure alone, especially if I were in the mood for a light, entertaining read.

[Benita Ogarekpe]

Very constructive feedback. I hope the author gets wind of this review, in case they would like to better this book in any way. All in all, I’ll give this book a read if in searching for something light, entertaining and refreshing.

[Christiana Wells Walker]

It sounds like a fun and imaginative adventure, especially with the blend of technology, fantasy, and the mystery of Loch Ness. Where there's no character it might be a bit disappointing, the concept of exploring Atlantis and encountering robots and aliens is intriguing. I’d probably give it a try for the adventure alone, especially if I were in the mood for a light, entertaining read.