Review of Time for PSyQ
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Review of Time for PSyQ
Time for PsyQ is a super-engrossing science fiction novel penned by Marti Ward. Though it may seem that the book is intended for children and teenagers, I am confident adult readers will find it fascinating as well.
Marti Ward's Time for PsyQ revolves around Airlie Sanderson and her friends. On her eleventh birthday, she gets a cat as a present. She names him Sooty. Soon after, Airlie discovers that she has some special abilities. These abilities completely change the lives of Airlie and her friends, Yan and Lilly. However, Airlie's powers are truly put to the test when her friend, Kate, is kidnapped.
What kind of powers does Airlie have? Will she be able to understand them and wield them properly? How will her special abilities affect her life? Most importantly, will Airlie and her compatriots be able to save Kate?
Time for PsyQ had my attention from the very first page. The fast-paced writing style and the gradual buildup to the climax intrigued me. I loved how the special powers of the kids have detailed scientific explanations. Ward explains myriad scientific concepts in an easy and detailed manner without making the narrative monotonous. This is a testament to his storytelling talent.
The characters of Time for PsyQ are all well-developed. Airlie is a charming little girl who tries her best to help those in need. Her interest in science and her relentless quest to better understand her abilities made her my favorite. Yan, Lilly, Wendy, and Kate are all great kids with their own unique characteristics. Even Libby is able to mark her presence despite her short appearance. I loved all the pets. From Airlie’s cat, Sooty, and Lilly's spider, Parker, to Kate's dog, Goldie, Yan's dog, Nonsense, and Wendy's dog, Cocoa, all the animals won my heart. Among the adults, Inspector Johnathan Humble and Sergeant El Sanford are my favorites. Both of them always pay attention to the children and take their words seriously. Airlie's parents are very relatable. Though they support their daughter wholeheartedly, they make sure that their children's safety is the priority.
Overall, I truly enjoyed the first book of Marti Ward's Quantum Talents Series. I am excited to read the next book in the series and find out what lies ahead for Airlie and her friends.
I found nothing worth disliking in Time for PsyQ. However, I did find more than ten errors. I am sure a round of editing will easily fix this.
Keeping in mind the pros and cons, I rate Time for PsyQ 4 out of 5 stars. I had to take away a star because of the errors.
I highly recommend Marti Ward's Time for PsyQ to fans of science fiction novels and mystery books. I believe that adults and children alike will enjoy this amazing book.
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Time for PSyQ
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Mentioning the characters and their distinct qualities, as well as the heartwarming presence of pets, adds depth to your review. It's also great that you acknowledge the support of the adult characters in the story and the relatability of Airlie's parents.
Your honesty about the editing errors while still giving a high rating is a fair and constructive approach. It shows that you appreciate the story but recognize areas for improvement.
Overall, this review is both informative and enthusiastic. It's clear that "Time for PsyQ" left a positive impression on you, and your recommendation to a broad audience of both adults and children is a valuable endorsement. Great job!
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Review of Time for Psykids by Marti Ward
(Ist book in the Quantum Talents Series)
Time for Psykids is a 109-page sci-fi/fantasy book for 10–18-year-olds. It is no.1 of a series. As such, Parts 1 and 2 of this book set up the world, characters, and the scientific/physics aspects. Part 3 comprises 11 of the 23 chapters.
Kicking off this story is the Foreword, written in first person by Airlie, the main character. It introduced her and had me hooked to read on. The story itself is in third person. We meet Airlie and her cat Sooty; Yan and her pet dog, who only responds to the name ‘Nonsense;’ their friend Lilly, whom a spider adopts and she names Parker; Kate and her dog Goldie; and Wendy with her dog Cocoa—all likable characters.
Airlie and Sooty, along with a few friends, use their skills to solve the mysterious disappearance of a small dog. This is how Airlie comes to the attention of the police, particularly Inspector Humble. He is so impressed with Airlie and her team that he invites them to attend a special camp for those interested in police work. Their pets are also invited.
The story becomes more interesting in Part 2, at camp also invited. They learn a lot about their abilities and their scientific basis. It is similar to Harry Potter going to Hogwarts, except that Psykids is not about magic. It is about very incredible science cum physics. The application of what the girls can accomplish together is mind-bending. It will be of great use in helping the police solve various crimes.
As Airlie touches on in her Foreword, the scientific nerdy talk is necessary to give a logical basis for a reader to suspend disbelief while reading. The writer has tried to achieve a balance here and set up the series with enough explanation so that this book can lead to others in the series. Some may think there is too little scientific explanation, but some may conclude there is too much.
Airlie is knowledgeable and a brilliant heroine, but it is a story about teamwork. Chapter 10 is most interesting, and Airlie gets to test out what she can do.
Chapter 15 is brief, and this is inexplicable.
Chapter 17 became complicated with all the scientific jargon. The target audience may find this the case. The story is gripping when Kate and Goldie go missing. Airlie, Airlie’s Mum, Inspector Humble, and Tim (Kate’s brother) try to connect telepathically to reassure Kate and to plan how they may rescue her. The connecting, communicating back and forth, and failing sometimes confused me, but it was also an exciting read.
Chapter 18 seemed to drag as they formulated information about Kate’s location. Once the police are out there trying to track down where she is, along with information Airlie can decipher, the tension ramps up. There are aspects of danger.
Due to a handful of grammatical errors, which some may overlook, and the complexity of the scientific explanations, which are necessary for the story and challenging to simplify or clarify, I personally rate it 4 out of 5. However, this is just a rating, as it is an enjoyable read.
For example, take the word ‘skry.’ It looked like a typo, but it is hard to figure out what it should be otherwise. Another reviewer may have mistaken this for an error. However, it is a word, and the meaning is perfect in the context. Caution should be exercised when using novel terminology in writing for young people.
This debut story sets the scene for what will be an excellent series for young people who love mystery, thrills, and sci-fi rolled into one. Thanks, Marti Ward.
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