The Rise of the Legends by Jake Zortman

Written By Tara Lewis

Summary

Mikaela Kadono is bummed when her parents move the family into a spooky old fixer upper house. When she finds the house contains a secret - a message from the distant past hidden in riddles and codes, she and her friends set off on a quest to solve the mystery. Their perilous adventure takes them from the high seas to a secret labyrinth of tunnels. Success, even survival, will take all their skills, gadgets, technology and courage. As they unravel the mystery it seems as if the message was left specifically for them. But how could the sender of the message have known about them 100 years ago? Are they being sent on this mission from someone in the past? Or someone in the future? Little do they know, they’ve become wrapped in an evil plot to take over the world that spans not only the last century, but those yet to come.

Reaction

When a group of eighth-grade friends join a drone club, saving humanity was the last thing on their minds.

I really enjoyed the Rise of the Legends because it was a great mix of relatable characters, a mystery to solve, plus an incredible sci-fi and tech spin; in my opinion, a great trifecta for middle-grade readers who can see themselves in the story.

Things are not what they seem to the group of friends, and when they take on quest to solve a 100-year-old mystery, they are swept away on an incredible adventure, putting them in danger where they need to work together to survive.

The book's wonderful writing keeps the story fast-paced and thrilling with each turn of the page. A great read for middle-graders and also classroom read-aloud.

Tara Lewis

I am an experienced children’s book marketing professional with more than twenty years in the children’s book publishing industry. I have insight into the workings of children’s book publishers and internal operations and processes, having managed a global marketing department as a Director at Disney Publishing Worldwide for six years and managed teams at Scholastic Inc. for six years, before opening my own children’s book marketing business.

I have worked with a broad range of children’s original titles in the picture book, middle-grade, and young adult categories. I have also spearheaded the campaigns for many licensed book series such as Scooby-Doo, Disney Princess, Harry Potter paperbacks, Pokemon, Powerpuff Girls, Marvel, Lego, Tinkerbell, Matchbox, Winnie the Pooh, and Baby Einstein.

My marketing planning included not only devising the strategies but also conducting competitive analysis reports, writing press releases, articles, blogs, catalog copy, and news pieces for the product. I worked on a daily basis with the editorial teams to bring a successful book to market.

As a freelancer, I provide the following services:

-Marketing plan development (strategy, tactics, social, deliverables, etc.)

-Writing press releases, author bios, catalog copy, book blurbs

-Market research and competitive analysis

-Creating book proposals for authors to submit to publishing houses. Also query letters.

-Book editing and proofreading

-Book reviews

My areas of specialty are picture books, middle-grade, and YA. I love working with self-published authors to help them navigate and understand the publishing process. I also enjoy working with seasoned publishing veterans.

I have an impeccable career history at the highest level at the best publishing houses in the world. Let me help you - and your book - make the leap from good to great! I will help your book get the exposure and readership that it deserves.

https://www.taralewisbooks.com/
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