Gordy is a 12-year-old boy who has inherited unusual, powerful skill in creating and mixing magic potions.  He lives with his mother (who has similar skills but works what seems to be a normal job as cover), his dad, and two siblings, and he has two good friends.  A ruling potion, so to speak, is discovered in its exotic hiding place and a battle between good and bad elixirists (potion makers, not to insult your intelligence) ensues.  This book is the first of an intended series.

I would say the prime audience for this book is a 12-year-old boy who likes icky goo, silly jokes, comic books, and Marvel movies.  There is entirely too much going on.  Characters are hastily outlined and behave inconsistently.  None can be taken seriously.  I felt like I was trapped inside a Rocky and Bullwinkle episode, with some later L Frank Baum thrown in.  The basic story is not bad, but it is not developed in a deliberate, thoughtful way.

However, there is nothing offensive in this book.

Categories: Books with No Objectionable Content, Supernatural/Occult

Tags: Books with No Objectionable Content, Frank L. Cole, Middle School, Purchasing YA Fiction, Purchasing Young Adult Books, Shadow Mountain, YA Book Reviews, YA Book Selection Criteria, YA Fiction, YA Fiction Reviews, YA Literature, Young Adult Book Reviews, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Fiction Reviews, Young Adult Literature