Paraworld Zero by Matthew Peterson

I devour everything Harry Potter, so when I heard the phrase "Harry Potter meets Star Wars" I had to pick this one up. Paraworld Zero is not your typical Harry Potter-like book. The story has a lot of science fiction and fantasy in it, so I guess you could call it "Harry Potter in space," though space is not really the word for it. The characters travel through a thing called the parastream, which is like a special form of outer space that allows you to move quickly from parallel world to parallel world. The idea is intriguing, and the author makes it simple to understand. Simon Kent is now my favorite 12-year-old magician. He gets into the most precarious situations. Humor, action, romance--this book has it all.

I found this book by accident and fell in love with the story and characters. My children have read it several times. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment. The narration is smooth and the story is filled with impressive creativity, and the ending is simply divine. It might be too intense for smaller children, but if they are mature enough to read Harry Potter and Eragon, then they could also read Paraworld Zero. Don't miss this one.

Okay, I have to admit I found myself laughing out loud several times during this book. The characters are so fun to read about as they banter, joke, cry, etc. Paraworld Zero takes you through many emotions and leaves you feeling well entertained. There are some deeper parts dealing with slavery and self-esteem issues, but in general the book doesn't take itself too seriously. It's hard to put my finger on it, but Paraworld Zero had a Harry Potter / Star Wars / Artemis Fowl feel to it. The pacing was spot on. There's a whole storyline with adult characters interwoven within the plot, and this really did keep my interest. I'd like to see more of these older characters in future installments. Since there are multiple storylines going on, the book keeps you on your toes, especially the climax, which brought everything together superbly. I'm not usually one to be surprised at the end of a mystery, but this one threw me for a loop. I can't wait for the next book. The audiobook was fantastic as well.