Welcome to my stop on the Children of the Knight blog tour! Make sure you check out this really cool book and my review. Oh, and if you want a chance to win a GC click the Quarterly Blog Hop picture on the top right. :)
About the Book:
According to legend, King Arthur is supposed to return when Britain needs him most. So why does a man claiming to be the once and future king suddenly appear in modern-day Los Angeles?
This charismatic young Arthur creates a new Camelot within the City of Angels to lead a crusade of unwanted kids against an adult society that discards and ignores them. Under his banner of equality, every needy child is welcome, regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, or gang affiliation.
With the help of his amazing First Knight, homeless fourteen-year-old Lance, Arthur transforms this ragtag band of rejected children and teens into a well-trained army—the Children of the Knight. Through his intervention, they win the hearts and minds of the populace at large, and gain a truer understanding of themselves and their worth to society. But seeking more rights for kids pits Arthur and his children squarely against the rich, the influential, and the self-satisfied politicians who want nothing more than to maintain the status quo.
Can right truly overcome might? Arthur’s hopeful young knights are about to find out, and the City of Angels will never be the same.
According to legend, King Arthur is supposed to return when Britain needs him most. So why does a man claiming to be the once and future king suddenly appear in modern-day Los Angeles?
This charismatic young Arthur creates a new Camelot within the City of Angels to lead a crusade of unwanted kids against an adult society that discards and ignores them. Under his banner of equality, every needy child is welcome, regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, or gang affiliation.
With the help of his amazing First Knight, homeless fourteen-year-old Lance, Arthur transforms this ragtag band of rejected children and teens into a well-trained army—the Children of the Knight. Through his intervention, they win the hearts and minds of the populace at large, and gain a truer understanding of themselves and their worth to society. But seeking more rights for kids pits Arthur and his children squarely against the rich, the influential, and the self-satisfied politicians who want nothing more than to maintain the status quo.
Can right truly overcome might? Arthur’s hopeful young knights are about to find out, and the City of Angels will never be the same.
My review:
This isn't your everyday YA read. Nor is it an everyday past meets present kind of book. Michael has done something magical. He's created a world in a place that truly is as bad as the book makes it out to be, and tried to put a new light into it.
This is the kind of book that really makes me wish that what we do as writers could transcend to real life. The thought of cleaning up the streets of the scarier, realer, harsher parts of Los Angeles or any major city with the written word would be amazing.
I obviously liked the story and concept. I felt like Michael did a great job at keeping to the original ways of a knight... although our dear knight in shining armor did seem to take everything with a grain of salt. I think I would've freaked the heck out if something like that happened to me. But I never knew Merlin or of a destiny to help a place that would one day need it... as cryptic as that sounds.
And man, did I fall in love with Lance. What a great kid just trying to keep his head down and stay out of trouble. Yep, Michael has done a fabulous job of crafting real characters. The kind that when you finish the book, that you have an investment in. You want things to work out for them and for the happily ever after to exist in some way. Shouldn't the good guys get the day in the end?
I totally recommend this book for those of you that love YA books that have heart, for those of you that enjoy books where the past merges to the future, and a book that has hope.
This isn't your everyday YA read. Nor is it an everyday past meets present kind of book. Michael has done something magical. He's created a world in a place that truly is as bad as the book makes it out to be, and tried to put a new light into it.
This is the kind of book that really makes me wish that what we do as writers could transcend to real life. The thought of cleaning up the streets of the scarier, realer, harsher parts of Los Angeles or any major city with the written word would be amazing.
I obviously liked the story and concept. I felt like Michael did a great job at keeping to the original ways of a knight... although our dear knight in shining armor did seem to take everything with a grain of salt. I think I would've freaked the heck out if something like that happened to me. But I never knew Merlin or of a destiny to help a place that would one day need it... as cryptic as that sounds.
And man, did I fall in love with Lance. What a great kid just trying to keep his head down and stay out of trouble. Yep, Michael has done a fabulous job of crafting real characters. The kind that when you finish the book, that you have an investment in. You want things to work out for them and for the happily ever after to exist in some way. Shouldn't the good guys get the day in the end?
I totally recommend this book for those of you that love YA books that have heart, for those of you that enjoy books where the past merges to the future, and a book that has hope.
About the Author:
Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author of three novels––A Boy and His Dragon, A Matter of Time, and Children of the Knight––who grew up in San Rafael, California.
He majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara University and earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount and another master's in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills.
He partnered with two friends as producer, writer, and/or director on several ultra-low-budget horror films, including “Fatal Images,” “Club Dead,” and “Things II,” the reviews of which are much more fun than the actual movies. Ha!
He taught high school in Hawthorne, California for twenty-five years, both in general education and to students with learning disabilities, in subjects ranging from English and Strength Training to Algebra, Biology, and Yearbook.
He has also been a volunteer Big Brother to seven different boys with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a nearly thirty-year volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California, something that is sorely lacking in this state.
He has been honored as Probation Volunteer of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year, California Big Brother of the Year, and National Big Brother of the Year. The “National” honor allowed he and three of his Little Brothers to visit the White House and meet the president in the Oval Office.
He has already completed the two continuations of Children of the Knight entitled Running Through A Dark Place & And The Children Shall Lead, and plans to release both in 2014.
ONLINE LINKS:
Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author of three novels––A Boy and His Dragon, A Matter of Time, and Children of the Knight––who grew up in San Rafael, California.
He majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara University and earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount and another master's in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills.
He partnered with two friends as producer, writer, and/or director on several ultra-low-budget horror films, including “Fatal Images,” “Club Dead,” and “Things II,” the reviews of which are much more fun than the actual movies. Ha!
He taught high school in Hawthorne, California for twenty-five years, both in general education and to students with learning disabilities, in subjects ranging from English and Strength Training to Algebra, Biology, and Yearbook.
He has also been a volunteer Big Brother to seven different boys with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a nearly thirty-year volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California, something that is sorely lacking in this state.
He has been honored as Probation Volunteer of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year, California Big Brother of the Year, and National Big Brother of the Year. The “National” honor allowed he and three of his Little Brothers to visit the White House and meet the president in the Oval Office.
He has already completed the two continuations of Children of the Knight entitled Running Through A Dark Place & And The Children Shall Lead, and plans to release both in 2014.
ONLINE LINKS:
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