Madison Kleigh and the Onyx Stone is a gripping young adult fantasy by Jeffrey David Montanye. Madison Kleigh is a 13-year-old girl who has always wanted a stone from another planet. But now that her father is on a mission on Mars, she is sad that he can't bring anything home that was collected in space. However, Madison receives a package with no return address on her birthday and discovers an onyx stone inside. Shortly after, she learns the stone is not an ordinary one. The stone has extraordinary powers, and she must keep it safe. Thus, Madison and her best friend, Lou, promise not to tell anyone about the stone, or something terrible will happen to them if they ever break the promise. Is there anyone else who knows about the stone's power?

Madison Kleigh and the Onyx Stone is a fascinating and thrilling novel full of action, adventure, and magic for children, teens, and adults. The characters are awesome, and the intrigue is compelling and exciting. I needed a book like this: highly enjoyable, moving, and authentic. I loved everything about it. It is perfectly crafted. Enough emotion, danger, mystery, hope, and tension keep you turning the pages, leaving you eager for more. It's about friendship, family, bullying, and a unique stone. Madison carved a special place in my heart. Jeffrey David Montanye's writing style is particularly appealing and admirable. This beautifully written book is a must-read, especially for adventure and suspense fans.

Madison Kleigh and the Onyx Stone by Jeffrey David Montanye is a YA adventure story. There’s nothing special about Madison Kleigh and on the face of it she’s just an ordinary girl. Or is she? Her astronaut father is on a mission, and on her birthday, Madison receives a strange stone she thinks her father sent her from space. But this stone is magical, and when Madison and her best friend make a vow not to disclose its power, they make the mistake of sealing the vow with the stone’s power. But that energy can give life to objects. They can’t stop the secret of the stone from leaking out, and when it does, Madison learns that her worst nightmare may be about to come true. Who else is after the stone, and what will they do to get it? Is Madison safe?

Madison Kleigh and the Onyx Stone by Jeffrey David Montanye is a fast-paced, action-packed story. It’s a great tale with plenty of adventure and excitement, and it’s fun, but there’s also a serious side to it. The story deals with life issues faced by teens and how to overcome them, and it does so in a sensitive way. The characters are wonderfully developed, real people who come to life as you read. The plot is unique, complex, and a combination of teenage anguish, coming-of-age pains, and magic, all rolled into a great mystery. I guarantee you won’t put this book down once you start reading it, and you’ll love the paper cat. If you like light-hearted adventure and fantasy stories, you’ll enjoy this, the first book in what looks to be a promising new series.