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As a little girl, S.A. Larsen believed her closet held secret passageways to magical worlds brimming with all sorts of creepy creatures – her favorite kind. Sheri never did find a ghoul or a goblin in her closet, only a half-eaten fluffernutter that her brother repurposed as a hockey puck. Her debut novel MOTLEY EDUCATION (Leap Books, 2016), is an international multiple award-winning, fantasy-adventure for middle grade readers; this is the first book in the series. She’s written young adult stories, community interest newspaper pieces, youth athlete magazine articles, and MARKED BEAUTY (Ellysian Press, 2017) her award-winning contemporary-fantasy romance for young adult and adult readers alike. She's also a @MixedUpFiles contributor, #MGLitchat co-host, and writing mentor for First Five Pages under Adventures in YA Publishing. When she’s not chasing her characters around a cemetery or antagonizing them with the wonders of young love, she can be found in the land of lobsters and snowy winters with her husband and four children (yes, they all play hockey), a playful pooch, and three kittens.
Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite
For Ebony Charmed, starting middle school at Motley Junior High: School for the Psychically and Celestially Gifted was supposed to be the beginning of wonderful things. In Motley Education, Book One of The URD Saga by S.A. Larsen, it couldn’t be more different! Ebony still messes up with her assignments and doesn’t think she has the powers or abilities that would make her fit in. At home, things are just as bad since her dad moved out because of constant arguments with her mom. At least Ebony has her best friend and GTG, Fleishman and his pet legless lizard, Nigel, not to mention the 3 Ms who are ghosts in the boneyard Ebony has talked to since she was a little girl. Together, Ebony and Fleishman work on a class project that turns into a major adventure into other levels of the human and celestial worlds where evil lurks and a power struggle threatens to ruin everything. Encountering fire and ice giants, a huge wolf and ravens with mechanical attachments, Ebony and Fleishman disappear through portals into different dimensions, fortunately finding friends along the way. Will Ebony find her missing Deadly Creatures and Relics project, which seems to be of interest to a number of creatures, and how will she make everything right again when she thinks she can’t do anything?
Scary fun and frightening adventures are only part of what you will find in Motley Education. S.A. Larsen has created a wonderful world full of dynamic characters, ever increasing intrigue, and imaginative worlds where amazing things happen. Motley Education is the perfect middle grade fantasy book to capture your attention and engage your imagination as you experience Norse mythology with Ebony and Fleishman, aided by the computer gaming skills of Ebony’s brother, Ethan. There is plenty that middle schoolers can relate to within the pages and S.A. Larsen treats this variety of themes with straightforward insight and gentle interpretation. Enjoy Book One of the URD Saga, not only because it is a great story, but because it promises to be the beginning of an even more exciting journey. Terrific story with lots to compliment! Quite engaging, which is perfect for the targeted age group, (and older readers as well!). I can't wait to see what comes next.
