Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises
Common Sense says
- Peter Lerangis
- Fantasy
- 2013
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that we recommend The Colossus Rises for kids 10 and up -- an age rating that's a couple of years older than the publisher's recommendation -- simply because the story is more complicated than most books for 8-year-olds and would be harder for them to follow. The fantasy violence is about average for the level of action and adventure and includes fights with giant ancient beasts, a near-drowning, a big fire, and more. The four teens' brushes with death are many -- two are thought dead during their adventures and all aren't expected to live long thanks to a genetic marker that makes them both exceptional and physically vulnerable. Jack makes a good leader of the group, and Aly, the only girl, is a tech genius and kind of punk -- a nice change.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Graphic scenes I wasn't aware of
Poor character development
Seven Wonders
Great book!
What's the story?
Thirteen-year-old Jack is headed to a math test when he blacks out in the school parking lot. Could it have anything to do with that upside-down \"V\" mysteriously appearing on the back of his head? The shady Professor Bhegdad is sure he possesses a rare genetic marker that sharpens his mind immensely ... right before it kills him. So sure that he secretly whisks Jack away to an isolated island to treat him and a few other \"V\"-clad survivors. Jack meets Cass, who's a walking GPS; pink-haired Aly, who can hack any database she sets her mind to; and Marco, who sports superhuman strength and battle smarts. Their backgrounds may be different, but they certainly agree on one thing: Professor Bhegdad isn't telling them all his reasons for bringing them there. And the ancient power hidden on that very island is just one of his many secrets.
Is it any good?
Fans of Percy Jackson and the Kane Chronicles may ask themselves: The formula's the same (modern teens meet mythology and big adventures), so why aren't I absolutely loving this? The adventures are still big, with some scary creatures and clues to puzzle out. But the characters need some fleshing out -- some moments of reflection so we can know them well enough to get excited about traveling the world with them, finding cool ancient stuff for what's probably six more books.
Instead, the author piles on another mysterious angle to overcomplicate the plot or takes the teens back -- again -- to wondering why they're on the island and can they really trust the crazy professor? Who knows? But it's more important for readers to put their trust in the main characters first.
Talk to your kids about ...
What drew you to this series? The compelling cover? All the marketing to fans of Percy Jackson-style fantasies?
Do you look forward to reading Seven Wonders Book 2? Why or why not?
There's plenty to read about the Ancient Wonders of the World and why they were considered so special. Books like this one are fun to follow up with a bit of research.
Book details
- Author: Peter Lerangis
- Illustrator: Mike Reagan
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Superheroes, Adventures, History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Harper
- Publication date: February 5, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 368
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: June 19, 2019
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.