Parents' Guide to

The Champion: Contender, Book 3

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Cade fights aliens galore in action-stuffed finale.

Book Taran Matharu Science Fiction 2021
The Champion: Contender, Book 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

In THE CHAMPION: CONTENDER, BOOK 3, Cade and friends are forced to leave the safety of their keep by Abaddon, their alien overlord. As usual, the fate of the Earth they were kidnapped from is at stake and they must beat the next contenders they face, whomever they may be. After packing up the essentials in just two hours, they find themselves in a vast prairie filled with tall blue grass and encounter a village with walls too flimsy to defend. They need reinforcements, and quickly, and find a camp of Roman legionaries they must convince to help them. Unfortunately, their leader is both cruel and incompetent, and the only weapons they possess are rusty cannons without any ammunition. But as in all the contests before, Abaddon leaves them relics they can use, if only they figure out the clues in time. Cade is sure that there's something important about a ship full of sulfur and an old cesspit. What could it be?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
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Kids say (1 ):

The battles and aliens keep coming in this finale that will certainly satisfy action-adventure fans, but maybe not the sci-fi fans looking for a deeper connection to the story and characters. The very best part of The Champion is the twist that comes after their first big alien battle. Cade is thrown into a trajectory he didn't expect and has serious intell can't share with anyone -- the Codex will always be listening. Cade is forced to go it alone and make decisions his friends don't like, and he can never explain why.

Of course, Cade doesn't need to go it alone for every task in The Champion. Some of his friends could have helped with his chemistry experiments.They could have also dealt with the Romans, anything. Author Taran Matharu makes most of Cade's friends throw-away characters by Book 3. Even Cade's girlfriend Amber has little to do beyond kissing Cade or pouting in a corner. It doesn't feel fair considering how far they've all come together. The big sci-fi fan reader is also cheated near the end when so much more is revealed about Abaddon. The descriptions go by so fast to serve an actiony ending. It was worth slowing down there and really showing all the alien overlords' fascinating secrets. All that said, the ending does thrill and readers will be wondering until the very last how Cade can possibly survive his final big contest.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about choices in The Champion. Was Cade's choice a difficult one? Would you have done the same? Would you have been able to keep your choice a secret from all your friends? What choices did the other humans make?

  • Why do you think Cade was made the leader? What qualities does he have? How does his knowledge of history and science help him along the way?

  • What other standout leaders have you read about? How many of them are biracial like Cade? Is it harder to find books with diverse leaders?

Book Details

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