Title: Children of the Knight
Author: Michael. J. Bowler
Published: June 20th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press
Page Count: 344
Genre: YA Fantasy
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating: ★★★★
Book Blurb:
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 novel is intense in a very real way right from page one. Bowler mixes straightforward storytelling with unique yet appropriate descriptions to create a seamless backdrop for this very well put together storyline. Through this intriguing fantasy tale Bowler also brings a large number of social and economic issues to the forefront in a very prominent yet approachable way.
Bowler does a good job of introducing every character we meet as we meet them, without ever overdoing it. The main characters in this novel are fantastic. They are quite well developed and you get to know each and every aspect of their characters, as individuals and team members or leaders. The very large supporting cast is quite uniquely developed. Everyone is developed uniquely to suit their role within the novel, without throwing in irrelevant details to bog down the reader. Also, their dialogue and dialects stay consistent throughout. Bowler never trips up on who speaks which way. It made it quite easy to differentiate between characters.
Overall, this was a uniquely intriguing tale that kept me captivated throughout while engaging my emotions at all times. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone.
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About the Author:
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.
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