Sunday 21 January 2024

MAJOR AND MYNAH – TARANTULA TERROR

 by KAREN OWEN;  

 Illustrated by Louise Forshaw                                                               
Book cover shows a three tone green backgroundradiating from the pivot of a swinging funfair sailing boat ride. Callie kneels on her left knee with her left hand touching the ground. Bo the Mynah bird rests on her right shoulder. Callie is searching for something on the ground. Grace stands to the right of the Callie. She too is looking for something, likely the spider. The title Major and Mynah is in blue text whilst the Tarantular Terror words are in a red.

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my weekend Book Review featuring Adventures in Middle-Grade Fiction.
 
Mrs H has been busy chasing spiders this week. In fact, the warmer winter has meant that not only have the spiders not gone to sleep, they have been breading, too. Well, that's my excuse. In reality, they may have come indoors with me. But, I'm not telling Mrs H that on account of the fact she's been getting far more exercise chasing them and is wearing off all of the excess calories she put on in December. 

Thankfully, we haven't any as big as the spider in this week's book review. Also, none are as fierce and potentially as dangerous, at least for birds. We could do with a few of those to thin out the number of pigeons that wake me each morning at 10am by doing what pigeons do on the roof. 

So, without further ado, let's get on with our arachnid-tastic adventure!
 
 
Book cover shows a three tone green backgroundradiating from the pivot of a swinging funfair sailing boat ride. Callie kneels on her left knee with her left hand touching the ground. Bo the Mynah bird rests on her right shoulder. Callie is searching for something on the ground. Grace stands to the right of the Callie. She too is looking for something, likely the spider. The title Major and Mynah is in blue text whilst the Tarantular Terror words are in a red.



AUTHOR: KAREN OWEN

 

Cover art by: LOUISE FORSHAW 

 

Published by: FIREFLY PRESS


 

Publication date: Paperback: 15 February 2024

 


Paperback ISBN: 978 191 5444 431

 

Cover price for Paperback: £6.99

 

Pages:  124

 

Age range: 7 - 9


Any dogs or cats? No, but B.O., the Mynah bird, has a crucial AND scary part!




 

 

SPOILER ALERT


Some as to plot direction and characters.

 

Thank you to... 


We are exceedingly grateful once more to Firefly Press Publishers (and NetGalley) for giving us an advance copy of this to Read & Review for you all across the world.


As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, been given as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.


First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.


The plot


This is book 3 in the series, and every bit as fun and adventuresome as the others, possibly more so. 


To recap, Callie is our main protagonist. She discovered that her new hearing aids allowed her to understand and speak to Bo, a Mynah bird they adopted in Book 1. Callie and her best pal, Grace, are the two 9-year-old girls in a detective team that includes Bo. They are collectively called S.P.U.D. (Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives).  is our main protagonist. She discovered that her new hearing aids allowed her to understand and speak to Bo, a Mynah bird they adopted in Book 1. Callie and her best pal, Grace, are the two 9-year-old girls in a detective team that includes Bo. They are collectively called S.P.U.D. (Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives). 


It is the school holidays, and a funfair has come to the village, but the kids, including Callie's younger brother, Luke, aren't allowed to go until the weekend when Callie's older cousin comes with his family. That leaves a whole week of going out with their mum and dad, with whom Grace is staying, and doing boring adult things like going to the D.I.Y. store or buying car tyres. I think we can all relate to that in one way or another!


So, having their own airborne assistant/spy in the sky, the girls send Bo off to reconnoitre the fun fair and spot the best rides. But Bo is taking far too long, and the girls are getting worried. When the mynah bird finally returns, he is rather coy as to where and what he's been up to. He gets downright evasive as the week goes on, and he seems very sleepy and off his food, too.


Eventually, after being asked countless times by the kids if they can go to the fair and having to turn them down, they offer to take them somewhere else as a stopgap trip. The kids ultimately settle on going to a wildlife park. Callie's parents have a dislike for snakes and spiders, and they are not keen on going. But a promise is a promise.


At the zoo, the girls learn about the tarantula, and Luke gets to see the snakes.


On leaving the spider presentation given by one of the keepers, the girls spot a giant spider, a tarantula, heading off into the hedge...


OK, what happens next really brings the story into top gear. So, that is where I must leave it. If you want to know the answer to what happens to the fearsome female spider – a bird-eating tarantula at that – what Bo has been up to, and how all the subplots mesh and come to a spooky conclusion, you'll just have to get the book. I assure you the best, scariest and funniest is still to come!

 


So, what did we think?


For a review of book 2, please use our link below:-


Book 2: Major and Mynah – Operation Raven  


We loved every minute of this book. There was always something happening which made it a real page-turner. Karen has ably combined the anticipation and thrill of the fun fair with the excitement and tension of an escaped tarantula and the ensuing investigation, chase and capture. There is also a mystery to unravel about where Bo went and what he was doing. As I was saying, never a dull moment. 


The parent's reactions are, as in real life, priceless. Couple this with the fact that fun and interesting facts about spiders are revealed along the way, and thoroughly engaging artwork makes this a sound, safe, responsible and enjoyable read for children of all ages.


So . . . .

Crunch time. 


Yes, buy this as an excellent way to pass a rainy day, to read aloud or alone, or as part of a broader classroom activity.

 

Want to buy a copy?

To get a copy, minus creepy crawly and slithery add-ons, take the quickest and least scary route down to your local independent bookshop. They are out there, and each shop is just waiting to serve up whatever kind of mystery, fun and adventure you young reader desire. Plus, you'll be helping small businesses stay alive and flourish.

 

KAREN OWEN'S web page can be found HERE or type this:  https://karenowen.co.uk/


 

FIREFLY PRESS web page can be found HERE or type this: https://fireflypress.co.uk/

 


LOUISE FORSHAW web page can be found HERE or type this:   https://www.munkeypants.com/

 

 
Next time we'll be reviewing a real gem of a story: Secrets of the Snakestone. It's a Wilkie Collins Moonstone-like adventure, not to be missed!
 

 

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, in America.

 

Small image. The Cat on My Head Sunday Selfies Blog Hop badge. Features a yellow-haired lady with a tuxedo cat on her head.

I shall leave you with a selfie. I am not sure my toothy grin counts as smiling, but could be one of the reasons I'm so popular with the mice  🙂 🙂

 


Till laters!

ERin


20 comments:

  1. Spiders are fun to chase, but Mummy is NOT fond of them!
    That's a furry cute selfie, ERin! My! What Fearsome Fangs you have!

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  2. Our human finds that toothy grin rather cute! Hugs!

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  3. I am sure the mice fear that grin... if you do RATS we get them in the garage if it rains hard.

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  4. Dear ERin, I too look fur spiders and any other bug in the winter inside fur extra entertainment. Lynn says this book looks furry fun. Love yer toothies!

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  5. ERin what a great Selfie...of your Tuxie self and your beautiful two toofers
    Hugs Cecilia

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  6. We love your toothy selfie, ERin! You really made us smile. :)

    Tracking down taranatulas, talking with mynah birds, and sleuthing about sounds like a grand adventure (way better than going to the DIY store or to get tires, indeed!). We'll be sure to check this one out.

    Hugs to you and Mrs. H.!

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  7. That is a good review Erin and it sounds like another good book. I like your fangs selfie. Did you just eat a tarantula? Flynn used to dispose of spiders for me, but now I have to shout for Ivor.

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  8. ERin yur grin iz de best !! hope all iz well with ewe... and yur book ree veew iz
    grate....prob a blee itz good thing de ta ran choolaz ON a book cover, and knot
    IN yur houz !! :) ♥

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  9. That is an adorable selfie. Great review, sounds like an interesting series. XO

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  10. I love that selfie sweet Princess! Even though I don't like spiders, big time, I did enjoy your wonderful review!

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  11. This sounds like fun, even though the mere thought of tarantulas makes me shudder! Your grin is priceless, Erin!!!

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  12. I LOVE a good adventure story. and the cover to the book is amazing!

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  13. Oh you sweet Purrincess, that was such a cute Selfie of yourSelfie😸😺We like spiders, Peachy can sit for hours in the hallway for a spider, so this book sounds really interesting for him😸Double Pawkisses for a Happy Week ahead to you and and your TW too🐾😽💞

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  14. Petcretary had to grin widely when she saw your cute selfie, Erin!
    Don't tell her we told you, but she has a fang,too...shhh....only can be seen when she herself grins widely like you did...tee-hee!

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  15. Hello Mrs. H and ERin. I wanted to let you know I have sent my wonderful book on to a lady in Canada who loves cat mysteries and her own cat died one year ago. I felt the book was to good to languish in my book case. Kim is at www. keaslife.blogspot.com. Thank you again. Lynn and Precious

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    1. Hello. That is wonderful, and thank you for sharing the magic around. You are right, it is too good for just the one read, and one person to read. I admire your action and think a little sharing goes a long way and we should all do that 🙂
      ERin

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  16. ERin, your selfie was terrific!

    The book seems fun, though I'm actually quite scared of spiders!

    Thanks for stopping by my Musings blog. When I get to flooring options, I will see what's available that is commercial grade. Thanks for the tip.

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    1. Thank you. Yes, we are, too, if they are that big. Good luck with your work and safe travels.
      ERin

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  17. I saw a comic one time that called spiders land octupi. It's forever engrained in my head now!

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