Crater Lake: Battle for Wizard Island

Crater Lake #1

by Steve Westover

While visiting his crazy Uncle Bart at Crater Lake National Park, thirteen-year-old Ethan's world collapses when all the adults at Crater Lake disappear, including his parents. Now Ethan must rally his new friends and decipher the legends of Crater Lake to find the key to rescuing his parents from their earthen prison before he s captured too and their captivity becomes permanent.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 13, 2012

About the author

Grandma's in the Garbage is an adorable children's book written by me and my wife and illustrated by my wife. It's about a grandma who makes a memory quilt for her granddaughter. https://www.missouriquiltco.com/shop/...

You can also read my Jenny Doan Quilting Mystery series in BLOCK Magazine through MSQC.

A Nothing Named Silas is a heart pumping read with some great twists and turns. Check it out.

Return of the Mystic Gray,the second book of my Crater Lake series, was released in April, 2013 following CRATER LAKE: BATTLE FOR WIZARD ISLAND which was released in March 2012. Crater Lake is mid-grade fantasy set at the pristine Crater Lake in Oregon. Though it is written for a younger audience, readers of all ages will enjoy it. I recommend 11+

Gold Clash was released in December 2012 and is a sequel to DEFENSIVE TACTICS, which was published by Cedar Fort in August of 2010. Both Gold Clash and Defensive Tactics are light, fun FBI thrillers that also raise meaningful questions for the reader to consider.

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book! Definitely one that I will be sharing with my kids! Come read my review! http://booksrmyfriends.blogspot.com/2...

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book, though I kinda wish it wasn't set up for a series, since just the rescuing of the parents took up so much, it would be a better standalone. Yep.

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

CRATER LAKE: Battle for Wizard Island
by Steve Westover

Ethan is being taken to spend a week with Uncle Bart at Crater Lake National Park. His mom, dad, and little sister Jordan are going to spend the day hiking before they leave Ethan. Uncle Bart tells them the history of Crater Lake – how it was created when Mt Mazama erupted 77,000 years ago creating a massive crater. Ethan could care less about what Uncle Bart has to say, especially when he sees Allie, a teenaged girl who is going hiking with her parents.

Nathaniel and Jenna are hiking in the woods surrounding Crater Lake when they are surrounded by three cougars. Suddenly the woods are now a tangle of vines and roots and the vines begin to wrap themselves around the pair – binding them. With the cougars help Nathaniel and Jenna are freed but the ground opens up, swallowing them, hiding all trace that they were ever there!

Brady is with his scout troop trying to figure out how to read the topographical map, but he failed the scoutmaster's test. Jacob is then given the task of deciphering the map which he quickly does to Brady's great annoyance. When Brady needs to take a private break, Jacob is his escort. But when the boys return their troop and their packs have disappeared! Jacob and Brady continue on to Mt. Scott in the hopes of catching up with their troop.

As they hike Jordan and Allie strike up a friendship to Ethan's chagrin. As the two families emerge from the trail near Sun Notch View Point they have an amazing view of the Phantom Ship! Ethan, Jordan, and Allie continue on to the lake shore to examine the Phantom closer. Everything near the Phantom has a scorched look to it.

Suddenly Allie's mom begins sinking into the cliff. Ethan's parents and Allie's dad run she calls out in panic, but they can't pull her from the ground and she is swallowed. Then the other three adults quickly disappear beneath the surface before hardening over them.

Brady and Jacob are headed back to the ranger station in hopes of finding the scouts and leaders. Allie, Ethan, and Jordan decide to head to the ranger station in the hopes that Uncle Bart would have an idea of how to get their parents back, but before they start out Brady and Jacob come screaming down the trail with a black bear following them. A specter then moves onto the trail stopping Brady and Jacob, but when Ethan moves forward to investigate a young Native American teenager is standing where the specter should have been. Che-tan introduces himself and tells them he knows what has happened. Che-tan tells them there is time to save their friends and families, but time is short and the ground has devoured everyone over the age of 16.

Che-tan tells them they have until noon tomorrow to free them from their Below World prison or they will be gone forever trapped by Chief Llao. Che-tan then tells them that at midnight the moon will strike the moon dial on the Phantom Ship revealing the prison key's hiding place.

Ethan and Allie ask Che-tan to tell them who he really is and to convince them that he is speaking the truth. To convince them Che-tan transforms into four large birds and then returns to his human form. He then tells them that he is Guardian of Crater Lake and was one of Chief Llao's people until Chief Skell defeated him – imprisoning him beneath Crater Lake.

At the appointed time Ethan and Brady swim across to the Phantom Ship through freezing water. While the boys are getting the key Jacob, Allie and Jordan gather wood to build a fire so that they can warm up. Jacob wades out into the lake and pulls Brady and Ethan to shore. Then the three kids set about drying and warming Ethan and Brady as best as they can. As they wait for the boys to warm and regain consciousness they examine the artifacts that Ethan and Brady recovered. There is a flute that when different notes are played fire or ice come from it. They decide to wait until daylight to find out what the other powers of the flute are.

With everyone sleeping Allie decides to go down to the lake to get water to drink. But when she heads back to their camp she is surrounded by misty darkness and then there is a sudden burst of blinding light and then Che-tan is there holding the flute. Che-tan then bursts into four birds who dive at Brady before returning to his human form. Che-tan then tells Allie and Brady that they must take the next step now, that there is no time to wake the others! Using two of the artifacts that the boys recovered they receive a message "Invade the Conjurer's home. Stab him through the eye. Listen to him scream. Watch him perish. His inheritance will become yours." Now they just have to decipher it before it is too late.

Meanwhile Ethan begins convulsing so Jacob and Jordan melt some chocolate with some water to give him some energy. But when Ethan revives he is overflowing with energy which they realize is a result of the artifact they heated the chocolate in. The three then realize that Allie and Brady are gone.

Che-tan is leading Allie and Brady to Wizard Island, but Brady is still suffering from his ordeal and the pace is hard on him.

Ethan then has Jacob and Jordan drink from the stone bowl, hoping it will give them an energy boost as well. As they heat the water they see the same message Allie and Brady saw. Jordan then realizes that Allie and Brady must be heading towards Wizard Island.

Jordan starts walking away as if in a trance, disappearing into a fissure in the rocky ground. Jacob and Ethan have no choice but to follow her into the narrow into the lava tunnel. As she journeys she sees visions from Mt Mazama's past – it's destruction. Seeing a faint light Ethan leaves Jacob and hurries towards the glow thinking it is Jordan. But instead he finds Chief Llao! Llao then forces Ethan to help him by killing Jacob and promising to restore Jacob's life if Ethan will listen to him. Llao orders Ethan to give him the stone bowl and water. When Llao drinks the water he is transformed into his youthful appearance, to Ethan's horror! Llao then returns Jacob to life. He tells the boys that their parents disappearance was to get their help because when they release their parents from the Prison of the Lost they will release Llao and his people as well!

As the boys race through the lava tunnels, Che-tan is preparing his followers - cougars, black bears, and hawks await his orders to go to Wizard Island and to war! When Jordan comes out of her trance she doesn't remember getting to Wizard Island and she doesn't know why she is all alone on the edge of a volcano. Jordan tells Ethan and Jacob that the Old Man they need to stab in the eye is the log that Uncle Bart said floated in Crater Lake. But Ethan and Jacob don't take her seriously. As the boys decide their search strategy Jordan goes off on her own towards the lake.

Allie and Brady make their escape to Crater Lake in a canoe while Che-tan's army, that can, escape in their various animal forms. When Brady asks Allie if there is anything she can do to help, she tries the last hole of the flute. She creates a wind that clears the lake of the fog and they see Jordan and Ethan holding onto a log. While on the shore waiting for Ethan and Jordan, Jacob decides to resume his search for the conjurer. But as he sets out two zombie-like people trap him so he leaps into the water, only to have one of them pushes him beneath the surface. For the second time Jacob dies at the whim of Chief Llao. Jenna and Nathaniel leave the now dead Jacob floating in the lake.

Using all four of the artifacts the kids are able to unlock the prison and awakening the volcano within Wizard Island! The Wata'm village along with the Wata'mi and Chief Llao erupt through the lava tunnels to the surface . The sun turns purple and the sky green as Wizard Island bulges out with its eruption. When the waves settle down Ethan and Jordan find themselves on the shore near the Phantom Ship. Suddenly their parents call out telling them to hurry up! Jordan and Ethan race up the path to their parents. Allie then joins them from further up the trail. Jordan then asks her parents if they can bring Ethan home with them and not leave him behind as they had originally had planned.

Suddenly Brady comes upon his scout troop where he had left them and when Jacob's dad asks him where Jacob is Brady can't tell him and instead hugs him tight. With Jacob dead Brady doesn't know what to say or to do.

Chief Llao is directing the rebuilding of the Wata'm village in the Above World. Soon Che-tan joins him and tells him his people will be no danger to him. He also tells him that Jacob was lost to the watery depths of Crater Lake but he is truly dead and no longer a threat to Llao either now or in the coming battle with Chief Skell.

[Charity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a slow read to me and ending on a cliff hanger? Come onnnn
But when the ball finally started rolling it was pretty good.

[J. Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the cover of the book, “Crater Lake—Battle For Wizard Island” it also has the words, “An ancient evil lurks in the depths.”

It sum up the book, I think the blurb on the back does a nice job. It says, “While visiting his crazy Uncle Bart at Crater Lake National Park, thirteen-year-old Ethan's world collapses when all the adults at Crater Lake disappear, including his parents. Now Ethan must rally his new friends and decipher the legends of Crater Lake to find the key to rescuing his parents from their earthen prison before he's captured too and their captivity becomes permanent.”

The book was written for younger readers, I’d say ages ten and up. The main characters in the book are in that age range, and I can imagine them relating to what the characters are experiencing. How scary would it be to have your parents disappear when you’re thirteen and at an unfamiliar National Park? That, in and of itself, is a scary premise.

Included are mystical elements of smart cougars, bears, birds, bats as well as . . . ok, there are some even creepier things toward the end of the book, but I don’t want to ruin the surprises.

Reading about the author, and how he grew up in Oregon, I could tell how he used his experiences in camping and hiking to add a vivid picture of the setting. Aside from the ground eating people and the evil that is around, it sounds like a cool place to visit.

To fully appreciate this book, you need to read it from the point of view of the age group it was written for. When I was that age, the world was full of mystery, wonder and exciting possibilities. Adults may read this book and say, “Yeah, like that would ever happen.” Or “Why are the characters acting that way?” Remember: they’re kids.

Overall I enjoyed the book. It’s always a pleasure to read an imaginative, clean story. While there are some scary moments, it’s still a safe read for children.

As a fellow author, I know how difficult it is to write a book, let alone get it published. I feel my writing has improved because I was given some excellent suggestions from other writers. If I may be so bold, let me share the two things that distracted me in the book.

First, there was a lot of head hopping going on. While switching from points of view during a scene doesn’t break any federal laws, I found I would just start to connect to a character when all of a sudden I was in someone else’s head. It was a bit disconcerting.

Second, at the end of the book, the “heroes” of the book must complete their mission by a certain time, yet the sense of urgency was barely there—and not until the very last moments. At one point, with time running out, one of the characters won’t do what he’s asked to do until he’s been told what is going on. It was distracting enough that it pulled me out of the story.

Again, these are personal things I struggled with, and I don’t think they are enough to ruin the book for its targeted audience.

The book ends with the possibility of another book or two to be written. In fact, I dare say there needs to be at least another book to tie up several things that were introduced toward the end.

Who would like this book? As stated above, I’d say ages ten and up, leaning toward the male side of things, though there is quite a strong female character that girls can relate to.

I wish Steve Westover a huge amount of success with this book. He’s got a wonderful imagination and a talent for setting a great scene.

[Scott William Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been to Crater Lake. Actually, that's not true...when my mother was alive she told me that I did see Crater Lake when I was only a few months old. Had the events that take place in Steve Westover's new novel, Crater Lake Battle For Wizard Island actually happened when I was there as an infant, I would have been in REAL trouble!

Westover combines mystical creatures, Native American legends, the awkwardness of teenage years, and a battle for survival into a story that both entertains and keeps the reader wondering what comes next. The story revolves around a team of kids thrown together by the most unusual of circumstances. When every adult at Crater Lake and the surrounding area disappear (many of the disappearances are described in grizzly detail...) only children under a certain age remain to fend for themselves--hence the problems I would have faced as a baby if my family's visit coincided with Westover's story. The children are left to fight the elements, ancient legends, fighting zombies, and each other to survive.

Westover chooses to divide the story of 240+ pages into dozens of chapters, many only one or two pages long. It keeps the story moving and gives the reader a fast-paced experience. It took only a few hours of reading a day for a few days for me to finish the book. The book ends with a satisfactory ending as well as a set up for additional novels to come. It does, quite nicely, stand on its own as a singular story.

Though the book is targeted to a Young Adult audience, I believe adults will enjoy reading it themselves or reading it to their children. Westover masterfully paints a picture of scary things in a way that should not overwhelm children, however, younger kids--say under eight-years old--might find some of the imagery a bit disturbing.

I enjoyed the story. If I ever make it to Crater Lake (again...) I'm sure this story will come to mind and I will wonder if the legend of Chief Llao and Chief Skell actually exists.

[Yiota · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 kids? An adventure? Magic? This is so me for many reasons, and that's exactly what i got it. The cover only, promise you a wild adventure.

Steve Westover's writing can be called captivating. The world he created is amazingly described and really alive. The mixing of magic in our world, with native americans, and kids trying to save the "world" was done incredibly well and believable. And that's exactly what hold you into the book. Not that the story, is not good! Is quite interesting actually with many surprises now and there, and twists but the images created by the author were the ones that stayed mostly in my head.

Also, instead of having one kid to handle everything, you have a whole team of teens with everyone be as important as the other. I always prefer stories with more than one characters as protagonists because it feels more real. When someone magical happen, and problems appear it's better for me to have a team of friends than one person. It's more believable on the matter, of how things can be handled, and more close to the reality.

The characters are not extraordinary but are likeable. It's easy for you to see the story through their eyes and i enjoyed how their relationships change. Especially, between Ethan and Jordan, who are brother and sister.

Even though the book seems more appropriate for kids, i enjoyed it. And i think that is an adventure that any adult can read too. It totally reminded me all those old movies, i was watching when younger, with kids running around and having fun through danger and friendship.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Crater Lake, by Steve Westover

Steve Westover asked me to review the advance review copy of his middle-grade adventure and fantasy-fiction, Crater Lake: the Battle For Wizard Island.

Crater Lake was a fun and interesting read. It will appeal to its intended audience, and it is a rarity; a story directed to middle-grade boys. We need more of those.
I felt that the legend, geography, mythology and overall imaginative conceptualization of the world of Crater Lake were very well done. The characters are perfect—a quarreling pair of siblings, a jock/bully, a cute girl, the good boy scout. Any kid who picks this up will find someone to identify with. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters. I appreciated that they were generally consistent, without improbable changes in personality or behavior.

My favorite thing about this story is the sense that it’s not a cozy little world Westover has created; there is real danger. Overall there was a feeling of eeriness and impending adventure (or doom) throughout the story, which drives the reader in spite of the disturbing tragedies that occur in the course of the story. I did feel that there was a little bit more of that than I’d expect in a middle-grade book (tragedy, particularly as one of the tragedies remains unresolved at the end) but the violence isn’t such that I would keep my children from reading it. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone with grade-school aged children, boys in particular—they will love it.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethan is not quite sure how he's going to survive the week that his parents are going to leave him with his crazy Uncle Bart at Crater Lake National Park. Uncle Bart is a park ranger there, and there are lots of cool things to see and do, including a cute girl named Ally, but still, crazy Uncle Bart. But Ethan's parents and his sister Jordan are at least planning to stay for the day, so he'll try to make the best of that. Ethan, Jordan and Ally and their parents decide to go for a little hike, but when the kids venture down by the lake on a different trail, their parents disappear into the mountain, right before their eyes. They are completely uncertain what to do, when an apparent Native American appears and tells them that everyone over the age of 16 has been trapped in a jail beneath the mountain. It appears that getting their parents back before it's too late will be up to Jordan, Ethan and Ally. But it will not be easy! I thought that this book was so full of imagination! A world underneath the deepest lake in the US is a pretty crazy idea. I liked the characters and how they all had to learn to get along, both with each other and also on their own with no adults. I thought that several of the kids grew up in just a rapid amount of time and it was kind of fun to see that transformation. This book was written for elementary aged kids and I think they will love it. I can't wait to let my daughter read it!

[Sara Kovach · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an excellently captivating middle-grade novel. Steve Westover draws you in from the start. Tied into the fantasy is a wonderful mystery involving kids who have to figure out what happened to their parents, find them, and figure out how to rescue them. There is a lot of mythology surrounding Crater Lake and Wizard Island intricately intertwined throughout the story. That, and the vivid descriptions of Crater Lake led me to search out the actual images for the real-life lake. The accuracy and brilliant descriptions make for such a creative story.

Battle for Wizard Island is book one of the Crater Lake series. I already can't wait until the next one comes out - I want to know what happens next!!

Beyond the obvious fantasy elements present in the story, the characters - specifically the 5 kids - are very believable. Their actions, emotions, and responses are so realistic - from the typical brother/sister arguing, to peer pressure, and competitiveness. The author has truly woven into the tale a fantasy that includes modern day kids dealing facing a huge adventure / mystery.

You have to check this one out - and do share it with all teens and tweens in your life. It would also make for a fun read-aloud to younger children/students.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventure, adventure, adventure. That's how I would sum up this book. Throw in a bit of magic and a common purpose and you get a great book. There are several kids, brought together by the traumatic experience of watching their parents disappear. In order to save them, they band together and face the challenges. Swimming through freezing waters, exploring underground, fighting creatures, and near death experiences will keep you interested and entertained all the way through.

This is a middle grade book and I think it will especially appeal to young boys. Not only because there are adventures that seem to be made of young boy dreams, but it's got that "boy scout humor" or, as I like to call it, potty humor thrown in here and there. You know, farts and bathroom talk.

What I liked about the book was the overall theme of working together. Here is a quote I really liked. "There is much you can do." Che-Tan thought about his words and then corrected himself. "There is much we can do together." These kids find out that working together is safer and better. They accomplished much by working together.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan is reluctantly planning to spend some time at Crater Lake with his Crazy Uncle Bart, the park ranger. When the family arrives Uncle Bart tells them the legend of Crater Lake, which Ethan ignores. Ethan's family stay and take the kids on a hike, where they are joined by Allie's family. While the kids are exploring their parents are sucked into the ground. Jacob and Brady are Boy Scouts, whose whole troop disappears.

All of the people over 16 have disappeared from Crater Lake, leaving 5 kids, Ethan, Jordan, Allie, Jacob and Brady alone, with Che-tan a young Indian Boy who claims to have the key to rescuing their parents. He claims to want to help them (or does he?). Che-tan, they learn, can split into 4 birds.

Che-tan tells them how to find the key to release their families from the underworld prison. During their adventure the kids meet all kinds of challenges, they get separated, they fight zombies, they loose a friend.

Crater Lake Battle for Wizard Island by Steve Westover is written for young readers, but it grabbed my interest early on and when it ended it left me wanting more.

I would recommend this books for anyone from 9 years old and up to adult.

[MarytheBookLover · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Opinion:
Amazingly written YA book. Crater Lake is great for middle grade/teens. I have two so I know. It was a fantastic, engaging adventure right from the beginning when we met Ethan and Jordan. The last thing Ethan wants to do is spend two weeks at his Uncle’s. His Uncle begins to tell him stories of Crater Lake and as we go on you begin to realize that there might be truth to them. We meet a lot of great characters in this book and you really get to watch them grow as the story goes on. Ethan even gets a crush. As they are trying to free their parents from the ground that devoured them, you can’t help but just get so absorbed in the book. My girls had a fun time reading this one with me. I love the kids in the story and how determined they were. I also liked how they interacted with one another. They have to work together to get their parents back. This is a great story and I recommend it for middle to upper grades, even adults!
I give Crater Lake by Steve Westover 4 of 5 stars.

[Shannon O'Donnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realized a long time ago that I usually enjoy MG titles from Cedar Fort Publishing. I only review books I like well enough to recommend, and last year from Cedar Fort I reviewed multiple strong MG stories including: Guardians of the Hidden Scepter, The Last Archangel, Huber Hill and the Dead Man's Treasure, Skipping Stones at the center of the Earth, and more recently, Time Gangsters.

Crater Lake is another story I can gladly add to that list. I love the setting of this story. The kids (from different groups at first) are originally visiting Crater Lake National Park, some with parents and some with a scout troop. When things go big-time crazy, it's up to the kids to save their parents and return things to normal. They do that with a combination of courage, magic, friendship, and teamwork. The combination of wilderness adventure, Native American folklore, and local legend make this a very fun read.

[Tristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

found Crater Lake a perfect book for tweens, a wonderful adventure for sure. The book starts out with readers getting to meet Ethan and his family which includes his little sister Jordan. This trip is one that Ethan is forced to go on , one he is bored on from the very beginning, even as his Uncle begins to tell about the native aspects of the stories that surround Crater Lake. Little by little you get to meet an array of characters , some scouts, a girl that Ethan gets a crush on , even a Native that might be more than he seems. throughout book you quickly learn that perhaps the stories Uncle Bart tells are not just stories after all. I really enjoyed watching the characters grow , as they struggled to survive and free their parents from the very ground that devoured them. Crater Lake is a wonderful mix of intrigue and adventure. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a book that teaches you about determination , and teamwork.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange things are happening at Crater Lake, people are being swallowed into the ground. No, it's not like quicksand. It is a bizarre, unusual occcurance. The ground has 'devoured' everyone over the age of 16. Sounds like it might be a kids dream, but it turns into a nightmare.

Sound like fun? This is an incredible book. Would have been great as a stand alone book but it's even better knowing it's the beginning of a series and there are more like this to come!

The characters are rich and engaging. Their interactions are full of life and believable. Typical brother-sister relationship between Jordan and Ethan. There are 5 kids total who must 'save the day'.

This is a wild ride that will be loved by all. It should be particularly engaging to middle grade age students, both boys and girls. I think they will follow along and root for the kids to save their parents!!

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the adults at the park have disappeared in front of loved ones eyes. Those only under the age of 16 are still around. Ethan, Jordan, Allie, Jacob and Brady, team up to try and figure out what has happened to all of the adults. A Native American boy, Che-Tan, shows up to help the teens in their search. They soon find that Che-tan is a magical being, who one minute is a boy, and the next he turns into several birds. The teen characters all play very important roles that go along with their strengths. The great part is how they all learn and grow so much as the story progresses. I also liked how there were both male and female protagonists to cheer for. This is why both boys and girls will really like the book.

To read the rest of my review please go to my blog at:

http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot....

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of those books that you're not sure if you'll like or not, but you're curious enough about it that you want to read it.

It took me a few chapters to get really interested, but once I hit that spot, I was hooked. I wanted to find out what else was going to happen, and I wanted to know now. I didn't want to do anything else but read. But, as we all know, ya have to eat and sleep sometimes. Even still, I think I read it in just a few hours.

There was adventure, bonding, mystery, adventure and more. And... very good writing. I really enjoyed This book, and loved how the story wrapped up!

This isn't my usual genre (YA/teens), but I'm finding I do like this type of book, and would definitely recommend it.

[Tamera Westhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading books based on Native American legends (since I am part Native American). This one spooked me out a little, because the Chiefs were still “alive.” Then we were seeing through so many different people’s viewpoints! Like the couple that disappears after a very scary afternoon. I’m hoping the sequel clears up why they were portrayed in this book. I can’t imagine everyone over the age of 16 just disappearing. Poor kids! Luckily they weren’t younger. I didn’t like all the fighting (but I just skim those parts) and how you can’t tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys. Why is it that we had no communication with the good guy anyway? That was pretty strange too! Either way I’ll be reading the sequel.

[Hillary Sperry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fantastic story. Steve Westover develops his characters well. They are all unique, and very enjoyable to read and live through!

The twists and turns of Crater Lake still have me guessing but Steve managed to give the book excellent closure as well. I'm very excited to read the next installment!

There were some POV moments that bothered me as I noticed in one of Steve's previous books but, even with that he navigates the story effortlessly and it's super easy to get lost in the adventure.

I really loved Ethan and even Brady's character arch. We rise to the occasion with them as they find courage, hope, and pain, throughout their struggles on Wizard Island! I hope to see more of them, Jacob, and the girls in the sequel! Thanks for a great read Steve!

[Danyelle Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Battle for Wizard Island is the first book of the Crater Lake series - and it was EXCELLENT! I was pulled right in from chapter one and only put the book down when my munchkins insisted they needed Mom. =) Steve Westover crafts a great mystery filled with suspense that will keep youth and adults on the edge of their seat. I loved the characters, their attitudes, and interactions as they try to unravel ancient stories and clues. I'm definitely purchasing a print copy of this book. I know my 11 year old daughter will love it!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Cedar Fort Publishers, and am very glad I did! This is a book for children 10-16, but was enjoyable even for me (20's). I enjoyed the Native American "legends" Steve Westover has added to his story. They were believable although fictional, and coincided perfectly with the lives of his 5 main characters, Allie, Jacob, Ethan, Jordan, and Brady. I would definitely recommend this book to any one looking for a good book for their child, or a quick "young" read for themselves.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. All people age 16 or older have vanished from the area around Crater Lake. There are 5 children left. They are trying to find their parents and scout troops. To bring everyone else back, they have to find, "The Old Man", stab the conjurer in the eye, and their families and friends will come back. This book is the first in a series. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read I picked up because I knew the author in high school. An action & adventure for 11-14 year olds. I think my boys will like it because of the Indian lore, transforming animals and zombies. I would definitely want to read this before a trip to Crater Lake (next summer I'm hoping!) just to add to the fun. I like it when authors use a real place to build their story in.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH, now another book I have to wait for the next in the series to come out! It really is a very fun and exciting read with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing and involved all the way through!

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fast paced and great book. My friend won this book from the GoodReads first reads and let me borrow it. It was awesome. Good for teens and preteens. Actioned packed and has some supernatural parts. I hope the next one comes out soon, it has a cliffhanger ending.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at www.ldswbr.com

[Carol]

I would love to read this book! I grew up near Crater Lake and visited several times. What a fun setting for a book!

[Irwin]

I won this book free as a goodreads giveaway! I am waiting to read it. Thanks.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read this book yet. By the tag that explains the book it sounds like an exciting read,