What do you think?
Rate this book
Delta Legend
When 16-year-old Oakland teenager, Calvin Pierce, makes a bad decision and winds up getting arrested, his mother is quick to take action. Determined not to lose a second son to the drug and gang violence of the inner city, she sends Calvin to spend the summer working for his great uncle in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Stuck in the predominately white region of agriculture and recreational boating, Calvin’s a fish out of water with a chip on his shoulder. But when severed body parts are discovered floating in a slough, his summer of proving himself takes on new meaning.
Something deadly is lurking in the deep, murky waterways of the Delta. Now the daunting task of containing the living incarnation of a mythical creature falls to Calvin and his ragtag posse of oddball characters.
Stuck in the predominately white region of agriculture and recreational boating, Calvin’s a fish out of water with a chip on his shoulder. But when severed body parts are discovered floating in a slough, his summer of proving himself takes on new meaning.
Something deadly is lurking in the deep, murky waterways of the Delta. Now the daunting task of containing the living incarnation of a mythical creature falls to Calvin and his ragtag posse of oddball characters.
- GenresThriller
Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2011
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Kelan O'Connell
2 books20 followersThough she’s been writing in one form or another since the age of 20, Delta Legend is Kelan O’Connell’s first solo novel. She began writing in college, creating character monologues as a way to stand out in auditions and later went on to write sketch comedy, one-act plays, and more specs for screen than she cares to admit.
Kelan holds a degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University and has worked in the Film and Television Industry in Northern California and Los Angeles—among her many other day jobs.
She currently lives in Northern California with her partner, Sound Engineer/Producer, Tom Size, and the incredibly spoiled pets of Camp RunAmuck.
Kelan holds a degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University and has worked in the Film and Television Industry in Northern California and Los Angeles—among her many other day jobs.
She currently lives in Northern California with her partner, Sound Engineer/Producer, Tom Size, and the incredibly spoiled pets of Camp RunAmuck.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Read
April 3, 2015I picked up a copy of Delta Legend for two reasons. The first was that I met Kellan O’Connell at the KidLitCon back in October and she was wonderful. I really enjoyed talking to her. The second was that it takes place nearby in the Delta region. It also features a diverse cast, so it fit with what am reading this year.
I’m really glad I found out about the book because I absolutely loved it. The pacing was excellent and action was mixed with character development (most notably Calvin). There was plenty of suspense and a lot of humor. The characters, and there were quite a few, had unique voices and I found them incredibly believable. I will note that O’Connell is white and she tackles writing from the perspectives of old and young, African-American and Chinese, and male and female.
The setting paired with the humor and to some extent the initial mystery of what is killing people brought Carl Hiaasen’s books MG to mind (Chomp especially) . Although those are clearly middle school books, this felt more in-line with high school. There is no sex and only some kissing, but there is quite a bit of language (but not in a way that felt unnecessary or out of place), some drinking and one incident of drug use at a party (minor characters take ecstasy) and murder (with descriptions of the bodies). Plus the kids are older. I would send fans of Hiaasen’s books to this when they hit high school. Anyone who likes a good suspenseful mystery would also appreciate Delta Legend.
O’Connell worked in the film and television industry for years and that comes through in her writing in the best possible way. The book is so cinematic. I could clearly see everything playing out. Not to mention the way she build suspense both within chapters and across the book felt very movie-like. Reading a chapter often felt like watching a scene from a movie, especially those where you suspect you know what’s going to happen and still have that “OH!” reaction when it does. One of the blurbs on the back of the book says something about this being adapted from a screenplay and if that’s the case O’Connell did an incredible job fleshing this out into an actual novel and, while it retained it’s cinematic quality, it was a well-written and well-crafted novel.
I also found the setting incredibly compelling. The first few chapters with Calvin take place in Oakland and the rest of the book is set in the Sacrament0-San Joaquin Delta. An Oakland setting would have been fine, but the Delta is an incredibly beautiful and vital region that doesn’t get a lot of attention. It was enjoyable to read a book set somewhere both close to home and relatively unknown. Plus it made for some excellent suspense having the murky waters of the rivers hiding a creature!
I had a few thoughts about the mythical beast part of the story. In both looking at the cover and in reading the blurb the readers know that there is a creature of some sort lurking in the waters of the Delta, but the characters don’t learn what it really is or even put together that it’s a creature until about half way through the story. This is not a big reveal to the reader, but it is to the characters and it’s handled so well that it still feels suspenseful. It’s rather like the “don’t go in there!” moments of horror movies. I was also expecting Calvin to follow a “chosen one” story arc and that, thankfully, is not what happens at all. In fact the creature ties into the Chinese history of the region which gives readers another fantastic glimpse into the richness of the Delta area. For a book with such a cast of characters and pieces of plot to tie in (a throw back to history, Calvin’s troubles and his brother’s death, his uncle’s history, etc., etc.) the book could have bogged down, or even just been too unwieldy, but it wasn’t in the slightest. O’Connell managed all the pieces beautifully and wove them into a coherent and compelling story.
Lastly, the ending was perfect. I don’t want to spoil it, but the ending as a whole is exactly how I like my endings.
I’m really glad I found out about the book because I absolutely loved it. The pacing was excellent and action was mixed with character development (most notably Calvin). There was plenty of suspense and a lot of humor. The characters, and there were quite a few, had unique voices and I found them incredibly believable. I will note that O’Connell is white and she tackles writing from the perspectives of old and young, African-American and Chinese, and male and female.
The setting paired with the humor and to some extent the initial mystery of what is killing people brought Carl Hiaasen’s books MG to mind (Chomp especially) . Although those are clearly middle school books, this felt more in-line with high school. There is no sex and only some kissing, but there is quite a bit of language (but not in a way that felt unnecessary or out of place), some drinking and one incident of drug use at a party (minor characters take ecstasy) and murder (with descriptions of the bodies). Plus the kids are older. I would send fans of Hiaasen’s books to this when they hit high school. Anyone who likes a good suspenseful mystery would also appreciate Delta Legend.
O’Connell worked in the film and television industry for years and that comes through in her writing in the best possible way. The book is so cinematic. I could clearly see everything playing out. Not to mention the way she build suspense both within chapters and across the book felt very movie-like. Reading a chapter often felt like watching a scene from a movie, especially those where you suspect you know what’s going to happen and still have that “OH!” reaction when it does. One of the blurbs on the back of the book says something about this being adapted from a screenplay and if that’s the case O’Connell did an incredible job fleshing this out into an actual novel and, while it retained it’s cinematic quality, it was a well-written and well-crafted novel.
I also found the setting incredibly compelling. The first few chapters with Calvin take place in Oakland and the rest of the book is set in the Sacrament0-San Joaquin Delta. An Oakland setting would have been fine, but the Delta is an incredibly beautiful and vital region that doesn’t get a lot of attention. It was enjoyable to read a book set somewhere both close to home and relatively unknown. Plus it made for some excellent suspense having the murky waters of the rivers hiding a creature!
I had a few thoughts about the mythical beast part of the story. In both looking at the cover and in reading the blurb the readers know that there is a creature of some sort lurking in the waters of the Delta, but the characters don’t learn what it really is or even put together that it’s a creature until about half way through the story. This is not a big reveal to the reader, but it is to the characters and it’s handled so well that it still feels suspenseful. It’s rather like the “don’t go in there!” moments of horror movies. I was also expecting Calvin to follow a “chosen one” story arc and that, thankfully, is not what happens at all. In fact the creature ties into the Chinese history of the region which gives readers another fantastic glimpse into the richness of the Delta area. For a book with such a cast of characters and pieces of plot to tie in (a throw back to history, Calvin’s troubles and his brother’s death, his uncle’s history, etc., etc.) the book could have bogged down, or even just been too unwieldy, but it wasn’t in the slightest. O’Connell managed all the pieces beautifully and wove them into a coherent and compelling story.
Lastly, the ending was perfect. I don’t want to spoil it, but the ending as a whole is exactly how I like my endings.
June 25, 2012
Delta Legend is so much more than a scary creature story. It is about second chances, community, new friendships, courage and honor.
There is an inner story that provides vital background for the legend. Kelan has really done a lot of research in order to tell you about this creature and where the events take place. Her descriptions of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are almost visual. You can almost feel the sluggish, dark water on your skin and the cold, silty bottom between your toes.
There are many characters that have their parts to play in this book. They are essential to the plot and add depth, believability and some comic relief.
When Calvin has a brush with the juvenile court system, his mother, Angela, knows she has to do something. After losing her older son Leo to drug and gang violence, she does not want Calvin going down the same path. Her solution is to send him to stay with his great-uncle Samuel for the summer break. Calvin wants nothing to do with the "cuts", or back country life, and arrives with a big chip on his shoulder.
Samuel is apprehensive about taking Calvin in, but is pleasantly surprised when his great-nephew shows a penchant for machine and engine repair. He proves to be a hard worker and an asset at Samuel's Marine Repair Shop.
Calvin's first encounter with Mei Li, a young Chinese farm girl, is confrontational. She is sassy and bold and Calvin wants nothing to do with her.
Samuel takes Calvin into the local cafe and small grocery owned by Frances. It is also where the rental desk for Heron's Harbor Marina is located, which her teenage son Jess runs. The locals come there to hang out, grab a bite to eat and catch up on the daily news around town. It seems every small town has one of these.
After a little juggling, Calvin and Jess start up a friendship. Mei Li is friends with Jess and includes herself on their outings, causing mixed feelings in Calvin. It is not hard for the others to notice that Jess has developed an interest in Lauren. She is a nice girl, but hangs out with the town bullies. Soon enough she sees them for what they are and joins up with Calvin, Mei Li and Jess.
Good old boys Terry and Neal just want to fish and drink cold beer. They motor out to their favorite fishing spot and settle in to catch some dinner when they spot what looks like debris from a boat floating in the water. Seeing what they think is a wig, they hook it and take a look. What they had on the end of that hook was someones face. Their return trip broke records. This is not the only encounter they have with body parts. It seems like they just can't get a day of fishing in.
It soon becomes obvious that something is preying on the people of the Delta. Something hungry. The fatalities start piling up, and finally even Sheriff Ray Cruz has to accept there is a deadly creature cruising the waters, killing and eating the unsuspecting.
The mish mash of locals, along with Calvin and his posse of friends and Sheriff Cruz and bumbling Deputy Burt Watson, unite to combat this evil monster.
There are many more characters that I've not mentioned, each one adding flavor and dimension to the story. Kelan has the ability to weave them in without confusing you or slowing down your reading enjoyment. No flipping back and forth to see who's who.
I particularly like her characterization of Joe, Tak and Samuel. I smilingly think of them as the Over the Hill Gang.
There are a few surprises, you think something has been left out, but then Kelan slips it in effortlessly, providing all the answers.
And I can't wait for you to read the great "Oh No!" ending.
If you are looking for a unique monster story with lots of action, adventure and scares, I recommend you get Delta Legend and get reading.
There is an inner story that provides vital background for the legend. Kelan has really done a lot of research in order to tell you about this creature and where the events take place. Her descriptions of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are almost visual. You can almost feel the sluggish, dark water on your skin and the cold, silty bottom between your toes.
There are many characters that have their parts to play in this book. They are essential to the plot and add depth, believability and some comic relief.
When Calvin has a brush with the juvenile court system, his mother, Angela, knows she has to do something. After losing her older son Leo to drug and gang violence, she does not want Calvin going down the same path. Her solution is to send him to stay with his great-uncle Samuel for the summer break. Calvin wants nothing to do with the "cuts", or back country life, and arrives with a big chip on his shoulder.
Samuel is apprehensive about taking Calvin in, but is pleasantly surprised when his great-nephew shows a penchant for machine and engine repair. He proves to be a hard worker and an asset at Samuel's Marine Repair Shop.
Calvin's first encounter with Mei Li, a young Chinese farm girl, is confrontational. She is sassy and bold and Calvin wants nothing to do with her.
Samuel takes Calvin into the local cafe and small grocery owned by Frances. It is also where the rental desk for Heron's Harbor Marina is located, which her teenage son Jess runs. The locals come there to hang out, grab a bite to eat and catch up on the daily news around town. It seems every small town has one of these.
After a little juggling, Calvin and Jess start up a friendship. Mei Li is friends with Jess and includes herself on their outings, causing mixed feelings in Calvin. It is not hard for the others to notice that Jess has developed an interest in Lauren. She is a nice girl, but hangs out with the town bullies. Soon enough she sees them for what they are and joins up with Calvin, Mei Li and Jess.
Good old boys Terry and Neal just want to fish and drink cold beer. They motor out to their favorite fishing spot and settle in to catch some dinner when they spot what looks like debris from a boat floating in the water. Seeing what they think is a wig, they hook it and take a look. What they had on the end of that hook was someones face. Their return trip broke records. This is not the only encounter they have with body parts. It seems like they just can't get a day of fishing in.
It soon becomes obvious that something is preying on the people of the Delta. Something hungry. The fatalities start piling up, and finally even Sheriff Ray Cruz has to accept there is a deadly creature cruising the waters, killing and eating the unsuspecting.
The mish mash of locals, along with Calvin and his posse of friends and Sheriff Cruz and bumbling Deputy Burt Watson, unite to combat this evil monster.
There are many more characters that I've not mentioned, each one adding flavor and dimension to the story. Kelan has the ability to weave them in without confusing you or slowing down your reading enjoyment. No flipping back and forth to see who's who.
I particularly like her characterization of Joe, Tak and Samuel. I smilingly think of them as the Over the Hill Gang.
There are a few surprises, you think something has been left out, but then Kelan slips it in effortlessly, providing all the answers.
And I can't wait for you to read the great "Oh No!" ending.
If you are looking for a unique monster story with lots of action, adventure and scares, I recommend you get Delta Legend and get reading.
August 31, 2012
When I first picked this book up all I saw was a monster in the water, super, right up my alley. I love these stories. As I read along, it became apparent it was much more than that. Kelan did a great job with the small town descriptions and details of the people lives that brings them together to save their town and themselves, detailing their acts of heroism, growth and change, bringing out the best in people.
Calvin was mechanically inclined and from early on he had been able to make broken things work, to take something apart and put it back to working order. He was the McGyver of the Ghetto.
He knew it was wrong to go out with Rashawn, his childhood friend, but he did it anyway. Rashawn had talked him in to hot wiring his Escalade, said it was his ride and he wanted it back. It had been impounded. Of course, they got busted. Angela, Calvin’s mother didn’t expect this kind of problem from Calvin because he had a mind of his own and didn’t follow the pack. She knew it had to be because of his loyalty to Rashawn. In Juvenile court, the judge told Calvin cocaine had been found in the car.
Angela was sending him away for the summer. His Uncle Samuel had a place in the Delta and he was to go there and give him a hand in his shop. Angela kept his Ipod and cellphone and put him on the bus to the Delta.
Samuel wasn’t too sure about having Calvin for the summer, but what could he do? He had a soft spot for his niece and her take no prisoners attitude. Calvin, with his mechanical abilities, might come in handy at Samuel’s Maritime Repair Shop.
When Samuel picked up Calvin at the Greyhound Terminal, he offered his hand. He liked that Calivn had a good handshake. It said a lot about him. He knew Calvin would feel like he had come to the end of the earth, but he hoped he would come to love the Delta just like Samuel had.
Samuel turned suddenly and drove down a dirt road to a produce stand. He thought Calvin would follow him out of the truck, but he ended up introducing him to the Cheng’s through the truck window. Mei-Li worked the stand with her mother and was happy to have a distraction. Dent, Mei-Li’s younger brother, quickly won Calvin over. As they pulled away from the stand, Calvin couldn’t help but look back and saw Mei-Li watching as they drove away.
Calvin and Jess were sitting in the cafe when someone came roaring up to the gas dock in their boat. It was obvious something was very wrong. They were shouting at the sheriff that he had to come see what they found – a woman’s mutilated head. As they tore off heading to Desperation Slough, Jess led Calvin on a tour of the marina.
Jess took Calvin out on the water in the ski boat. When he radioed his mother to let her know, she knew he would be heading out to Desperation Slough. Calvin liked the speed of the boat as he sat on the back of the seat. Not bad, he thought.
As they passed a huge freighter, they rode the wake, flying through the air. Speed, machine, water. Calvin was really beginning to enjoy the day.
They kept going toward the Slough passing the rich boys on the way and came up on the Casa del Agua, which was overdue back at the marina. Jess thought it looked empty, but it was one of theirs and late, so they stopped to check it out. There was music playing and melted drinks and the dingy was gone, so Jess just figured they left the boat for lunch and headed on to Desperation Slough. As they reached the area of the Sheriff’s boat, Jess kept his distance, but picked up the binoculars to watch the sheriff scooping things from the water – body parts. As he watched, he saw them pull something red from the water and realized it was the dingy from the Casa del Agua. Jess called Sergeant Ray Cruz and told him he thought it was the rich Vegas couple who had rented the Casa del Agua. Jess figured it wasn’t a boat accident, there was no way a propellor would chop them up like that.
When Heustus left the Crawdaddy Club drunk, Danny had kept his keys. He didn’t realizeCrawfish : Single vector lobster isolated on white background. Huestus had a spare in his pocket. As he zigzagged down the road trying to light a cigarette, he didn’t see the turn and drove right into the levee. He was so drunk he got out to check under the hood, not realizing he was standing in water. The lights were still on and he saw something unusual in the water that sobered him up. He dove through the window of the car, but before he could pull his legs in, he was pulled back out of the car.
As Calvin settled in, he found it wasn’t so bad. He liked working in the shop, alone, late at night. He even got used to the quiet, with just the hum of the insects.
As Samuel finished up his phone call, Calvin was prowling around in the back of the shop. He uncovered an old Yamaha Wave Runner. Samuel told him he could have it to work on as long as the paying jobs came first. He told Calvin that Jess could probably help him, if he needed it. Jess invited Calvin skiing and used the loan of the tools to get him to show up. When Mei-Li arrived he tried to back out, but she was not going to have it. Jess smiled to himself as he started the boat.
When they came back in another dead body was being bagged. They were beginning to add up.
A lot of the kids would be going to One Plank - the huge summer party. Even though some were forbidden to go, they snuck out anyway. Ray had the sheriff’s boat out , just close enough, in case of an emergency. Him and Burt, his deputy, were patroling the area, but saw nothing unusual. He knew what was going on, had been at the party himself many years ago. It was harmless enough, just kids letting off steam.
Three of the kids wandered off on their own to a secluded cove. They were skinny dipping and playing Marco Polo. When Stocky jumped off the diving raft, he jumped right into the monster’s mouth. What was it? The screaming brought the rest of the kids to the cove.
When the creature attacked them, Calvin couldn’t figure out why it didn’t eat them – the monster and Mei-Li were eye to eye and it left them to return to the cove.
Then Mei-Li took them to her grandfather who proceeded to tell them about the legend.
5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)
I won this book in a Giveaway on fuonlyknew’s blog. Thank you Kelan and Laura for the giveaway. It included some good swag.
I love creature stories, so it’s easy for me to rate this one very high. The cover was over the top. Simple, yet complex, as you delve into the eye trying to see what’s there. The cover and title related well to the book, it’s important to me that they do.
I really got a feel for the small town setting, where the cafe seemed to be the focal point and you could hear what was going on. The cops even hung out there. I used to visit a small southern town in Mississippi, and their local hangout was a gas station, where everyone would meet, drink colas and play checkers. Very quaint.
Characters were well developed, seemed very real, and I could picture them in my mind. I could relate to them. Some of the characters were hateful and disgusting, others so much like your next door neighbor. Just living their lives. When Kelan described Huestes as a Weeble, I busted out laughing . It brought back memories of buying them for my son when he was young. Can’t you just picture Huestes? “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down.”
Writing was very good. If there were any errors, I was way too engrossed in the story to catch them.
Laid a good base in the first half to crank it out in the second half.The suspense kept building and I kept waiting for the creature to appear. Every time someone went near, the water I was waiting for the monster to get them. Just like Jaws. Don’t go in the water. How many times do you have to be told, don’t go in the water. LOL! Just like the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, Aliens……would you believe it if someone was trying to tell you what happened if you weren’t there to see it for yourself?
There were two surprises at the end, one I saw coming and I figured Kelan threw that one in to distract me from the other one, which I didn’t see coming. lol Even though there is a Book II, this tied things up nicely, while leaving it open enough to continue the story. I can hardly wait to find out what happens next, so I hope you are busy writing, Kelan.
The history leading to the legend was well developed and detailed, going in to depth about Chinese history in relation to building the Transcontinental Railroad System and the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta.
I can absolutely see this as a movie. As I was reading along, the scenes played out in my mind as the story unfolded. I saw the ending as if I was watching it.
Delta Legend Kelan O'Connell
Calvin was mechanically inclined and from early on he had been able to make broken things work, to take something apart and put it back to working order. He was the McGyver of the Ghetto.
He knew it was wrong to go out with Rashawn, his childhood friend, but he did it anyway. Rashawn had talked him in to hot wiring his Escalade, said it was his ride and he wanted it back. It had been impounded. Of course, they got busted. Angela, Calvin’s mother didn’t expect this kind of problem from Calvin because he had a mind of his own and didn’t follow the pack. She knew it had to be because of his loyalty to Rashawn. In Juvenile court, the judge told Calvin cocaine had been found in the car.
Angela was sending him away for the summer. His Uncle Samuel had a place in the Delta and he was to go there and give him a hand in his shop. Angela kept his Ipod and cellphone and put him on the bus to the Delta.
Samuel wasn’t too sure about having Calvin for the summer, but what could he do? He had a soft spot for his niece and her take no prisoners attitude. Calvin, with his mechanical abilities, might come in handy at Samuel’s Maritime Repair Shop.
When Samuel picked up Calvin at the Greyhound Terminal, he offered his hand. He liked that Calivn had a good handshake. It said a lot about him. He knew Calvin would feel like he had come to the end of the earth, but he hoped he would come to love the Delta just like Samuel had.
Samuel turned suddenly and drove down a dirt road to a produce stand. He thought Calvin would follow him out of the truck, but he ended up introducing him to the Cheng’s through the truck window. Mei-Li worked the stand with her mother and was happy to have a distraction. Dent, Mei-Li’s younger brother, quickly won Calvin over. As they pulled away from the stand, Calvin couldn’t help but look back and saw Mei-Li watching as they drove away.
Calvin and Jess were sitting in the cafe when someone came roaring up to the gas dock in their boat. It was obvious something was very wrong. They were shouting at the sheriff that he had to come see what they found – a woman’s mutilated head. As they tore off heading to Desperation Slough, Jess led Calvin on a tour of the marina.
Jess took Calvin out on the water in the ski boat. When he radioed his mother to let her know, she knew he would be heading out to Desperation Slough. Calvin liked the speed of the boat as he sat on the back of the seat. Not bad, he thought.
As they passed a huge freighter, they rode the wake, flying through the air. Speed, machine, water. Calvin was really beginning to enjoy the day.
They kept going toward the Slough passing the rich boys on the way and came up on the Casa del Agua, which was overdue back at the marina. Jess thought it looked empty, but it was one of theirs and late, so they stopped to check it out. There was music playing and melted drinks and the dingy was gone, so Jess just figured they left the boat for lunch and headed on to Desperation Slough. As they reached the area of the Sheriff’s boat, Jess kept his distance, but picked up the binoculars to watch the sheriff scooping things from the water – body parts. As he watched, he saw them pull something red from the water and realized it was the dingy from the Casa del Agua. Jess called Sergeant Ray Cruz and told him he thought it was the rich Vegas couple who had rented the Casa del Agua. Jess figured it wasn’t a boat accident, there was no way a propellor would chop them up like that.
When Heustus left the Crawdaddy Club drunk, Danny had kept his keys. He didn’t realizeCrawfish : Single vector lobster isolated on white background. Huestus had a spare in his pocket. As he zigzagged down the road trying to light a cigarette, he didn’t see the turn and drove right into the levee. He was so drunk he got out to check under the hood, not realizing he was standing in water. The lights were still on and he saw something unusual in the water that sobered him up. He dove through the window of the car, but before he could pull his legs in, he was pulled back out of the car.
As Calvin settled in, he found it wasn’t so bad. He liked working in the shop, alone, late at night. He even got used to the quiet, with just the hum of the insects.
As Samuel finished up his phone call, Calvin was prowling around in the back of the shop. He uncovered an old Yamaha Wave Runner. Samuel told him he could have it to work on as long as the paying jobs came first. He told Calvin that Jess could probably help him, if he needed it. Jess invited Calvin skiing and used the loan of the tools to get him to show up. When Mei-Li arrived he tried to back out, but she was not going to have it. Jess smiled to himself as he started the boat.
When they came back in another dead body was being bagged. They were beginning to add up.
A lot of the kids would be going to One Plank - the huge summer party. Even though some were forbidden to go, they snuck out anyway. Ray had the sheriff’s boat out , just close enough, in case of an emergency. Him and Burt, his deputy, were patroling the area, but saw nothing unusual. He knew what was going on, had been at the party himself many years ago. It was harmless enough, just kids letting off steam.
Three of the kids wandered off on their own to a secluded cove. They were skinny dipping and playing Marco Polo. When Stocky jumped off the diving raft, he jumped right into the monster’s mouth. What was it? The screaming brought the rest of the kids to the cove.
When the creature attacked them, Calvin couldn’t figure out why it didn’t eat them – the monster and Mei-Li were eye to eye and it left them to return to the cove.
Then Mei-Li took them to her grandfather who proceeded to tell them about the legend.
5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)
I won this book in a Giveaway on fuonlyknew’s blog. Thank you Kelan and Laura for the giveaway. It included some good swag.
I love creature stories, so it’s easy for me to rate this one very high. The cover was over the top. Simple, yet complex, as you delve into the eye trying to see what’s there. The cover and title related well to the book, it’s important to me that they do.
I really got a feel for the small town setting, where the cafe seemed to be the focal point and you could hear what was going on. The cops even hung out there. I used to visit a small southern town in Mississippi, and their local hangout was a gas station, where everyone would meet, drink colas and play checkers. Very quaint.
Characters were well developed, seemed very real, and I could picture them in my mind. I could relate to them. Some of the characters were hateful and disgusting, others so much like your next door neighbor. Just living their lives. When Kelan described Huestes as a Weeble, I busted out laughing . It brought back memories of buying them for my son when he was young. Can’t you just picture Huestes? “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down.”
Writing was very good. If there were any errors, I was way too engrossed in the story to catch them.
Laid a good base in the first half to crank it out in the second half.The suspense kept building and I kept waiting for the creature to appear. Every time someone went near, the water I was waiting for the monster to get them. Just like Jaws. Don’t go in the water. How many times do you have to be told, don’t go in the water. LOL! Just like the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, Aliens……would you believe it if someone was trying to tell you what happened if you weren’t there to see it for yourself?
There were two surprises at the end, one I saw coming and I figured Kelan threw that one in to distract me from the other one, which I didn’t see coming. lol Even though there is a Book II, this tied things up nicely, while leaving it open enough to continue the story. I can hardly wait to find out what happens next, so I hope you are busy writing, Kelan.
The history leading to the legend was well developed and detailed, going in to depth about Chinese history in relation to building the Transcontinental Railroad System and the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta.
I can absolutely see this as a movie. As I was reading along, the scenes played out in my mind as the story unfolded. I saw the ending as if I was watching it.
Delta Legend Kelan O'Connell
November 15, 2020
This is a great monster book with historical, cultural and regional context for young adults. I found the writing too basic for adult readers, but the writer cleverly wove regional and historical details into this fantastical tale of a dragon from Chinese lore in the Delta. The conversational writing style was accessible and gave color to the page turning story.
November 7, 2012
Calvin Pierce and his childhood friend Rashawn Fontaine successfully hot wired a Cadillac from an impound yard. With a few complications but they managed to get away. They thought they had made it with no problems but then they were stopped by a police car. Lucky for Calvin the judge let him get off easy and he decided to let Calvin's mom decide what she would do. Calvin's mom decides to send Calvin off to the Delta where he will be helping his great uncle Samuel Diggs in his repair shop. Calvin thought he would be arriving to a very boring town where nothing exciting ever happens but soon after his arrival he will discover the Delta is not as boring as he thought. He will be face to face with a very old creature who the few people that knew about it believed the stories of the creature to be folklore or simple stories told to scare children.
Better late than never! I won this ebook on Laura's blog a little while ago( quite a little while) I hadn't been making much time to read. Everyday is a busy day for me so I really haven't been reading much. But I decided since for me October means halloween I decided to finally read Delta Legend because it sounded like a good story to read around this time. It's the first time I have read a book where there has been so many important characters with very interesting stories and background. So I cannot decide who was my favorite character because all of them were interestingly fun. Though Calvin Mei Li and Jess made me laugh a whole lot more Burt, Gladys and Ray were very fun characters.
I love the water when I was little my mother had a hard time keeping me away from the water. I was always sneaking out and the place where my mother will always find me at was at the river that was a block away from my house lol. I still love the water but I have read so many books, heard stories and now I am a little scared of getting inside rivers or things like that. Freaks me out a little to think about what might be deep inside the water. Doesn't stop me from getting in the water but I will not get far in lol. After reading this book I'm very scared I will always be thinking about this creature when I see water. To me the scariest thing was when Calvin was in the water and he had no idea the creature was in there. For a moment I thought he was going to get eaten.
Delta legend will keep one in the edge of one's sit, it engrosses you in the story, it is easy to read, it is entertaining, will be hard to put down, has realistic characters each perfectly introduced in a few pages with entertaining stories, it will make you laugh, neatly put together and neatly written a really fun fun read. I give it five stars. A GOOD READ.
Thank you Kelan and Laura for the giveaway I am happy I won this book and to finally get to read it. : ) great job with this interesting story Kelan O'connell.
Better late than never! I won this ebook on Laura's blog a little while ago( quite a little while) I hadn't been making much time to read. Everyday is a busy day for me so I really haven't been reading much. But I decided since for me October means halloween I decided to finally read Delta Legend because it sounded like a good story to read around this time. It's the first time I have read a book where there has been so many important characters with very interesting stories and background. So I cannot decide who was my favorite character because all of them were interestingly fun. Though Calvin Mei Li and Jess made me laugh a whole lot more Burt, Gladys and Ray were very fun characters.
I love the water when I was little my mother had a hard time keeping me away from the water. I was always sneaking out and the place where my mother will always find me at was at the river that was a block away from my house lol. I still love the water but I have read so many books, heard stories and now I am a little scared of getting inside rivers or things like that. Freaks me out a little to think about what might be deep inside the water. Doesn't stop me from getting in the water but I will not get far in lol. After reading this book I'm very scared I will always be thinking about this creature when I see water. To me the scariest thing was when Calvin was in the water and he had no idea the creature was in there. For a moment I thought he was going to get eaten.
Delta legend will keep one in the edge of one's sit, it engrosses you in the story, it is easy to read, it is entertaining, will be hard to put down, has realistic characters each perfectly introduced in a few pages with entertaining stories, it will make you laugh, neatly put together and neatly written a really fun fun read. I give it five stars. A GOOD READ.
Thank you Kelan and Laura for the giveaway I am happy I won this book and to finally get to read it. : ) great job with this interesting story Kelan O'connell.
July 23, 2012
Initially, after receiving a review request for Delta Legend I wasn't sure whether it would be my thing, the whole story seemed as though it was geared towards guys and I was not sure whether I'd really click, but I accepted it on a whim, thinking that it may be a good idea for me to step out of my comfort zone.
It was so worth the risk, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I took some time to get into it but when it picked up I was hooked. Whilst at some points it slowed down and I was able to put the book down most of the time I couldn't because I was so gripped. O'Connell does a fantastic job at creating suspense and writing scenes which are both horrifying and funny at the same time. This book had the potential to be all-out action, but O'Connell doesn't take that road, instead she opts for suspense, mystery and humour which makes the book not only gripping but also funny and entertaining.
This book is also a coming of age story: Calvin begins to mature and adapt to his new home and he grows up a lot within the book. I really liked Calvin, he was streetwise and witty and very real and I have to say that his narrative and dialogue really seemed like it was coming from a black sixteen year old boy - considering that the author is not black, sixteen or a boy i was very impressed by this - Calvin seemed so real. I also really liked most of the supporting cast. Calvin's uncle, Samuel was one of my favorites even though he wasn't in the book for much of it. The deputy sherrif, Burt was very funny. I really liked Jess, the boy-next-door type and Mei Li, the spunky love interest. There is a whole cast of funny and unique characters and I really enjoyed reading about every single one of them.
The mythology part of the book threw me a little. O'Connell had obviously done some research on Chinese history and folklore, but it took me a while to get my head around the whole thing. I also felt like at times some things didn't make sense, and the characters seemed to accept the truth way more easily than normal people would have.
Overall, an exciting and thrilling read with an amazing cast of characters. I definitely think it's a book more geared towards boys, but I did enjoy the read, despite having some trouble believing the mythology part of the book.
Overall Rating: B-
It was so worth the risk, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I took some time to get into it but when it picked up I was hooked. Whilst at some points it slowed down and I was able to put the book down most of the time I couldn't because I was so gripped. O'Connell does a fantastic job at creating suspense and writing scenes which are both horrifying and funny at the same time. This book had the potential to be all-out action, but O'Connell doesn't take that road, instead she opts for suspense, mystery and humour which makes the book not only gripping but also funny and entertaining.
This book is also a coming of age story: Calvin begins to mature and adapt to his new home and he grows up a lot within the book. I really liked Calvin, he was streetwise and witty and very real and I have to say that his narrative and dialogue really seemed like it was coming from a black sixteen year old boy - considering that the author is not black, sixteen or a boy i was very impressed by this - Calvin seemed so real. I also really liked most of the supporting cast. Calvin's uncle, Samuel was one of my favorites even though he wasn't in the book for much of it. The deputy sherrif, Burt was very funny. I really liked Jess, the boy-next-door type and Mei Li, the spunky love interest. There is a whole cast of funny and unique characters and I really enjoyed reading about every single one of them.
The mythology part of the book threw me a little. O'Connell had obviously done some research on Chinese history and folklore, but it took me a while to get my head around the whole thing. I also felt like at times some things didn't make sense, and the characters seemed to accept the truth way more easily than normal people would have.
Overall, an exciting and thrilling read with an amazing cast of characters. I definitely think it's a book more geared towards boys, but I did enjoy the read, despite having some trouble believing the mythology part of the book.
Overall Rating: B-
June 4, 2012
Note: This review is my opinion, and it is skewed to my likes and preferences.
When I started reading this book, I thought to myself ‘oh no, not another monster book.’ I was pleased to find that it wasn’t the case. O’Connell did thorough research for her story. Having lived in Elk Grove, just south of Sacramento, I am well familiar with the California Delta. It is always refreshing to see a book’s location well researched.
Characters:
Calvin, kid from the hood in Oakland sent to his uncle in the delta to keep him from trouble. O’Connell did a good job creating a believable street kid.
Jess and Mei Li the two teens that befriend him in the delta, some of the interactions you knew were going to happen but that didn’t make the story any less enjoyable.
Plus a cast of other characters, some you just hate like Dane and Eric; then those that support the story like Samuel, Joe, Frances, and Ray
Story:
Something is loose in the California Delta, something that is on a killing frenzy. My first thought was a shark, or random beast; however, O’Connell has crafted a creature with a plausible backstory…as I don’t like spoilers I will not say more about the beast.
The story was well-written and draws you in from the start. There are characters you want to root for, and those you want to beast to take care of for you. The pace and flow of the story kept me engaged and interested in what happens next.
It was an enjoyable read, and recommended if you like this genre.
When I started reading this book, I thought to myself ‘oh no, not another monster book.’ I was pleased to find that it wasn’t the case. O’Connell did thorough research for her story. Having lived in Elk Grove, just south of Sacramento, I am well familiar with the California Delta. It is always refreshing to see a book’s location well researched.
Characters:
Calvin, kid from the hood in Oakland sent to his uncle in the delta to keep him from trouble. O’Connell did a good job creating a believable street kid.
Jess and Mei Li the two teens that befriend him in the delta, some of the interactions you knew were going to happen but that didn’t make the story any less enjoyable.
Plus a cast of other characters, some you just hate like Dane and Eric; then those that support the story like Samuel, Joe, Frances, and Ray
Story:
Something is loose in the California Delta, something that is on a killing frenzy. My first thought was a shark, or random beast; however, O’Connell has crafted a creature with a plausible backstory…as I don’t like spoilers I will not say more about the beast.
The story was well-written and draws you in from the start. There are characters you want to root for, and those you want to beast to take care of for you. The pace and flow of the story kept me engaged and interested in what happens next.
It was an enjoyable read, and recommended if you like this genre.
February 7, 2014
This is one of those books I’d really like to give five stars, because I loved it and know I’ll read it again. Only problem….I almost gave up just a few chapters in. The beginning is very slow. A lot of the back story could have been trimmed down considerably or relayed later. The author also has a habit of frequently switching POV or adopting an omniscient narrator POV. That was a bit jarring until I got used to it.
That said, STICK WITH THE BOOK! It takes several chapters to get going, but once it does, the tale is well worth the payoff. The author created a collection of characters that are unique and colorful. They’re all fantastic with unique charms and idiosyncrasies. The way they eventually blend together as a group to fight the monster terrorizing their hereto peaceful stretch of river is handled beautifully by the author. Ms O’Connell does a phenomenal job of relaying Delta River life in such a way that puts the reader in the heart of the setting. And the action.
There is humor, mystery, adventure, light horror, even a touch of romance. I am adding this book to my “favorites” list and will definitely look for more by this author. I just wish the beginning hadn’t been so loaded with back story.
That said, STICK WITH THE BOOK! It takes several chapters to get going, but once it does, the tale is well worth the payoff. The author created a collection of characters that are unique and colorful. They’re all fantastic with unique charms and idiosyncrasies. The way they eventually blend together as a group to fight the monster terrorizing their hereto peaceful stretch of river is handled beautifully by the author. Ms O’Connell does a phenomenal job of relaying Delta River life in such a way that puts the reader in the heart of the setting. And the action.
There is humor, mystery, adventure, light horror, even a touch of romance. I am adding this book to my “favorites” list and will definitely look for more by this author. I just wish the beginning hadn’t been so loaded with back story.
May 5, 2012
Usually when reading paranormal books its always the female character that takes the spotlight. However, in the book the male comes out on top and that was one of the main things that I really enjoyed.
I am not going to defend Calvin but as a 16 year-old boy, its the time when you start experiencing the things around you. You begin to feel peer pressure and what toll it can take on you if you listen to it. I'm not saying that all of it is bad but its nto always good. I know when growing up hat I had a lot of peer pressure and sometime I faced the consequneces of it. However, stooping low to the point and moving towards the world of drugs.
I think his mother should be considered a good parent. Stopping the problem at the beginning was a good move that she played. As the story unfold and more characters are brought into the story, this book fills with more excitement.
The plot is never ending and the pages flow continously never giving me the option to place the book to the side. If you readers are looking for a male leading parnaormal book, than I advise you to check out this book and dive into its pages.
I give this book 4 souls!
I am not going to defend Calvin but as a 16 year-old boy, its the time when you start experiencing the things around you. You begin to feel peer pressure and what toll it can take on you if you listen to it. I'm not saying that all of it is bad but its nto always good. I know when growing up hat I had a lot of peer pressure and sometime I faced the consequneces of it. However, stooping low to the point and moving towards the world of drugs.
I think his mother should be considered a good parent. Stopping the problem at the beginning was a good move that she played. As the story unfold and more characters are brought into the story, this book fills with more excitement.
The plot is never ending and the pages flow continously never giving me the option to place the book to the side. If you readers are looking for a male leading parnaormal book, than I advise you to check out this book and dive into its pages.
I give this book 4 souls!
June 29, 2012
I'm going to have to agree with another reviewer and say that this book reminds me alot of the movie Tremors. I love a good monster B-movie and that's the vibe I got from this book.
The characters were fun and different, the setting was great and apart from a few slow points, the moved along at a good pace.
This was a really entertaining book. :)
The characters were fun and different, the setting was great and apart from a few slow points, the moved along at a good pace.
This was a really entertaining book. :)
March 9, 2012
This truly was a fun read. So many fun and unique elements to this story! I had a hard time putting it down and I look forward to seeing more from this very talented author in the future!!
http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com...
http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com...
March 16, 2012
4 1/2 birdies. Well plotted, original, funny adventure story with interesting, vibrant characters. This SO deserves to be picked up by a major publisher.
September 6, 2012
Loved this book. especially since I know a little about the California Delta Region.
February 21, 2015
I enjoyed this story. Kelan made the mistake that so many first-time novelists do--too many characters (I made the same mistake with my very first manuscript)--which could have been remedied by a substantive editing. I understand that she originally wrote this as a screenplay, and I could absolutely visualize it as a movie as I was reading. The downside of that for me, though, was the often switching of points of view within certain scenes; in some spots I found myself having to double-check whose head we were really in. She's written some lovely (and witty) prose; though, I did have difficulty believing that Calvin (the teen from "the hood") would think certain thoughts (such as, "blessed solitude"); I would've liked reading the teen's thoughts as more in line with his character. Regardless, this was an entertaining and easy read. Cool story, well-researched, and a valiant debut novel. It would be a fun movie!
Read
July 6, 2012Im not going to rate this one (yet) because i cant get into it enough to read for more than 5mins at a time. I will be finishing it just not sure how long it will take me. Its not a bad story, the writing is good, just not my type of story i guess. Hopefully it will catch my interest soon, i feel bad not finishing books i recieve for reviews.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews