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The Sanctum #1
Jayden and The Mysterious Mountain (The Sanctum Series) (Volume 1) by Katrina Cope
When a rich grandfather figure strangely appears in the dark street to rescue the young boy, Jayden from homelessness, a life better than his dreams has come true. He is taken to a five star hotel – no, actually a school called The Sanctum, camouflaged in the mountains. The students build and operate high tech equipment, including surrogate robots all to fight against terrorism or are they?By the way, you don’t want to annoy Scarlet who runs the general operations of the building. She is one cheeky AI and plays nasty if you cross her.
Mass Market Paperback
First published September 2, 2013
58 people are currently reading
566 people want to read
About the author
Katrina Cope
53 books684 followersKatrina is an author of several books in epic fantasy, young-adult fantasy, and a middle-grade sci-fi thriller series.
Her series include:
Dragoria: The Lost Dragon Realm - Epic fantasy
Valkyrie Academy Dragon Alliance - YA High fantasy
Thor's Dragon Rider - YA High fantasy (Spin-off of Valkyrie Academy Dragon Alliance but can be read separately)
The Afterlife - YA fantasy (contemporary)
The Sanctum Series - Middle-grade Sci-fi thriller
She often talks to creatures of all kinds and has a passion for animals, nature, and travel. She lives in Queensland, Australia, with her husband and has survived teaching her three children how to drive.
You can connector follow Katrina at:
https://www.katrinacopebooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Author.Katri...
https://www.instagram.com/katrina_cop...
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/katri...
Get your free story when you sign up for my newsletter: https://bookhip.com/KQGGZF
Visit her website, www.katrinacopebooks.com, to get stories of Katrina's for FREE!
Her series include:
Dragoria: The Lost Dragon Realm - Epic fantasy
Valkyrie Academy Dragon Alliance - YA High fantasy
Thor's Dragon Rider - YA High fantasy (Spin-off of Valkyrie Academy Dragon Alliance but can be read separately)
The Afterlife - YA fantasy (contemporary)
The Sanctum Series - Middle-grade Sci-fi thriller
She often talks to creatures of all kinds and has a passion for animals, nature, and travel. She lives in Queensland, Australia, with her husband and has survived teaching her three children how to drive.
You can connector follow Katrina at:
https://www.katrinacopebooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Author.Katri...
https://www.instagram.com/katrina_cop...
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/katri...
Get your free story when you sign up for my newsletter: https://bookhip.com/KQGGZF
Visit her website, www.katrinacopebooks.com, to get stories of Katrina's for FREE!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 25, 2015
This is a YA story which starts off with an 11 year old boy sleeping rough on the streets, who is approached by an elderly, rich man offering to provide him with a great place to live and a quality education. Jayden quickly agrees to this new life and is whisked away to 'The Sanctum' which is a very special type of boarding school.
What starts off as a feel good story about rescuing kids from poverty becomes much more of an adventure as the kids are trained to make the best use of whatever skills they possess.
I could imagine this book being great for an English class of 10-13 year olds, who would appreciate the story at face value but also learn some useful, positive life lessons.
The next book in the series is on my kindle and I shall be reading shortly.
What starts off as a feel good story about rescuing kids from poverty becomes much more of an adventure as the kids are trained to make the best use of whatever skills they possess.
I could imagine this book being great for an English class of 10-13 year olds, who would appreciate the story at face value but also learn some useful, positive life lessons.
The next book in the series is on my kindle and I shall be reading shortly.
August 25, 2016
This is a wonderful addition to the YA genre, and Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain delivered adventure and appeal that kept me turning the pages throughout.
Avando rescues children from the street and their needs are met in exchange for hard work in establishing and maintaining good grades at his beautifully concealed mountain school. Some of the children have experienced horrors that Cope deals with in a sensitively appropriate manner, but Jayden is slightly different from the others in that he didn't succumb to the same temptations and had a strength of will that could have been the result of some years of skilled parenting, though it more likely stemmed from his inherent goodness, and ability to empathise with his peers whilst retaining a strong moral fibre. All of the children have been aged by the street, and this is reflected in their attitudes and skills, the more positive aspects of which are nurtured by Avando's school.
Cope gently eases the reader into Jayden's story, and I felt his wonder, joy, and also his trepidation in respect to his new life and the high expectations of his performance.
From about mid way, the action really takes off in this book, and I laughed at the scene where Eva uses an inventive measure against the bully, Damien, resulting in the haughty boy being doused with eyeballs from Science class.
We learn about Avando's tragic past that has led him to care for the children, and Cope's characters are likeable and well developed. The children are schooled with high attention paid to Mathematics, Technology, Science and Martial Arts. I loved that Aaron was an ADHD student who had found a satisfying and productive existence at Avando's school.
The practical applications to the outside world become apparent, and Jayden falls head first into this adventure of 'Spy kids' proportions where he and his friends deal with terrorists and school bullies with equal measures of delight and satisfaction of a job well done.
Though an adventure filled book I would deem suitable and highly enjoyable for 9- 13 yr olds, ( Not discounting the adults among us who enjoy a good action story!) Cope writes with a correctness which is slightly unusual in modern books but does not detract from the immediacy and relevance of the story.
I believe that many parents and children will appreciate the addition of Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain to their bookshelves.
Avando rescues children from the street and their needs are met in exchange for hard work in establishing and maintaining good grades at his beautifully concealed mountain school. Some of the children have experienced horrors that Cope deals with in a sensitively appropriate manner, but Jayden is slightly different from the others in that he didn't succumb to the same temptations and had a strength of will that could have been the result of some years of skilled parenting, though it more likely stemmed from his inherent goodness, and ability to empathise with his peers whilst retaining a strong moral fibre. All of the children have been aged by the street, and this is reflected in their attitudes and skills, the more positive aspects of which are nurtured by Avando's school.
Cope gently eases the reader into Jayden's story, and I felt his wonder, joy, and also his trepidation in respect to his new life and the high expectations of his performance.
From about mid way, the action really takes off in this book, and I laughed at the scene where Eva uses an inventive measure against the bully, Damien, resulting in the haughty boy being doused with eyeballs from Science class.
We learn about Avando's tragic past that has led him to care for the children, and Cope's characters are likeable and well developed. The children are schooled with high attention paid to Mathematics, Technology, Science and Martial Arts. I loved that Aaron was an ADHD student who had found a satisfying and productive existence at Avando's school.
The practical applications to the outside world become apparent, and Jayden falls head first into this adventure of 'Spy kids' proportions where he and his friends deal with terrorists and school bullies with equal measures of delight and satisfaction of a job well done.
Though an adventure filled book I would deem suitable and highly enjoyable for 9- 13 yr olds, ( Not discounting the adults among us who enjoy a good action story!) Cope writes with a correctness which is slightly unusual in modern books but does not detract from the immediacy and relevance of the story.
I believe that many parents and children will appreciate the addition of Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain to their bookshelves.
April 10, 2015
Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain is of the YA sub-genre that includes kids being whisked away to schools for the gifted where they learn to develop abilities they never knew they had, or bring to fruition abilities that were merely latent before. Like with Harry Potter and so many others, there’s something undeniably captivating to the formula for kids ages nine to thirteen, to which this book will play very well. The author introduces her own twists and variations to the literature, and I particularly enjoyed the swapping out of the school of magic for a school where the kids are building robots and all sorts of mysterious pieces of technology for nebulous reasons. Reasons you can rest assured will be even more eye opening when the truth comes out. I also liked that you didn’t have to be gifted to get into the school in Ms. Cope’s take on a formula just as often coopted by the superhero genre, just hard working; the trials what’s more are more trials of character than ability.
The ensemble cast of kids and the lead are endearing, and Ms. Cope is good at making you wonder what comes next, and how things will actually play out. The pacing throughout is quite brisk. All issues, no matter how dark and brooding, are handled in an age appropriate manner ensuring the drama registers with maximum impact to young readers. I for one kept hoping that somewhere out there someone might actually start a school like this; better yet, that someone else would create a time machine so I could go back in time and go to just such a place.
The ensemble cast of kids and the lead are endearing, and Ms. Cope is good at making you wonder what comes next, and how things will actually play out. The pacing throughout is quite brisk. All issues, no matter how dark and brooding, are handled in an age appropriate manner ensuring the drama registers with maximum impact to young readers. I for one kept hoping that somewhere out there someone might actually start a school like this; better yet, that someone else would create a time machine so I could go back in time and go to just such a place.
February 9, 2015
"Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain" (The Sanctum Series, Book #1) is an original adventure loaded with action, emotion and fun. This is an enjoyable Young Adult fantasy, a fun read. I can't wait to see where the rest of the Sanctum journey leads.
This is a great first novel from Katrina Cope, nicely paced, a smooth, pleasurable read. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
I have to know what the future holds for Jayden, our young protagonist. My heart went out to him in the very beginning, so much so, that I wanted to adopt him. Ms. Cope made me tear up in the very early chapters of the book due to Jayden's homelessness and the circumstances surrounding his situation. I felt this story -- I saw it, experienced it, and felt it deeply. Not many books affect me like that, but this one did.
Fun, interesting characters. This first book was good for laying the foundation and backgrounds for the rest of the adventures which are yet to come. Part of the time, after the kids arrived at The Sanctum, the story seemed as if it wasn't progressing much -- I honestly think it was due to the necessary world-building/laying the foundation for the rest of the series.
I was provided an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Thank you Katrina Cope for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions I have expressed here are my own.
This is a great first novel from Katrina Cope, nicely paced, a smooth, pleasurable read. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
I have to know what the future holds for Jayden, our young protagonist. My heart went out to him in the very beginning, so much so, that I wanted to adopt him. Ms. Cope made me tear up in the very early chapters of the book due to Jayden's homelessness and the circumstances surrounding his situation. I felt this story -- I saw it, experienced it, and felt it deeply. Not many books affect me like that, but this one did.
Fun, interesting characters. This first book was good for laying the foundation and backgrounds for the rest of the adventures which are yet to come. Part of the time, after the kids arrived at The Sanctum, the story seemed as if it wasn't progressing much -- I honestly think it was due to the necessary world-building/laying the foundation for the rest of the series.
I was provided an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Thank you Katrina Cope for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions I have expressed here are my own.
September 15, 2015
‘Jayden & The Mysterious Mountain’ tells the story of street kids who are picked up by a benefactor and placed in a private school to give them a better life. The author paints a lovely picture of a school sanctuary in which children, animals, and nature are treated gently and with good-will. But the school sanctuary is not just an idyll, it offers top notch classes and a chance of adventures in this case to fight terrorists. The narrative flows beautifully and capture’s the reader’s imagination. The use of language is a little bit too perfect, which sometimes impacts the flow, but I understand the author’s intention: to promote a good use of language to the young reader. I enjoyed the story that left me curious about the next sequel.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 14, 2018
I enjoy the way the author describes the scenery through each character's eyes. We first meet Jayden as he struggles to keep warm beneath newspapers. He watches strangers on the streets who have warm clothes and happy families. He is cold and a run-away. His life turns around when he meets Avondo, a man eager to improve the lives of homeless teens. He convinces Jayden and his friends to return with him to a college in the mountains, called Sanctum. They are told to try hard and do well.
The college resembles a fantasy to the kids. There's a talking computer, warm clothes, plenty of food, and beautiful rooms. The addicted teens have to attend Rehab. Soon they learn and enjoy themselves. They are taught about terrorism and scientific machines to combat terrorists. This is the point when the story becomes interesting.
The college resembles a fantasy to the kids. There's a talking computer, warm clothes, plenty of food, and beautiful rooms. The addicted teens have to attend Rehab. Soon they learn and enjoy themselves. They are taught about terrorism and scientific machines to combat terrorists. This is the point when the story becomes interesting.
March 20, 2015
At first reading, it had an "Oliver Twist", "Annie" feel to it. A classic with a modern twist, the characters are redeemable and the plot is authentic and believable.
December 21, 2015
I read this book on my recent holiday and it kept me enthralled, my eReader didn't leave my side and I was always itching to read a bit more to see what happened next.
At the start of the story Jayden is 11 and due to family problems is sleeping rough. One night he is given an opportunity to turn his life around from an unexpected source. Dubious at first, Jayden accepts and is soon settling into a new life, studying at a secret school where all the pupils are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Clearly there is a purpose behind the school, but what exactly is it?
This is a hard book to review simply because it's tough to give any idea of the story without spoiling it. And really this is a story I don't want to spoil for anyone.
Although aimed at young adults (particularly around 11, the same age as Jayden) as with all the best young adult fiction it's an excellent read for anyone.
The plot is really well handled; The journey of Jayden and his friends is one aspect, the purpose of the school another and the reader is kept on their toes by regular twists and turns. Some of these are totally unexpected, others are nicely flagged for the observant reader who will feel very pleased with themselves for having spotted the clue.
The characters are all clearly drawn and the descriptions are detailed enough to sketch them out out not laboured and allow enough space for the reader's imagination to add the finishing touches. All the main characters are very positive role models for young people and many will identify with them and hopefully appreciate how they develop. The writing moves at a really good pace and it is never slow and always grabs attention.
There are moments of humour - mostly around the student's antics either trying to break the rules or playing tricks on each other. Much darker threads are wound in with skill by Cope covering topics such as drug abuse, bullying and terrorism but these are never laboured and always dealt with sympathetically and optimistically. As a parent it is great to see these topics mentioned.
My 9-going-on-10 year old read this book and said it was 'great' and could he have 'more like that'. I don't think you could get a better recommendation.
Overall this is definitely a must read, not just for its target audience but anyone who wants to read a thoughtfully constructed, engaging and thrilling story. I will definitely be reading the sequel.
Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain can be downloaded as an eBook from Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...) or bought through Amazon
At the start of the story Jayden is 11 and due to family problems is sleeping rough. One night he is given an opportunity to turn his life around from an unexpected source. Dubious at first, Jayden accepts and is soon settling into a new life, studying at a secret school where all the pupils are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Clearly there is a purpose behind the school, but what exactly is it?
This is a hard book to review simply because it's tough to give any idea of the story without spoiling it. And really this is a story I don't want to spoil for anyone.
Although aimed at young adults (particularly around 11, the same age as Jayden) as with all the best young adult fiction it's an excellent read for anyone.
The plot is really well handled; The journey of Jayden and his friends is one aspect, the purpose of the school another and the reader is kept on their toes by regular twists and turns. Some of these are totally unexpected, others are nicely flagged for the observant reader who will feel very pleased with themselves for having spotted the clue.
The characters are all clearly drawn and the descriptions are detailed enough to sketch them out out not laboured and allow enough space for the reader's imagination to add the finishing touches. All the main characters are very positive role models for young people and many will identify with them and hopefully appreciate how they develop. The writing moves at a really good pace and it is never slow and always grabs attention.
There are moments of humour - mostly around the student's antics either trying to break the rules or playing tricks on each other. Much darker threads are wound in with skill by Cope covering topics such as drug abuse, bullying and terrorism but these are never laboured and always dealt with sympathetically and optimistically. As a parent it is great to see these topics mentioned.
My 9-going-on-10 year old read this book and said it was 'great' and could he have 'more like that'. I don't think you could get a better recommendation.
Overall this is definitely a must read, not just for its target audience but anyone who wants to read a thoughtfully constructed, engaging and thrilling story. I will definitely be reading the sequel.
Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain can be downloaded as an eBook from Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...) or bought through Amazon
November 6, 2013
Many would argue that the problem with self-publishing is a lack of quality control. The flipside of the argument is a greater opportunity offers an audience to potential authors previously written off by traditional publishers. It's the "diamond in the rough" syndrome. Everyone expects to find a gem just waiting to be cleaned up and shined. Well, there's a lot of "rough" here.
There's no denying that the premise of this story is interesting. It echoes the concepts of X-Men and, I guess, Harry Potter (I've not read or watched the HP stories). A school for society's young misfits run by a mysterious, but powerful benefactor. Training for a war no one knows is coming. And action. plenty of action.
Unfortunately, if this is a diamond, it still needs a lot of work. Were I to edit this book, my first pass would be to better develop the characters. Right now, they're prefabricated cookies. A second pass, related to this, would be to tighten up the dialogue and make it more realistic, believable, or at least engaging. Third, I'd focus on the pacing and establish a natural rhythm to the story. And last, but certainly not least, I'd give it a thorough grammar makeover. As is, there are a lot of typos and various mistakes.
There may be a great tale hidden in this book, but it will take a lot more time and development to get there. I suspect this won't happen, since it's already released, but we can hope. In the meantime, I'd recommend reading The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman.
By the way, I received a complimentary digital edition of this book from Story Cartel because I promised to write an honest review. It's rough around the edges and, frankly, most of the middle as well. But the potential is there.
There's no denying that the premise of this story is interesting. It echoes the concepts of X-Men and, I guess, Harry Potter (I've not read or watched the HP stories). A school for society's young misfits run by a mysterious, but powerful benefactor. Training for a war no one knows is coming. And action. plenty of action.
Unfortunately, if this is a diamond, it still needs a lot of work. Were I to edit this book, my first pass would be to better develop the characters. Right now, they're prefabricated cookies. A second pass, related to this, would be to tighten up the dialogue and make it more realistic, believable, or at least engaging. Third, I'd focus on the pacing and establish a natural rhythm to the story. And last, but certainly not least, I'd give it a thorough grammar makeover. As is, there are a lot of typos and various mistakes.
There may be a great tale hidden in this book, but it will take a lot more time and development to get there. I suspect this won't happen, since it's already released, but we can hope. In the meantime, I'd recommend reading The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman.
By the way, I received a complimentary digital edition of this book from Story Cartel because I promised to write an honest review. It's rough around the edges and, frankly, most of the middle as well. But the potential is there.
December 16, 2013
*Note: I received a free copy of Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain in exchange for an honest review.*
To begin with I really enjoyed Jayden's story. It has a lot going for it a good mystery, plenty of action and adventure, a sense of humor, and a fast pace that keeps you turning the pages. Jayden, a homeless 11 year old, is given a life changing opportunity by a mysterious man named Avando. He becomes a student at a school called The Sanctum where everything is supplied for him as long as he keeps his grades above a 95%. The students at The Sanctum do important work fighting terrorism, however, there is an infiltrator in their midst.
The premise is great and it has a lot of potential. Right off the bat, I want to say Jayden and his school have echoes of Harry Potter, X-Men, and maybe even Percy Jackson. That being said I still thought the story was kind of on the rough side and needs more work before it's really a gem. I noticed many typos and grammar problems throughout Jayden's tale, especially in the first half. The next major issue to catch my eye was Jayden's voice, as well as the dialog of many other characters. Jayden is supposed to be an 11 year old but he doesn't sound like any 11 year old I know. I noticed he kind of explained the way he talks within the story, but he still sounds stiff and clunky as do many others. The dialog definitely needs to be revised so it flows and feels real and believable. I also felt many of the supporting characters, like Jayden's fellow students and friends, need to be more developed in order to be more realistic.
Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain has several good things going for it, but it still needs work in order to live up to its potential.
To begin with I really enjoyed Jayden's story. It has a lot going for it a good mystery, plenty of action and adventure, a sense of humor, and a fast pace that keeps you turning the pages. Jayden, a homeless 11 year old, is given a life changing opportunity by a mysterious man named Avando. He becomes a student at a school called The Sanctum where everything is supplied for him as long as he keeps his grades above a 95%. The students at The Sanctum do important work fighting terrorism, however, there is an infiltrator in their midst.
The premise is great and it has a lot of potential. Right off the bat, I want to say Jayden and his school have echoes of Harry Potter, X-Men, and maybe even Percy Jackson. That being said I still thought the story was kind of on the rough side and needs more work before it's really a gem. I noticed many typos and grammar problems throughout Jayden's tale, especially in the first half. The next major issue to catch my eye was Jayden's voice, as well as the dialog of many other characters. Jayden is supposed to be an 11 year old but he doesn't sound like any 11 year old I know. I noticed he kind of explained the way he talks within the story, but he still sounds stiff and clunky as do many others. The dialog definitely needs to be revised so it flows and feels real and believable. I also felt many of the supporting characters, like Jayden's fellow students and friends, need to be more developed in order to be more realistic.
Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain has several good things going for it, but it still needs work in order to live up to its potential.
November 29, 2014
Jayden was a homeless child, one who ran away from home to get away from his father. When he is picked up by a rich, mysterious man, he gets the craziest offer of a lifetime – he can get a home, a fantastic college, and a loving community – all in one. The man, Avando, was picking up homeless tweens and teens and bringing him to his school, The Sanctum, to live at. There was one condition though – that they must try. They must try to get good grades, and try to be plain good. Oh – and there is the part where he has to learn all sorts of technology to help the man combat terrorism. Is it all too good to be true?
This was a good read. My interest was piqued from start to finish. The story started off a bit sluggish, but it picked up towards the end. The academy Jayden goes to sounds amazing and the school was described well. There wasn’t a whole lot of conflict or action in the story while he is there, except at the end. I liked the technology use in the story instead of magic (love Harry Potter, but really like different story ideas!). As a note to parents, there was some mild cursing in the book – nothing over the top. The characters were likable, Jayden is good as the main character, one that you can connect with. The plot of the book had just enough mystery for me to wonder what was really going on.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This was a good read. My interest was piqued from start to finish. The story started off a bit sluggish, but it picked up towards the end. The academy Jayden goes to sounds amazing and the school was described well. There wasn’t a whole lot of conflict or action in the story while he is there, except at the end. I liked the technology use in the story instead of magic (love Harry Potter, but really like different story ideas!). As a note to parents, there was some mild cursing in the book – nothing over the top. The characters were likable, Jayden is good as the main character, one that you can connect with. The plot of the book had just enough mystery for me to wonder what was really going on.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
June 25, 2014
This book in my opinion i thought it was a great, interesting book that used a lot of descriptive words. my favorite part of this book was at the start when Jayden's friends were fighting the mighty Avando it was hilarious a Tae kwon do genius fighting all these young teenagers because they went all crazy on him and tried to rob him when they were living on the streets, Avando won (he may be old but very powerful) Avando still was very nice to those teenagers and took him in to his school the sanctum a billion dollar school hidden in the mountains only for kids living on the street. why i thought that part was one of my favorite was because i can relate to it because i do Taekwondo also. they were thought all these Taekwondo skills that could help them in the future to fight all the stupid people out there doing the wrong thing and hurting or killing the innocent. this book is a good influence on young kids because it is telling them to do the right thing and not the wrong.
April 24, 2014
Bonus points to Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain by Katrina Cope for being a completely different story from any I’ve read lately. Other reviewers could see some Harry Potter and Percy Jackson in it. I saw that too but I also saw some Alex Rider. There is mystery and suspense and the use of surrogates and A.I. was interesting. I would have loved some deeper conversations between the characters and I found the ending somewhat abrupt, but overall a wonderful job with a truly unique idea. With a main character who is eleven and the conversations and thematic matter, this reader would classify this book as more middle grade than young adult.
August 21, 2014
Of course I loved it ;) The best books are the ones you write for yourself, right? LOL
So here is my extra recap:
Full of mystery, adventure, spying, humour and loveable characters. Come on the adventure with Jayden as he is rescued from a life on the streets and taken under the wing of Avando.
He is offered a life with many friends, as they work towards fighting terrorism.
I'm sure you will be guessing till the end who is the infiltrator.
A great read for 10 years and older, yes, even adults after a light, intriguing read :)
So here is my extra recap:
Full of mystery, adventure, spying, humour and loveable characters. Come on the adventure with Jayden as he is rescued from a life on the streets and taken under the wing of Avando.
He is offered a life with many friends, as they work towards fighting terrorism.
I'm sure you will be guessing till the end who is the infiltrator.
A great read for 10 years and older, yes, even adults after a light, intriguing read :)
March 12, 2015
This was a fascinating story that had me locked in from the very beginning. By giving so little away about what is going on, but creating such lively characters, Katrina Cope manages to hook her readers even before they have any idea what the plot is about!
I definitely still feel confused, even after finishing the book. I like where the story line is going, but I really have no idea what she has in store with this series. I'm anxious to move on to the second book and try to unravel a little bit more of her mysterious plot.
I definitely still feel confused, even after finishing the book. I like where the story line is going, but I really have no idea what she has in store with this series. I'm anxious to move on to the second book and try to unravel a little bit more of her mysterious plot.
March 24, 2015
Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain should come with a disclaimer: NOT JUST FOR Y/A. It's an engrossing story of street kids who are given a chance to grow and flourish. Can an old man really be altruistic and provide a home/school for discarded children? The Sanctum on the Mysterious Mountain is offered to Jayden with compliance as the price. This beautifully written tale vividly describes the characters and their surroundings until the reader feels like he or she is living in the middle of the story. Adults will enjoy this novel just as much as younger people.
January 14, 2014
When I first started reading this book I was worried I wouldn't enjoy it. I mean, the way Jayden's backstory was presented to us could have been done better; either by showing rather than telling, or by having Jayden tell someone his story afterwards. However, this was the only issue I had with the book, and it turned out to be a fantastic read, which I'm very glad I took the time to read. I look forward to reading more by this author.
July 7, 2014
Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain was a refreshing, exciting read. I loved the idea of forgotten, wayward teenagers finding purpose and direction in life by fighting terrorism. Katrina's message of empowering pre-teens and teens by giving them a mission and hope is desperately needed in today's society. Children and teens will love this book and cheer for Jayden and his crew. I can't wait to uncover Scarlett's journey in the next book. Well done, Katrina. Sheila Bliss, author of Choices
December 30, 2013
Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain is a young adult fantasy novel that reads somewhere between a thriller, and a spy story. As a teacher, and a fan of YA fiction, I downloaded this because it seemed unique, interesting, and the price was right.
The story begins the protagonist Jayden. He is homeless and alone because his family fell apart as a result of the effects of economic recession. This character was developed well in the beginning of the story. I think the author did a good job using restraint. She did not go too far into his backstory, making it easy for teenage readers to identify with him.
Jayden's life changes very suddenly when he is approached by a stranger who would like to enroll him in a special type of school. This part was very fantastical, but the author did a good job making this believable to younger readers. Jayden here, is essentially saved, pulled out of homelessness, pulled out of despair, pulled out of a life that was hardly worth living. This type of escapism is the type of fantasy that many teenagers engage in.
One of the things I like most about Cope's writing is that she takes her time in describing the setting. The reader is able to engage in discovering the school in the Mysterious Mountain throughout the rest of the book, instead of it being described all at once. The school itself would seem appealing to many young readers. Instead of just boring classes, the students took tae kwon doe (excuse the misspelling) and worked on science/tech projects.
The suspense really builds throughout the second half of the novel when the students begin to fight terrorism. The surrogates were cool. I was reminded of Avatar and Enders Game.
The ending was not easy to predict, but seemingly inevitable when it was finally revealed. It was one of those endings that would generally be described as 'good.'
Overall, I was impressed by how positive the book felt. Since books like The Hunger Games came out, I feel as if I have been floating in a sea of Dystopia. This book was different however. It was full of positive messages that were carefully crafted for the teenage mind.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Highly Recommended.
The story begins the protagonist Jayden. He is homeless and alone because his family fell apart as a result of the effects of economic recession. This character was developed well in the beginning of the story. I think the author did a good job using restraint. She did not go too far into his backstory, making it easy for teenage readers to identify with him.
Jayden's life changes very suddenly when he is approached by a stranger who would like to enroll him in a special type of school. This part was very fantastical, but the author did a good job making this believable to younger readers. Jayden here, is essentially saved, pulled out of homelessness, pulled out of despair, pulled out of a life that was hardly worth living. This type of escapism is the type of fantasy that many teenagers engage in.
One of the things I like most about Cope's writing is that she takes her time in describing the setting. The reader is able to engage in discovering the school in the Mysterious Mountain throughout the rest of the book, instead of it being described all at once. The school itself would seem appealing to many young readers. Instead of just boring classes, the students took tae kwon doe (excuse the misspelling) and worked on science/tech projects.
The suspense really builds throughout the second half of the novel when the students begin to fight terrorism. The surrogates were cool. I was reminded of Avatar and Enders Game.
The ending was not easy to predict, but seemingly inevitable when it was finally revealed. It was one of those endings that would generally be described as 'good.'
Overall, I was impressed by how positive the book felt. Since books like The Hunger Games came out, I feel as if I have been floating in a sea of Dystopia. This book was different however. It was full of positive messages that were carefully crafted for the teenage mind.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Highly Recommended.
August 27, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 rounded up to 3.
Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain is the story of a young homeless boy, named Jayden, who is taken and brought to a mysterious school, the Sanctum, made for homeless children. It's required to have at least a 95% in order for him to stay there, and it is very difficult course work.
I found the story extremely boring once Jayden got to the school. I didn't mind the beginning. It might be better for young teen readers than for myself. However, nothing really happened until the end of the book. By the ending, I had to keep reading to find out more. However, before that, it was hard to keep focused. It was a short book and it took a long time for me to finish it.
I enjoyed the author's description of everything. There was a lot of detail as to the location of the school, as well as the projects and technology. I enjoyed reading about the technology with the surrogate. It was pretty cool.
The writing didn't really seem to flow. Jayden's dialogue didn't make sense for an 11 year old. It was too mature. Not to mention the school work was too hard for an 11 year old, but I guess with a lot of help it could be possible. Also, the dialogue didn't work well with any character really. It just didn't flow.
The story with the other school didn't make sense until about 75% into the book. It seemed like it was two books in one. I didn't get it. But I'm glad it was added, in the end.
Character development was lacking. I didn't hardly know anything about any of the characters. They had been homeless and they all are really talented in something. Other than that, we don't know much. It could've been more developed.
I liked how it was a clean book and it's a good premise. It just wasn't really for me and it could've been executed better. I could see younger readers enjoying it very much! Parents, if you're looking for a good, clean and fun read for your middle school children, I'd recommend this one! :)
2.5 rounded up to 3.
Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain is the story of a young homeless boy, named Jayden, who is taken and brought to a mysterious school, the Sanctum, made for homeless children. It's required to have at least a 95% in order for him to stay there, and it is very difficult course work.
I found the story extremely boring once Jayden got to the school. I didn't mind the beginning. It might be better for young teen readers than for myself. However, nothing really happened until the end of the book. By the ending, I had to keep reading to find out more. However, before that, it was hard to keep focused. It was a short book and it took a long time for me to finish it.
I enjoyed the author's description of everything. There was a lot of detail as to the location of the school, as well as the projects and technology. I enjoyed reading about the technology with the surrogate. It was pretty cool.
The writing didn't really seem to flow. Jayden's dialogue didn't make sense for an 11 year old. It was too mature. Not to mention the school work was too hard for an 11 year old, but I guess with a lot of help it could be possible. Also, the dialogue didn't work well with any character really. It just didn't flow.
The story with the other school didn't make sense until about 75% into the book. It seemed like it was two books in one. I didn't get it. But I'm glad it was added, in the end.
Character development was lacking. I didn't hardly know anything about any of the characters. They had been homeless and they all are really talented in something. Other than that, we don't know much. It could've been more developed.
I liked how it was a clean book and it's a good premise. It just wasn't really for me and it could've been executed better. I could see younger readers enjoying it very much! Parents, if you're looking for a good, clean and fun read for your middle school children, I'd recommend this one! :)
January 24, 2014
Got a free copy so I guess I better review it honestly!
There are some things in this book that I find hard to cope with. Well, first of all, they are street children of eleven but the education they're receiving is of 16/17 year olds and I don't understand that. These people at The Sanctum talk of robotics as if you just gotta mix metals and make them. IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE. Plus, how the hell do street children turn into complete geniuses? And, what eleven year old knows about pipette, electrolytic cell, chemical formula, etc? I was dumbfounded when Jayden didn't even question once in his lessons! They are studying chemistry and how can eleven year olds cope with that? I would've found it easier to believe if they were demigods or something such but they weren't. Thus, my predicament.
Avando seems so sure of himself and that just doesn't makes sense. I know it's fiction and all but I... I just can't. He just seems like a shady character to me. He hires people who suffer from tragic terrorist attacks and is then shocked? I mean, if anything, he should've seen it coming. I won't be surprised if he turns out to be the traitor.
And, Aaron has been there for like two or three years wasn't he supposed to be in higher classes? There's no definite class system, apparently. Seniors are mentioned only vaguely. And, I'm not sure if I like Jess. And, Jayden was anything but a former street kid, which just isn't realistic. At a point, I really started imagining these all a little older which did fit with their actions.
Apart from this, I was fine with it, though it really was just an okay read for me. If there weren't issues mentioned, I would've liked it I guess. But, I'm a chemistry student so I guess maybe that's why it's hard for me to think it possible for such young people. There were typos but I ignored them since they could've been easily overlooked.
March 11, 2015
The author is able to write in a way that is freely flowing, keeping the reader engaged. This was important for keeping me humming along with this book from beginning to end.
I enjoyed the aspects of fantasy in gathering diverse youth from the "streets" and throwing them all together in a mysterious boarding school that encourages self-initiative and respect. Although there were numerous characters, they were all fun to read about and the author has nicely drawn in some quirky and memorable misadventures between the kids that feel like strong young adult moments such as pranks and bickering. I liked the concept of the boarding school being expertly styled and hidden to be part of a mountain, with much naturalness.
Plotwise, the book could be improved. Like I said, the author does a great job of having you enjoy the book and the characters, yet when the book ends, one thinks, hmm, what really happened overall, and how was the conflict resolved? The author nicely creates playful conflict between the characters but not tension until much later in the book when we hear of the terrorist plot within the city near the boarding school. As a result much of the book feels like a slice of life rather than a gripping novel, which by itself is not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that the two narratives don't mesh together as they should. I thought that the terrorism plot wasn't as gripping as should be, the villain's motives weren't clear, and the discovery and resolution of this subplot were a little over-the-top and not as believable.
But the mysterious recruitment of the youth at the beginning, and the boarding school part and the playful hijinks constitute the solid part of the book. For that reason I give it four stars. You could take out the terrorism plot and the book would still be highly enjoyable as a fun read.
I enjoyed the aspects of fantasy in gathering diverse youth from the "streets" and throwing them all together in a mysterious boarding school that encourages self-initiative and respect. Although there were numerous characters, they were all fun to read about and the author has nicely drawn in some quirky and memorable misadventures between the kids that feel like strong young adult moments such as pranks and bickering. I liked the concept of the boarding school being expertly styled and hidden to be part of a mountain, with much naturalness.
Plotwise, the book could be improved. Like I said, the author does a great job of having you enjoy the book and the characters, yet when the book ends, one thinks, hmm, what really happened overall, and how was the conflict resolved? The author nicely creates playful conflict between the characters but not tension until much later in the book when we hear of the terrorist plot within the city near the boarding school. As a result much of the book feels like a slice of life rather than a gripping novel, which by itself is not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that the two narratives don't mesh together as they should. I thought that the terrorism plot wasn't as gripping as should be, the villain's motives weren't clear, and the discovery and resolution of this subplot were a little over-the-top and not as believable.
But the mysterious recruitment of the youth at the beginning, and the boarding school part and the playful hijinks constitute the solid part of the book. For that reason I give it four stars. You could take out the terrorism plot and the book would still be highly enjoyable as a fun read.
January 15, 2014
Part science fiction, part spy novel, Katrina Cope's "Jayden and the Mysterious Mountain" has the feel of a "Spy Kids" movie. Centered around a futuristic school where street kids are given a second chance, Cope creates an interesting invented environment for readers' minds to explore.
The book is an easy read and great for kids around the same age as her characters (10 to 13 years old). The plot is interesting, full of little twists and turns for the characters. Also, the inventions that the author describes in her book are sure to keep a reader's imagination engaged.
The thing that I most appreciated about this book, having worked with street kids for years as my day to day occupation, is that Cope does an excellent job of pointing out that even the most unlikely kids can be heroes. It is refreshing to see an author who sees value in a population that I have spent countless hours attempting to prove has potential to society at large.
The only critique I have for the book is in places the dialogue feels a little less like it matches the age of the characters, but then again, this could be a difference in English dialect (I am one of those rough speaking Americans, after all). Overall this would be a fun read for any youngsters and any adults who want a little adventure.
The book is an easy read and great for kids around the same age as her characters (10 to 13 years old). The plot is interesting, full of little twists and turns for the characters. Also, the inventions that the author describes in her book are sure to keep a reader's imagination engaged.
The thing that I most appreciated about this book, having worked with street kids for years as my day to day occupation, is that Cope does an excellent job of pointing out that even the most unlikely kids can be heroes. It is refreshing to see an author who sees value in a population that I have spent countless hours attempting to prove has potential to society at large.
The only critique I have for the book is in places the dialogue feels a little less like it matches the age of the characters, but then again, this could be a difference in English dialect (I am one of those rough speaking Americans, after all). Overall this would be a fun read for any youngsters and any adults who want a little adventure.
November 27, 2014
As a rule street kids have nothing to look forward to except a live in the streets trying to eke their existence on an on-going basis. Most street kids that is until Jayden and his friends of the street got picked up a benefactor who wanted to turn their lives around. Their benefactor places them in a private school where they’re taught better than any school in their former neighborhoods.
If you thought their benefactor had a reason for doing this, you’d be right, he needed them to be totally trained in how to fight terrorists who threatens everyone’s existence. The book contains a wonderful mix of genres; action/adventure, sci-fi with the use of high-tech equipment, etc. This is story in which its young street kids learn to take responsibility, and take it seriously.
While Ms. Cope’s writing style has turned the book into a page turner complete with the red herrings in contains, it could use some tweaking to correct the errors it contains. Overall I believe
“Jayden & The Mysterious Mountain: Book 1” deserves the 4 STARS I’m giving it.
Robin Leigh Morgan is the author of “I Kissed a Ghost,” a MG/YA Paranormal Romance novel; as well as the soon to be released “Micro Fiction – An Anthology.”
I read this book from November 19th – 21st 2014
If you thought their benefactor had a reason for doing this, you’d be right, he needed them to be totally trained in how to fight terrorists who threatens everyone’s existence. The book contains a wonderful mix of genres; action/adventure, sci-fi with the use of high-tech equipment, etc. This is story in which its young street kids learn to take responsibility, and take it seriously.
While Ms. Cope’s writing style has turned the book into a page turner complete with the red herrings in contains, it could use some tweaking to correct the errors it contains. Overall I believe
“Jayden & The Mysterious Mountain: Book 1” deserves the 4 STARS I’m giving it.
Robin Leigh Morgan is the author of “I Kissed a Ghost,” a MG/YA Paranormal Romance novel; as well as the soon to be released “Micro Fiction – An Anthology.”
I read this book from November 19th – 21st 2014
December 11, 2013
Katrina Cope's “Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain" (the first book in the Sanctum series), is a young adult novel with a fantasy-themed plot that will have readers on the edge of their seats.
The book begins when Avando, a mysterious old man, makes Jayden, a homeless youth, an offer that seems too good to be true -- food and shelter in exchange for academic performance.
The plot rockets forward when Jayden takes the offer, enrolling at a mysterious school called The Sanctum, hidden in the mountains and filled with imaginative technology.
One of the strongest points of the novel is Cope's descriptions of the characters' backgrounds, which add a layer of characterization that helps the reader understand their decision-making.
Cope also does a wonderful job describing scenes, giving the reader a vivid picture of what is going on.
The plot is paced well and will have the reader eager to learn what will happen next -- there are even a few twists along the way.
I recommend "Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain" for anyone (especially young teens) looking for an imaginative, fast-paced YA book.
The book begins when Avando, a mysterious old man, makes Jayden, a homeless youth, an offer that seems too good to be true -- food and shelter in exchange for academic performance.
The plot rockets forward when Jayden takes the offer, enrolling at a mysterious school called The Sanctum, hidden in the mountains and filled with imaginative technology.
One of the strongest points of the novel is Cope's descriptions of the characters' backgrounds, which add a layer of characterization that helps the reader understand their decision-making.
Cope also does a wonderful job describing scenes, giving the reader a vivid picture of what is going on.
The plot is paced well and will have the reader eager to learn what will happen next -- there are even a few twists along the way.
I recommend "Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain" for anyone (especially young teens) looking for an imaginative, fast-paced YA book.
November 2, 2013
When an elderly man appears in the dark street to rescue Jayden from homelessness, a life better than his dreams has come true--there is a catch to the elderly man's kindness of course. Jayden must learn! He's taken to a school called "The Sanctum", with some other street kids . Run by a cheeky AI who plays nasty if you cross her. They build & operate high tech equipment, including surrogate robots all to fight against terrorism, or are they??? I know the answer but you'll have to read the book to find out. =D
This book is geared toward young adults but I really enjoyed the book as well. My daughter also started reading it (she's 11) and was instantly drawn in to the story and the characters...there are an assortment of personalities every reader will surly find one to gravitate toward.
This book is geared toward young adults but I really enjoyed the book as well. My daughter also started reading it (she's 11) and was instantly drawn in to the story and the characters...there are an assortment of personalities every reader will surly find one to gravitate toward.
July 12, 2017
I loved the story of "Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain." It has a lot of action, and provides some interesting information about science and some of the devices the students create. The very beginning started a little slow with the info dump about Jayden's background. This could easily have been trimmed and the relevant information provided in dialog or Jayden's thoughts. But, after that the story becomes interesting, with the street children given an opportunity to better their lives. The author did a good job of keeping it secret who might actually be the terrorist school, and provided some good red herrings along the way. The book could have used a little more editing, especially around the dialog the children used. Much of it did not seem what preteens would say. But don't let that distract you. The story is wonderfully executed and keeps you engaged until the end.
October 15, 2014
Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain was a very fun read. I don’t normal find books like this that are just so intriguing and interesting. This was a perfect find for me! I found it to be well-written and exciting. I love books that have adventure in them. Jayden starts out as being homeless, but is rescued soon after. Jayden then starts school and it’s a great time in his life as he is making a new beginning. Jayden goes on a lot of adventures and I loved every one of them! Jayden also goes on to help homeless teens, which I found to be so motivating. Overall this book was inspirational. Even though Jayden was born into obstacles, he made it through it. I really enjoyed reading about his adventures and I am so excited that I found this book. I cannot wait to read book 2! Book 1 was so good!
October 24, 2014
4.5 stars
Let me start with saying that whilst the beginning is a bit slow, once you get into the book it is well worth the money spent on it and it's an interesting read.
The book in someways reminds me of Harry Potter, an 11 year old boy is given a chance to turn his life around from an unexpected source. He had been sleeping rough because of family problems.
Jayden is very charming and a very interesting character at the beginning you think that he will be a selfish person because of the way he is living but you actually see that he is a very interesting person and very loyal and helpful.
The book has lots of twists and turns and I loved how the Author kept you guessing about what would happen next. I would recommend this book to anyone and will be telling my friends and family about it.
Let me start with saying that whilst the beginning is a bit slow, once you get into the book it is well worth the money spent on it and it's an interesting read.
The book in someways reminds me of Harry Potter, an 11 year old boy is given a chance to turn his life around from an unexpected source. He had been sleeping rough because of family problems.
Jayden is very charming and a very interesting character at the beginning you think that he will be a selfish person because of the way he is living but you actually see that he is a very interesting person and very loyal and helpful.
The book has lots of twists and turns and I loved how the Author kept you guessing about what would happen next. I would recommend this book to anyone and will be telling my friends and family about it.
October 17, 2014
My friend suggested me to read this book once!!
When i was started to read it
Was so hooked the way of detailing of the characters and the whole story..
It has written beautifully for teens. An inspirational story for all younger's.
Must say the brilliant story and character. Its really different from other story books and a good message to children! Story has touched my heart the way of describing 'Katrina Cope ' Used excellent and perfect words to write a story. Now she has become my favorite author.
Really worth for the money now i am gonna recommend this book to all of my friends.. I really enjoyed this book and eagerly waiting for the next edition.
When i was started to read it
Was so hooked the way of detailing of the characters and the whole story..
It has written beautifully for teens. An inspirational story for all younger's.
Must say the brilliant story and character. Its really different from other story books and a good message to children! Story has touched my heart the way of describing 'Katrina Cope ' Used excellent and perfect words to write a story. Now she has become my favorite author.
Really worth for the money now i am gonna recommend this book to all of my friends.. I really enjoyed this book and eagerly waiting for the next edition.
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