Paraglide

by Peter Anthony Kelley

For siblings Jim and Erica Winters, a summer vacation to London promises adventure and a bit of freedom from their overprotective mother. But once they arrive, they end up with more excitement than they bargained for. Their mother is kidnapped and her captors demand the one thing they can’t produce – their long-absent father.

Unable to trust the authorities, Jim and Erica set off in pursuit of their father, racing across Europe and fending off mysterious assailants. As the trail of clues dries up, help arrives in the form of a raven-haired beauty. Is she the answer to their prayers or a romantic distraction?
With the kidnapper’s deadline looming, the truth about their father’s shadowy past is revealed. In a last ditch effort to save their mother, Jim and Erica must climb high into the Swiss Alps where a perilous choice confronts them. Can they trust their father who has repeatedly betrayed them?

Genres: Young Adult

297 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Peter is the author of the young-adult novels, Wave Runners and Paraglide. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, two daughters and a cranky nineteen-year old cat named Brownie. He graduated from American University with a Master's degree in International Relations. When he's not writing he loves travel, biking and watching soccer.

Reviews

[Pam K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Paraglide from LibraryThing in return for an honest review.

Jim, Erica and their mom, Genevieve are going on vacation in England. When Genevieve is kidnapped, the kids must find their estranged father, Edward, to save her.
The journey takes the 2 kids through England, Italy, and Switzerland. They are chased by 2 groups of people wanting to find Edward and a fortune in jewels that he has.
The story is full of adventure, intrigue and excitement. This is a tale for a teenager, but I still enjoyed it. The author makes it easy to guess who is behind the kidnapping. But also does a good job at confusing you for a moment or two.

[Jessirae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paraglide by Peter Anthony Kelley is a story about two siblings, Jim and Erica, who face a troubling dilemma. Their mother has been kidnapped and the kidnappers want someone they have not seen for nearly a year, their father. Due to unfortunate circumstances and events, the siblings are forced to travel from city to city, country to country trying to escape, not one, but two sets of kidnappers, survive and meet the deadline set up for them and find where their father is hiding. In Paraglide, Jim and Erica have to overcome their fears and face the utter truth about the secrets hidden within their family. 



The first page of Paraglide really hit me hard. Already, the first line on that page had me hooked into this story, pulling me into its clutches. I was so curious as to what was going on with the Winter’s family and why the children were stuck with such a responsibility as saving their mother. I wanted to know more about their father’s disappearance and why Jim and Erica’s mother is extremely over-protective. 



Peter Anthony Kelley does an excellent job of connecting the story, tying loose ends and creating a piece that just makes sense despite all the crazy things that are happening within the storyline. I enjoyed the way I was easily drawn into Paraglide and the fact that I had no trouble getting lost in the world. His writing style is not difficult to understand and everything seemed to flow perfectly well. I was also pleased that the book was sort of split into the Jim and Erica’s 3rd person perspective. This really brought their story together, making the events of the story blend well. Their perspectives are not stated clearly within each chapter, but it doesn’t take away from the story at all.

I really loved how Peter Anthony Kelley was able to transport me into the places that Jim and Erica were forced to go to. The descriptions of these places were well developed that I was able to picture it in my head effortlessly. He takes you on this journey along with Jim and Erica to rich and beautiful places such as, London, Tuscany and Venice. I have never been to those places and yet I felt like I was there with characters. Peter Anthony Kelley did a wonderful job of capturing the life of each place.



I grew to connect, relate and admire both Jim and Erica. For a fifteen and nine year old to take on such an incredible task of rescuing their mother by searching their father was absolutely incredible. I do admit that I had my doubts that these two could handle such a task because of their age. However, both Jim and Erica, were very intelligent and mature for their young age. At times, their youthful age did show when it came to making certain decisions, but I believe this made Jim and Erica more realistic. I thought both siblings were full of bravery and courage. I loved how they took the initiative, taking matters into their own hands and I really liked how they asked for help when they truly needed it. 



What I especially loved about Paraglide was the adventure and suspense that was prominent throughout the whole book. There really isn’t a dull moment in the book. When I thought things were looking up for the siblings, they were hit with another problem that caused them to run away. There is also this sense of imminent danger that kept popping up unexpectedly that made the story more thrilling. Also, I always had trouble trusting the other characters that kept showing up on page. I thought this distrust I felt was definitely mirrored with Jim and Erica’s uncertainty to other people in the book as well and I felt like I understood them more with this connection. Everyone felt like they were out to get the siblings and this brought true excitement to the novel.

Overall, Paraglide is a very enjoyable read for all ages. It’s an action-packed novel that seemingly manages to absorb you within the story. It’s full of twists, secrets, courageous acts, and betrayal from characters you would never suspect!



4 out of 5 stars



*Thanks to Peter Anthony Kelley for providing me with a copy for review. In no way does Peter influence by opinion/review of this book. It is solely my own.

More Reviews on my blog: Words, Pages, and Books

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Winters family is visiting London. The three of them are going to see their mother's cousin, Abbey Brewer, who neither sibling, Jim or Erica, has ever heard of before. But that doesn't matter anymore. All that matters now is that their mother is missing, Jim is stuck with his little sister, and their only chance to save Genevieve Winters is to find their father who left them 8 months ago. Looks like their small vacation just turned into a nightmare.
While touring the London Eye, two men in suits threaten the siblings. They came, demanding for a key and they threatened to kill their mother if the key wasn't given. Except Jim and Erica don't have the key, so the men now want their father. But how are they going to find the man after 8 months of disappearance? And they have one week to do so too. They can't even go to the authorities or else they'd be putting their mother in even more danger. Who are these men? What do they want with the key? And more importantly: What has their father gotten into?
While both siblings search high and low for these answers, they try to gather as much help as they can. But in the end, will they save their mother's life in time?

Paraglide is one of those novels where you know who the bad guys are, and yet you can't stop reading because of all the thrilling suspense built throughout the book. It's sort of a mixture between action/adventure/thriller. It kept me cemented to my seat. This book is all about 'what will happen next?'. That's the big question mark.
I didn't have a hard time figuring out what was happening or why, most of it was downright cliche. My curiosity flared because, even though I knew the ending was inevitable, there were so many ways things could go wrong and yet it would all lead to the same ending. I wanted to see how the siblings would find the solution to this problem of theirs. Plus, the atmosphere of the book was addicting. There's this growing tension that latches onto you and won't let you sit still.
The settings of Paraglide were one of the main factors that sucked me into the novel. It felt like I was on a tour to these stunning places, I now have a plan to visit them in real life. They sound amazing (if not a little scary). Kelley has this fantastic way of describing everything without boring me to death. He detailed the surroundings while all the action was happening, so it was sort intertwined and I didn't lose interest.
The characters had depth and as the story progressed, I found myself growing attached to them. Maybe I felt sorry for everything that was going on. Both Jim and Erica seriously deserve another vacation (one where no one gets kidnapped).
Jim was as responsible as any big brother should be. He deeply cared about his sister and worried often about her too. Who knows when the kidnappers could show up again and steal his little sis as well?
At the beginning of the novel, he acted just like any other teenager: sort of whiny and thinking the world revolved around him, but in the end, the development of his character was crystal clear. He was no longer that whiny teen anymore. I came to accept him as he was, and there was no disliking him either. He made some dumb decisions here and there, but I understood the guy. Especially with everything he had to face, it couldn't have been easy.
Erica was the little sister of nine who was too smart for her own good. The girl never ceased to amaze me. She knew things I didn't even know. It made her a little less realistic, but it also made her so much more adorable... if not a little know-it-all.
The plot wasn't really original or unique. It's very easy to guess at, but like I mentioned before, this novel is all about the adventure. There's countless amounts of action strewn throughout the book that will keep you at the edge of your seat. There were twists to the story line, but they were predictable so it didn't really surprise me. The pace is consistent all the way, not once slowing down.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The ending was nice and Kelley even added a little cliffhanger (of a sort) to keep me wondering. Paraglide is an action-packed read that had me grinning from time to time. I completely recommend it to everyone. It's an exciting adventure you don't want to miss.

[Kelly Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light, fun read full of twists, turns, delicious food and exotic locations, Paraglide was a fun adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat as Jim and Erica fought to outsmart a couple of goons in search of their kidnapped mother and missing father!

Told in alternating third points-of-view, I found it so easy to relate to both Jim and Erica. Their voices were young enough to be believable, but old enough to enjoy reading. I did find that there were times where both Jim and Erica came across much older and wiser than their respective fifteen and nine years would suggest, but then something would happen that would remind me of their young age. This youthful naiveté in the face of certain decisions helped to ground the characters, making them more realistic. My constant distrust of every new character left me with a sense of constant danger, and Jim and Erica's initial unease with new people furthered their realism as it mirrored my own mixed emotions. I loved their relationship, and how natural it felt to read about them as siblings. Jim was a typical protective older brother, but it was refreshing to see him treat Erica with respect and admiration - something we don't often see an older brother show towards his baby sister.

I loved both of their idiosyncrasies, which helped me relate to them as individuals. Erica's constant play on words and search for the next great Crossword clue were adorable and I found myself giggling over some of her punnier rhymes. I also loved that her hobby became crucial to the plot toward Paraglide's end, with her clue for Jim helping him to make a key decision. And Jim's love of cooking was evident with every meal - the detail he would go into to describe the sights and smells had my mouth watering more then once!

Tucking into it with a hunk of bread, he recognized the flavor the moment it hit his tongue. Even though he'd never had it before, there could be no mistaking the truffle. The taste had the same woodsy, earthy quality as the smell, but caressed his mouth and left him slightly stunned by its unique intensity.

The plot was action-packed and fast-paced, with a new clue being revealed behind every turn, the ticking time threatening their mother's safe return, and the constant threat of Pilot and "Mr. Greasy" just when Jim and Erica think they're safe. There wasn't a moment where I wasn't eager to keep reading and uncover their father's secrets and Kelley's ability to transport me into the story with his vivid imagery helped me to stay lost in the story.

Never a dull moment, Paraglide was a thrilling and fun adventure. I loved being transported to Tuscany, Venice and Switzerland as I followed Jim and Erica on their quest to find their missing father, and the constant presence of lurking danger added a nice element of suspense.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I was given this book for free by the author on a read-to-review basis.)
15-Year-old Jim and his 9-year-old sister Erica have had a difficult year. Their parents have split up, they’ve had to move from Washington D.C. to Minnesota, and they haven’t seen their father in months.

Taken to England by their mother on a trip to meet a distant cousin, the unthinkable happens and their mother disappears. The really scary thing is that she appears to have been kidnapped.

Harassed by two men in matching suits who claim to have taken their mother, Jim and Erica are told to get a message to their father within the week or their mother will be killed. It seems that their father has somehow gotten himself involved in a theft of some crown jewels, and it isn’t only these men that want to find him, as yet another man is found rifling through their room and later chasing them with a gun.

Stranded and alone the pair turn to an old friend of their mothers who they had met on the street earlier that day, and he helps them to escape from the man with the gun, and directs them to find their mother’s cousin Abby who they came to visit.

When yet another man accosts them at the train station though, and they are separated from their mother’s friend they are really on their own, and running out of ideas of where to go and how to possibly find their father. Following the only lead they have and searching for their mothers cousin just ends in another dead end, and the siblings must venture even further afield in an effort to find their father and save their mother. But with very little to go on, and nobody but themselves to confide in, will they ever be able to find their mother in time to save her life?


This was an enjoyable book. Jim and Erica were both realistic and likeable characters, and the story was just full of twists and turns. Jim is a Monty Python fan and I loved the quotes that he came out with every now and then, and Erica’s word games were really funny. There was also a very funny Harry Potter reference that I appreciated.

The storyline really was full of twists. Jim and Erica just never seemed to know who to trust from one minute to the next, and no sooner did they think they were getting somewhere when something else happened and they found themselves no further along at all.

This book was well written and the mystery kept you turning the pages. An entertaining young adult read.
7.5 out of 10

For more information about this book and others by Peter Anthony Kelley, visit:
http://peteranthonykelley.wordpress.com/

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jim and Erica's mother decides to take them on a trip to the UK to visit her aunt, Jim is unhappy. He would rather have gone to Paris and he expects he will have to follow his mother and sister around. His mother used to be cool, but since their father left eight months ago, she has become paranoid and insists on keeping them in her sights at all time.

But when their mother is kidnapped, Jim and Erica discover that their father's leaving and this trip isn't all that it seems. They have one week to deliver a message to their father, but they have no idea where he is. The kidnappers aren't their only problem, other people are also after their father. Dangerous people who threaten to hurt the siblings to get to their goal.

The pace of the story, the vividly described places and interesting characters will keep you glued to the page, as the siblings are chased across Europe trying to find their father and discover the truth of who he really is.

The story is almost like an old fashioned adventure story, but with modern characters and problems. It would be suitable for kids 12+

The downsides with this book.

1. The POV starts firmly with Jim, but after a few chapters there are little incursions of Erica's POV. This sorts itself out later when Erica takes over the story for awhile, but early on it is a bit jarring.
2. The title of the book means you are constantly looking for Paraglides to play a substantial role - so it isn't really surprising when they are used as means of escape.
3. There are a few unresolved points that would be nice if they were mentioned towards the end (not necessarily resolved but indicated they will be dealt with in future books) - for instance Jim's desire to be a chef, which conflicts with his father's desire that Jim follow in his footsteps.
4. I was disappointed that he didn't decide to go after the girl in the end! Or at least say he would at some point.

I wouldn't say the book would be a best seller, but it's fun-fast paced book that maintains the tension until the very end. I also really liked the quirks of the characters - making them very individual and rounded out.

[Soma Rostam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so intrigued when the author asked me to write a review, just look at the cover! It's such a beautiful illustration, the colors, how the characters are blackened out, it's really unique. And the blurb is captivating, so I had to give it a try and it was adventurous!
Jem and Erica's father has been missing for months, and they don't have any idea where he is. On an unexpected trip to England, their mother is kidnapped by a group of men. These men want Jem and Erica to do the seemingly-impossible, find their long-gone father and tell him to give the jewels to free their mother, the jewels that he has supposedly kept hidden for a very, very long time.
From England, to Italy, to Interlaken, Jem and Erica try to find the only person who abandoned them in the first place, their father. They make new friends and fight cruel enemies, but what will happen in the end?
Will Jem and Erica find their father? Will their father give up the jewels to the men? And why does their father have the jewels in the first place? Find out much more when you read this thrilling mystery, Paraglide...
I liked this book very much. I didn't exactly expect this book to be like that, but it was very different from the things I have read before. Since I am a fan of thrillers and mysteries, this book was very enjoyable. It was fun and entertaining to try and find out who is the person who kidnapped their mother, it was really unexpected!
The only complain I have, is that the characters are not developed very much. They almost look like stereotypes, but altogether, this book is an enjoyable roller coaster ride with many intriguing twists and turns. You better try this out and see for yourself!

[Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was super duper pleased by Paraglide and it exceeded my expectations. A story of full of suspense and actions had me racing towards the end.

What I Liked:
Jim and Erica's brother/sister relationship is authentic
I can imagine Erica as my little endearing/annoying sister.
Kelley does a good job of setting the scene and creating suspense
Kelley makes you doubt yourself on who the bad guys really are! I kept thinking it's him, no it's her, no it's definitely him. Then I'm wrong at the end. It drives you crazy to second-guess yourself
The secrecy shrouding the sibling's dad
It's cool reading about the places the they travel to around Europe when they try to chase their father
Erica's word games (adds realistic character and it was interesting to read)

What I Didn't Like
There was some points of the book where the children didn't seem to be that worried about their mother's well being at all (side-tracked by food most of the time)
Feels more like a middle school grade book than for young adult genre despite the occasional violent scenes and mild profanity (seems forced in order to elevate the book to Young Adult caliber)
The key is Jim. Some parts he thinks and acts like a teenager, most of the time he sounds like a stubborn 12 year old (especially towards his dad). There's a level of angst that's missing/forced.
Jim's parents are referred by their first names (feels a little awkward when you read it)
Jim still didn't believe his dad wasn't just a lowly desk jock despite what everyone else was saying until the very end

What I Wished Would Happen:
What would happen if their mother wasn't kidnapped? What would happen if they actually met an "Aunt Abby"?
We see how Jim and Reeno's relationship progress.

(book given free in exchange for an honest review)

[Karen (karensbookchoice) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children travelling around the world? Mystery, action and romance? Agents and a blue-eyed scary freak? Please let my read this book one more time!

Paraglide is a fantastic story about Jim and Erica, that has to travel the world around searching for their father and help their kidnapped mother.

The plot in this book are wonderful. You follow Jim and Erica, and Kelley is really good at switching between who's thoughts you get to hear. The author describes everything easy and understandable. I wished for more action, more fights and more love, but anyway this book was great without and this is one of the must read books.

Kelley uses a language that are easy to understand, this is a book for both children and young adults. It's really exciting and I felt my heart jump sometimes. He knows how to bring the main roles feelings to you and when you first start to read this book, the you can't stop! One night I read to 2 AM and I finished this book in four days

Erica was my favorite character, she was so full of live. Her comments was hilarious and she was super smart. Jim was okay, I felt that we don't get to know him well enough. One character I really disliked was Reeno, it's just something about her that says that she is not trustworthy. We get to know the characters well, but one thing that he didn't gave us and that was the inner thoughts part.

I think I had a least five conclusions, but they all turned out to be wrong.

The twist in the end was beautiful and unexpected. This book is strongly recommended, and I really hope that Peter Anthony Kelley will write a sequel.

[Silvana · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Jim and Erica wants is just a little bit adventure like every teenagers in the world. Jim and Erica are siblings they father left and their mother decided to bring them in Europe to visit their aunt. Jim wants to go in Paris, but Paris isn’t on his mother’s itinerary. In London they not only got adventure but adrenaline shock. Their mother was kidnapped and they are all along. The kidnappers demand is some key and their father. But where he is? Where they go to find him?
London, Colchester, Venice are stations to their adventure which became extremely dangerous.
When I start to read this book I was thinking that it looks better that kidnapping kids will be right thing not the mother, but if that was happened the book will not be YA thriller but just thriller. How I go deeper in the book I realized that this is just how mast be.
Jim is real teenage hero and his sister Erica is smart girl. I just love to read Erica’s smart games with the words and I was thrilled how she knows grammar on that age, she is nine years old.
It was great to read Paraglide, it is adventure with lot of twists and turn which keeping you to read and read till the end. I like the story about the mansion (I can’t say which mansion to not spoil), specially the description to the local place and the rumors about it-how the rumors are part of every small town and do people have reverse picture about things.

[Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

With their mother kidnapped and their father in hiding these kids really have it rough. But with determination and a lot of twists to the plot that comes up, they are able to travel to different countries, outrunning the kidnappers themselves looking for the answers.
They first must find their father to find their mother. He seems to be the key on why she has been kidnapped. The kidnappers seem to think that their father has to do with some stolen crown jewels and they have taken their mother as a way to bring him out of hiding. The only real problem is, they haven't seen their father in months. They never know who they can trust to help them and rely heavily on each other.
The writing is very detailed and descriptive. There is always a sense of danger and intensity to find the answers before something more dangerous happens. It was done in adventurous way that I think younger teens will enjoy.


First Paragraph:Genevieve Winters was gone. Vanished! Jim and Erica raced through the gift shop and around the ticket windows, searching up and down long curving lines of sightseers, ignoring irritated cries about budging and queue jumping. Jim clutched his sister's hand and ran to the visitor's plaza. He examined every face, chasing after turned heads and hunched shoulders, whipping a hoodie of a startled skater boy. Nothing. Their mother was gone.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of Paraglide through Library Thing.

Paraglide is about a boy, Jim Winters (age 15) and his sister Erica (age 9) that are trying to find their missing father in 6 days, because their mother gets kidnapped while they are on vacation in England. The bad guys believe Jim's father has stolen some jewels, and they want them back in exchange for Mrs. Winters. I gave this book 3 stars, and found it likable, more for the 10-14 age group. I had a hard time finding it believeable, maybe because I've never met a 9 yr old as smart as what Erica seemed to be. The kids caught on to clues pretty quickly, as well as escaped captors and goons better than most adults would ever be able to. Paraglide was a fun, light read, taking you on a journey across Europe, and I found it well written, if not a little more juvenile than what I'm used to.

[Rebecca McKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A middle-grade spy adventure? Hooray!

The story is told from both Jim's and Erica's points of view, and they are both great characters. Yes, they have a great adventure (if you call being chased, threatened, kidnapped, etc. great), but they're scared half the time, and worried the other half. In other words, they're believable.

In a couple of years, I plan to read this with my son. (And that's pretty high praise.)

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow I expected future or sci/fi YA from the name and cover, but it's not. It's a brother/sister action/adventure through Europe to solve a mystery about their family.

If you like this one, London Escape by Cacey Hopper is similar, and I think, better.

[Cacey Hopper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was right up my alley! One of the few young adult/middle grade books that I've read that is actual classic action and adventure. I really enjoyed it!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

review on www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review of this book can be found here:

http://www.bookworm8921.blogspot.com....

[Shelley]

Author's guest post at my blog:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/07/...