Twelve-year-old Tyler Thompson has a secret: he's not a "normal" boy. After his father's tragic death, Tyler finds himself in one predicament after another, until one day he and his faithful dog Maxx fall into a cesspool of mysterious green goop.
When his grandfather bestows him with an object not from this earth, Tyler soon discovers he has strange powers. Unfortunately, so does the sinister Dr. Payne.
Together with his best friend Lukas, who also has a special ability, and Maxx, Tyler embarks on a journey to put an end to Dr. Payne’s evil scheme to control the world's children. To do so, Tyler must make a life-altering choice—one that could change the world.
You think angels don’t exist? Think again!
Editorial Reviews:
"A wild wish fulfillment juvenile romp that should be great fun for 12 year olds of any age." —Piers Anthony, New York Times bestselling fantasy author
"Young readers will find a kinship with Tyler as he meets his challenges head-on. Kudos to Laurence St. John for creating an intriguing premise with Metatron: The Angel Has Risen." —Kelly Komm, award-winning author of Sacrifice and Survival
"Metatron explores every boy's dream—make that every PERSON'S dream—of being special, of making a difference, of finding meaning in a crazy world." —Paula Paul, author of the Alexandra Gladstone Series
"Metatron: The Angel Has Risen is a brilliant first novel by Laurence St. John, a new talent to watch." —Jeff Rivera, bestselling author of Forever My Lady
Mr. Laurence A. St. John was born on January 11, 1965 in Toledo Ohio. Laurence has one older brother and two younger sisters. Mr. St. John along with his parents, brother and sisters moved once while growing up to Genoa Ohio, just south of Toledo. While attending Genoa Area schools, Mr. St. John was active in track, football and baseball. Later, after he graduated from Genoa High School (Comets) in 1983, he worked for a few manufacturing companies. At the age of 23 and after three years of dedication, hard work and sweat, in 1988, Mr. St. John received his first-degree black belt (Shodan) in Tae Kwon Do. This gave him the self-confidence and perseverance needed to surmount anything that came his way. When Mr. St. John was 25 years old he fell in love then married the love of his life, Julie in 1990. Mr. St. John adopted her two young wonderful children Joe and Jan shortly after. Out of high school for nearly fifteen years and after persuaded by his former manager, Mr. St. John attended Owens State Community College where he obtained an Associates Degree in Microcomputer Business Systems while working full-time. In addition to computer classes, he enjoyed composition classes where he could free his mind and write what he wanted. While working in the steel processing business for almost fifteen years, Mr. St. John’s place of employment changed hands, for the third time in 2006; fighting for his job, again. In the same year his first granddaughter, Kendall, “Papa’s Angel” was born. Mr. St. John described this as one of the most uplifting moments of his life. In addition, it was during this time when his emotions were running wild; he became inspired as well as determined to write his penned-up thoughts on paper. Nearly four years later, he had completed his first MG/Teen fantasy novel, Metatron: The Angel Has Risen. The second novel in the series, Metatron: The Mystical Blade is also available on paperback and Kindle eBook. Laurence is currently working on book 3 in the METATRON SERIES. Mr. St. John currently lives in Northwood Ohio with his wife of 28 years, Julie. His son Joe is married to his wife Cari who have three daughters, Kendall, Sadie and Harper. His daughter Jan is married to her husband Andrew who has a son Elijah and a daughter Evelyn. Laurence currently holds the position of Administrations Manager at Precision Strip, Inc. in Perrysburg Ohio, where he works full time. He continually writes in his spare time; weekends and after work, and is endlessly inspired by his five grand kids Kendall, Eli, Sadie, Evelyn and Harper.
The bane of all youth, having no say in your life; the feeling of not belonging, not smart enough, being too vulnerable, bullied at school; top that off with the ultimate horror of a bullying babysitter, especially when you are 12 years old, and you have much of the life of Tyler Thompson. Add to that the loss of his father a few years earlier and a new "incoming" step-dad in the mix and you have most of the picture.
Life to a twelve-year-old is one immense hurdle, so many changes and conflicts. Many escape to their game systems or computers to play in a fantasy world, but what happens when your life becomes a living video game? Laurence St. John deals with this bewildering age deftly by doing just that, and the result is insightful yet adventurous. Suspending Tyler in the world as we know it and twisting it into a sci-fi adventure complete with mad scientists, an evil "I-want-to-rule-the-world" genius, and surprising superpowers, I found this book to be so real in its characters in the beginning and so surreal later in the book. Yet life lessons are learned, understanding comes to this family, and Tyler's self-confidence glows.
I, a grandmother, thoroughly enjoyed this romp, and I am sure this book will be welcomed and enjoyed by any school-age reader. For myself, it brought back my school years and my dreams of escape; my escape was comic books, and had this been written before game-systems, I'm sure Metatron would have been a comic book hero. Metatron has promised readers more adventures to come and lessons to learn. I think youngsters of all ages will be looking forward to the next adventure. Excellent debut.
I really enjoyed this book. I would love to read the next book. This book was a very fun time for me. I enjoyed stepping out of my normal life to jump right into this one when I read it. Tyler Thompson is a great character for me. Tyler is trying to fit into his world and it gets crazy from there. I think it would be a good book to read with your kids. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Tyler Thompson can’t stop thinking about the day he saw his father get killed right in front of him. If he hadn’t thrown that ball, his dad would still be alive. Since then, he’s constantly getting in trouble.
But the worst of his trouble started the day his babysitter made him walk to the store to buy her a Dr. Burple. On the way to the store he sees two men dumping some green liquid into the town cesspool and he accidentally falls in. When his old dog Maxx starts barking, the men start chasing them and Tyler has to swim through the green goop to get away.
After that Tyler starts to notice differences in both himself and Maxx. Tyler doesn’t feel winded as easily and Maxx seems younger. Tyler is able to do things he couldn’t do before! He’s actually coordinated! Still getting in trouble, his mom’s fiancé Sean takes him and Lukas his friend to work with him when they both get suspended.
That’s where a series of twists and turns in the story begin and have Tyler dealing with a bully, a message from a grandfather that may still be alive, and a sinister plot to overtake the world. It’s up to Tyler to figure out what to do.
I think there were lots of lessons that could be learned by youth reading this novel. Two of them that stuck out for me were 1) if you want to be treated as a responsible person, you have to behave responsibly. (Tyler didn’t want a babysitter but kept getting into trouble). 2) Be honest all the time if you want to be believed. (Tyler didn’t like it when his mother believed Rebekka instead of him.)
The rapid pace of this novel will keep the attention of almost any middle-grader. This book is full of action and fun. Tyler embodies the typical pre-teen and the issues they face growing up.
Although the target audience for Metatron: The Angel Has Risen is middle-grade, I have to say that I enjoyed it thoroughly. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an easy read in the fantasy/sci-fi genre. I gave this book a rating of 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This book is a about a boy named Taylor. As all young boys he play videogames and is a pro to get in trouble. One day he and his dog see something that the shouln't and Taylor is not only in troble but in Danger... You are going to follow him when he's trying to get out of the danger but because hi's a troublemaker it isn't so easy to any adult to listen. Until the day he got help from someone he actually never will be on his side. His Steph-dad.
I said that the book could be read by any ages and maybe you as an adult is hesitating. Don't do that, because there is underlaying things that grown up will noticed and younger not. There's thing in it that actually with no doubt could happen in any labs, there's people you meet that not is what you first thing. An excellent gift for christmas, but to not disappoint the one who gets it buy the second book at the same time. This is a book you absolutly can read as a stand alone book but I know you will keep reading. I haven't been aible to read the second yet but it's in my library just waiting for me.
I was given this book in return for an honest review. 12 year old Tyler lost his father and now has a new step father coming in. He is bullied at school and at home, by his sitter. I'm just going to keep this short, Tyler and his dog Max, a fall into some green goo and a magical gift from grandpa. Wallah!!! Superhero material. Battles with evil genius, scientest,superpowers, it's a sci-lovers dream. The underlying message is a positive one that parents will appreciate and I think will seep into any kid that reads this book. It's a book I would highly recommend to any teen boy and I'm going to buy my nephew a copy for his birthday!! Awesome.
Between both boys one (the 12 year old) said 4*, the other (7 year old) said 9 out of 5 stars! Such a fun read.
Tyler's not a bad kid...but gets into some situations that are less than...ummmm...desirable! Some of these things lead to a discovery of what Tyler can do...if he only believes. He has a great cast of characters to help him out...and of course, his beloved dog, Maxx!
Fun super powers and lots of action.
Not sure if this would ever have a tag of 'Christian Fiction' but I really like where it's going...The next book could really have a great message for kids. I won't spoil anything here!
Looking forward to see what Mr. St. John has in store for us...and for Tyler!
Fast-moving, fun story for young teens about a boy called Tyler and his dog Maxx. Growing up sucks sometimes, but finding out you’re REALLY special and on a mission makes life a lot more interesting. And you need to be special to emerge with super powers from a totally submerged swim through a town cesspool, having swallowed a mouthful of bright green chemical waste illegally dumped by two hapless baddies (don’t ever try that kids…). Laurence St John has a great ear for dialogue, an excellent sense of humor and a no nonsense approach to dealing with in-your-face villainy. Take two ‘suspension of disbelief’ pills in clean water and enjoy the ride!
The gift of an angel long ago becomes an unexpected gift to a young boy.
Tyler is far from a perfect boy, but he is able to quickly learn about responsibilities and abilities that bring more forgiveness, respect, and love from those who help guide him in his development. Circumstances seem to control events, but maturity, confidence, and love provide the means to harness his gift of superpowers. Even his dog gains relief from arthritis and missing teeth while being the perfect companion for a young boy on a quest to save the world. This is a good start for a series aimed at middle school kids, but a good feeling book for adults, too.
This was such a fun read, it should appeal to all ages and not just young readers. The hero is a twelve-year-old Tyler Thompson who develops some superpowers when he drinks green liquid in a cesspool. But the mystery around him continues throughout the book, is it the liquid that is responsible for the changes in him or is it something else? What has happened to his father, to his grandfather? But the book is more than just mystery and paranormal stuff, it is extremely humorous. Tyler is just a funny kid and his thoughts about his unpleasant babysitter Rebekka, the school bully Graeson just cracked me up. Looking forward to reading the second book.
I got this book from Pixel of Ink: Young Edition. I almost stopped reading at ~24% because it was starting to sound a lot like Spiderman. But, since it was a short read, I stuck with it.
It was a fun little read, but a little far-fetched, even for fiction; bring together mad science and angels was a little over the top for me. It was definitely left open for future books. If I had a tween-aged son, I would definitely recommend he read it. 2.5 star-worthy.
Strong basic positive themes about finding a place in family, society and the world. Well suited to a younger audience. Simply written. I enjoyed the believability of the action when young Tyler began to control his powers. Many of the things he does then are both mischievous and cruel, which strikes me as accurate to his youth and still malleable character.
I think the author LAURENCE ST. JOHN is a master story-teller for children. This is a well-written, well-thought out book for young children, probably preteens and up. Although I am far from a teen I did enjoy the story and the message it conveys. One is never too old to believe in angels or the power of good versus evil. While reading this I could envision it as a Disney movie.
Enjoyable YA read probably best aimed at 10-14 year olds. Well written, fun & lots of personality. Would suit those who don't mind mixing science and religion best.
Tyler Theodore Thompson, twelve, lives in north Las Vegas with Maxx his dog, his mom Julia, his brother Jude, and his sister Sadie. His dad, Dr. Trevor Thompson was murdered six years ago. His mom is now engaged to Sean. Tyler sees two men dumping green liquid into the cesspool. After Tyler and Maxx fall into the cesspool, he gets strange powers. Tyler is transferred to Logan Preparatory School where he’s bullied by Graeson Payne. Saved by Ms. Hayfield, he and his friend Lukas gets suspended a day for fighting the bully, so Sean takes the two boys with him to work at Steele Corp. Dr. Hutchinson, who was invited by Sean for dinner and examines Tyler’s birthmark, gives him a container from his grandfather. What is the green liquid? What plans does the evil Dr. Payne have in mind? Who murdered his father? What choice will Tyler make that will change his life forever? Who is Metatron? Such a fun read I could not put it down.
Tyler Thompson seems like an average kid who's grieving for his dad and angry and resentful toward everyone else - Mom, her new boyfriend, his sister, kids at school, and especially his babysitter. Things start to get weird when Tyler and his dog fall into a cesspool. But there's more to it than a little green slime - superpowers, evil scientists, school bullies, mysterious messages from Tyler's grandfather, and thankfully, a friend who understands and some good guys who are trying to help straighten things out. Tyler's story gets off to a great start and never lets up. It's action, adventure, typical teenage angst, and a great good vs. evil theme. I loved the fact that the story contains supernatural powers that relate back to angels and God instead of demons and vampires. It's a refreshing story with great characters and a mesmerizing plot. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
This was an interesting book... I found myself liking the plot, it is definitely written for a teen reader, and I was hoping this would be a fun one for my teenage son. So, I was disappointed with the language in it (especially too many taking God's name in vain). I felt there were places that needed a bit more editing and some work on the dialog to make them stronger in several places. The narrator was ok, he did a good job throughout.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Young teens and pre-teens will love this book. The author has done a great job in making the main character relatable to his intended audience. It a little far-fetched, but it needs to be. If it was completely realistic it wouldn’t be as fun and wouldn’t appeal to the readers who are going to really enjoy reading this. The author should seriously consider doing a graphic novel version. When my son was younger, a lot of his friends only read graphic novels and this would allow the story to be enjoyed why a whole new range of readers.
This is a good and fun story about a troubled boy whose life changes in ways he'd never have thought. It's for a younger audience and tackles some growing up pains and life lessons, responsibility being one.
The writing style and tone suit the target audience, it has action, mystery and villains.
Overall, an enjoyable read for those who like science-fiction mixed with growing pains.
I received this book for free but the opinion is of my own. Tyler recently lost his father and has been dealing with a lot of bullies until one day he gains mysterious powers. Now, certain people want to take away his powers, some don’t believe him, and there is a hidden secret he has to deal with. Very fun and easy to love story.
Not bad, but the central character is a little too nice for his own good, and the story is derivative of the Joker's origins, Daredevil, and Spiderman. Some fun sequences, but the juxtaposition of the scientific and the supernatural didn't move me.