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Journey to Hart's Halo
Space Pioneers (and readers!) aged 11-14For a limited time, Middle-Grade readers can get a FREE PDF copy with their parent’s permission, in exchange for a fair review!Middle-Grade teachers and For a limited time, Middle-Grade teachers and librarians can get a FREE sample PDF copy, in exchange for a fair review!A Learning Resource is also available for use in the classroom.Simply visit Hartshalo.com for Space, STEM, Puzzles, Mystery and Adventure!JOURNEY TO HART'S HALO is a near-future sci-fi adventure, set in 2033 on the world's first international space colony.The project of eccentric technology billionaire Dr. Oliver Hart, Hart’s Halo is about to be populated by Zero Colony. Space-crazy twelve-year-old Davey Randolph’s dream is to win two of the twelve spots, for him and his mom, in a global lottery to spend five years aboard the Halo. Little does Davey know, but winning a spot in Zero Colony will only be the beginning of his life’s greatest adventure
Constructed as a puzzle-propelled mystery, Davey needs the help of an international cast of clever and quirky pre-teens, and to conquer his own feelings of being an outsider, to solve the puzzles that will lead to a shocking discovery about the true fate of his missing father.
WENDY ORR, AUTHOR OF NIM’S ISLAND
A meticulously realized space adventure with an appealingly nerdy hero and a generous smattering of the puzzles he must solve to complete his quest!
Here’s what some Tween Readers have
Hart’s Halo, the book of books (13-year-old Jack) ★★★★★
Reading this fantastic odyssey through the eye's (sic) of a child brings a new perspective to the world of science fiction. Through a gripping tale, the reader will experience not only a fantastic story but they may even learn a bit about higher physics and quantum mechanics. One of the best teen fictions I've read in a long time!
ARC Reader (12-year-old Domenic)
Lou Hood is now my second favorite author, after Rick Riordan!
JOURNEY TO HART’S HALO is great as a family read,
Engaging and imaginative (JenX) ★★★★★
I wanted to try this book for my tween daughter ... I ended up reading Hart's Halo before I even gave it to my daughter, and just loved it! It ended up being passed around our entire household, and it was enjoyed by everyone (one really liked the setting and the storyline, another the puzzles and the scientific theories and ideas). I sent a hardcopy to my nephews, who live in another city, and we have now infected their family and friends with this book - I also like that there will be (hopefully) at least one more book coming up. Look forward to that!
Perfect for ages 11 - 14, especially 7th and 8th grades.
Send your Tween’s imagination into space, with JOURNEY TO HART’S HALOThe HART'S HALO series of books will have kids (of all ages) dreaming of winning their own place on the Hart's Halo space station. RETURN TO HART’S V2.0 The Singing Spheres coming Summer 2024.
Constructed as a puzzle-propelled mystery, Davey needs the help of an international cast of clever and quirky pre-teens, and to conquer his own feelings of being an outsider, to solve the puzzles that will lead to a shocking discovery about the true fate of his missing father.
WENDY ORR, AUTHOR OF NIM’S ISLAND
A meticulously realized space adventure with an appealingly nerdy hero and a generous smattering of the puzzles he must solve to complete his quest!
Here’s what some Tween Readers have
Hart’s Halo, the book of books (13-year-old Jack) ★★★★★
Reading this fantastic odyssey through the eye's (sic) of a child brings a new perspective to the world of science fiction. Through a gripping tale, the reader will experience not only a fantastic story but they may even learn a bit about higher physics and quantum mechanics. One of the best teen fictions I've read in a long time!
ARC Reader (12-year-old Domenic)
Lou Hood is now my second favorite author, after Rick Riordan!
JOURNEY TO HART’S HALO is great as a family read,
Engaging and imaginative (JenX) ★★★★★
I wanted to try this book for my tween daughter ... I ended up reading Hart's Halo before I even gave it to my daughter, and just loved it! It ended up being passed around our entire household, and it was enjoyed by everyone (one really liked the setting and the storyline, another the puzzles and the scientific theories and ideas). I sent a hardcopy to my nephews, who live in another city, and we have now infected their family and friends with this book - I also like that there will be (hopefully) at least one more book coming up. Look forward to that!
Perfect for ages 11 - 14, especially 7th and 8th grades.
Send your Tween’s imagination into space, with JOURNEY TO HART’S HALOThe HART'S HALO series of books will have kids (of all ages) dreaming of winning their own place on the Hart's Halo space station. RETURN TO HART’S V2.0 The Singing Spheres coming Summer 2024.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 25, 2012
I bought this book for my tween daughter because of positive feedback I had received from parents and kids about this author's childrens book, which I had given as birthday gifts, and I was curious to see how this book for an older audience would be. I ended up reading Hart's Halo before I even gave it to my daughter, and just loved it! It ended up being passed around our entire household, and it was enjoyed by everyone (one really liked the setting and the story line, another the scientific theories and ideas). I sent a copy to my nephews, who live in another city, and we have now infected their family and friends with this book - I also like that there will be (hopefully) at least one more book coming up. Look forward to that!
May 10, 2024
Journey to Hart's Halo: V1.0 Einstein's Enigma (A Middle-Grade Sci-Fi Puzzle Adventure)
I don't often read this genre, but I was glad to give this a try.
I recommend it to the younger reader in your life. It’s an interesting read for teens.
I don't often read this genre, but I was glad to give this a try.
I recommend it to the younger reader in your life. It’s an interesting read for teens.
October 13, 2012
3.5 stars
Davey Randolph has Halotisis. He’s desperate to get on Hart’s Halo. He even enters the Hart Lottery by hacking into his mother’s email account. What he never dreamed of was winning the lottery! Now, thanks to his puzzle solving skills, he’s on his way to the space colony itself!
This was a fun book. I didn’t think I’d get so engrossed in it. The puzzles were fun. Davey was cute and so was Grace, his young friend. There was nothing new about a space colony but the puzzles did keep it fresh. Somehow Hood managed to keep the story going despite the recycled plot as well.
The characters were endearing and I think that’s what really drives the story. Davey was a good kid with a lot of smarts. He wasn’t aware of how smart he was which made him all the more appealing. He wasn’t particularly geeky either. He just liked puzzles and learning. Neither was Davey particularly mature for his age like most authors make out young characters to be in books these days. He acted his age and it was fun.
His friend Grace was the same way. She acted her age and they both had a lot of fun. There were some sobering moments as well. I didn’t respond to them as well as I did the lighter moments. But the kids reacted as I would expect they would.
The end plot was a little crazy. It was backed by a little too much by hard talking science that I found a little hard to take. It was basically introduced in conversation and it amounted to a monologue by one of the characters with only interjections of “Cool!” by the other participants. If you’re not into science you may not be too interested in it. I just kind of skipped it.
The book ended a bit too abruptly for me. I suppose it’s because there’s going to be a series. I would have liked a bit more closure though. I felt like it was a bit too rushed.
I had a fun time with this book. The puzzles were inventive. The characters were fresh. I look forward to seeing where Lou Hood takes this series.
This review is also published on The Akamai Reader.
Davey Randolph has Halotisis. He’s desperate to get on Hart’s Halo. He even enters the Hart Lottery by hacking into his mother’s email account. What he never dreamed of was winning the lottery! Now, thanks to his puzzle solving skills, he’s on his way to the space colony itself!
This was a fun book. I didn’t think I’d get so engrossed in it. The puzzles were fun. Davey was cute and so was Grace, his young friend. There was nothing new about a space colony but the puzzles did keep it fresh. Somehow Hood managed to keep the story going despite the recycled plot as well.
The characters were endearing and I think that’s what really drives the story. Davey was a good kid with a lot of smarts. He wasn’t aware of how smart he was which made him all the more appealing. He wasn’t particularly geeky either. He just liked puzzles and learning. Neither was Davey particularly mature for his age like most authors make out young characters to be in books these days. He acted his age and it was fun.
His friend Grace was the same way. She acted her age and they both had a lot of fun. There were some sobering moments as well. I didn’t respond to them as well as I did the lighter moments. But the kids reacted as I would expect they would.
The end plot was a little crazy. It was backed by a little too much by hard talking science that I found a little hard to take. It was basically introduced in conversation and it amounted to a monologue by one of the characters with only interjections of “Cool!” by the other participants. If you’re not into science you may not be too interested in it. I just kind of skipped it.
The book ended a bit too abruptly for me. I suppose it’s because there’s going to be a series. I would have liked a bit more closure though. I felt like it was a bit too rushed.
I had a fun time with this book. The puzzles were inventive. The characters were fresh. I look forward to seeing where Lou Hood takes this series.
This review is also published on The Akamai Reader.
August 31, 2012
I purchased this as part of the StoryBundle. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and nearly cried in protest at the cliffhanger ending! But I will be reading the sequel, as well. The plot was a little slow in spots, but it did help build up to the finale. And the main character, Davey, was very identifiable - I found myself rooting for him quite a bit.
The futuristic setting was realistic enough and detailed enough to easily imagine. I loved the concept of the Hart's Halo space station.
There were two chapters, however, that came with detailed explanations of quantum theory and wormholes, and although I found them interesting (because I'm a science nerd), some might get bogged down in those details.
Finally, this would be a great YA read (although I recommend it for adults, too).
I really would have liked to make this 4-1/2 stars, by the way.
The futuristic setting was realistic enough and detailed enough to easily imagine. I loved the concept of the Hart's Halo space station.
There were two chapters, however, that came with detailed explanations of quantum theory and wormholes, and although I found them interesting (because I'm a science nerd), some might get bogged down in those details.
Finally, this would be a great YA read (although I recommend it for adults, too).
I really would have liked to make this 4-1/2 stars, by the way.
March 6, 2013
Πολύ καλή πρώτη προσπάθεια -- η Lou Hood έχει την αφέλεια του νέου SF συγγραφέα (ειδικά στο σενάριο) αλλά την πένα και την ευαισθησία του καλού γραφιά.
Στο Hart's Halo παρακολουθούμε τις ευχές, το ταξίδι και τη νέα ζωή του Davey, ενός 12χρονου αγοριού που παίρνει μέρος ως εθελοντής στην αποίκιση ενός διαστημικού σταθμού της εταιρείας Hart. Ο ιδιοκτήτης και συνώνυμος κος. Hart έχει παράξενο παρελθόν που συνδέεται με τον Davey και μια σειρά από geeky γρίφους θα τους φέρνουν όλο και πιο κοντά.
Δεν θέλω να γράψω περισσότερα για το σενάριο, επειδή είναι σχετικά απλοϊκό και προβλέψιμο, οπότε θα 'ταν σαν να σου κλέβω την απόλαυση. Είναι βιβλίο που αξίζει να το διαβάσεις και δεν θα σε κουράσει, προσωπικά το διάβασα σε 4 γρήγορες "καθισιές".
Στο Hart's Halo παρακολουθούμε τις ευχές, το ταξίδι και τη νέα ζωή του Davey, ενός 12χρονου αγοριού που παίρνει μέρος ως εθελοντής στην αποίκιση ενός διαστημικού σταθμού της εταιρείας Hart. Ο ιδιοκτήτης και συνώνυμος κος. Hart έχει παράξενο παρελθόν που συνδέεται με τον Davey και μια σειρά από geeky γρίφους θα τους φέρνουν όλο και πιο κοντά.
Δεν θέλω να γράψω περισσότερα για το σενάριο, επειδή είναι σχετικά απλοϊκό και προβλέψιμο, οπότε θα 'ταν σαν να σου κλέβω την απόλαυση. Είναι βιβλίο που αξίζει να το διαβάσεις και δεν θα σε κουράσει, προσωπικά το διάβασα σε 4 γρήγορες "καθισιές".
October 15, 2013
I'm about to rip this book apart a bit, but it's not because it's a bad book. It's a cute book and ultimately I do recommend it.
It starts out well, if a little rambly, but then 3/4 of the way through suddenly most of the characters are no longer relevant for the rest of the book, we get a several-chapter-long digression about the history of science leading up to the holographic universe theory, which isn't all that relevant but I could forgive except I have the impression that real physicists find it kind of dubious. Then the book ends with one mystery only half solved and the other apparently forgotten about. I guess there are going to be sequels, but I expected a bit more closure.
It starts out well, if a little rambly, but then 3/4 of the way through suddenly most of the characters are no longer relevant for the rest of the book, we get a several-chapter-long digression about the history of science leading up to the holographic universe theory, which isn't all that relevant but I could forgive except I have the impression that real physicists find it kind of dubious. Then the book ends with one mystery only half solved and the other apparently forgotten about. I guess there are going to be sequels, but I expected a bit more closure.
October 2, 2012
Got this as part of the Story Bundle.
It starts intriguingly, and stays that way for about two thirds of the book. Then it all goes to hell in a handbasket and the end makes no sense whatsoever. Feels like the author felt not enough was happening, or decided to do "a twist" or... I don't know, but the whole end of the book after the "reappearance" (if you read it you know what I mean) ruined it for me.
I liked the beginning though, so I will try to read something else by the author.
Also: the face in the book cover is disconcertingly similar to Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang theory.
It starts intriguingly, and stays that way for about two thirds of the book. Then it all goes to hell in a handbasket and the end makes no sense whatsoever. Feels like the author felt not enough was happening, or decided to do "a twist" or... I don't know, but the whole end of the book after the "reappearance" (if you read it you know what I mean) ruined it for me.
I liked the beginning though, so I will try to read something else by the author.
Also: the face in the book cover is disconcertingly similar to Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang theory.
May 5, 2014
So much promise. So much disappointment.
Where to start? Should I even bother? There are plot holes big enough to park an orbital habitat in... The characters that come off as hollow... The constant puzzles that aren't very good and take so much of the narrative.
It frankly bored me, and I suspect it would be so much worse for someone of the novel's target age group. What's worse is that it is not self contained—it ends on a cliffhanger. I absolutely will not be reading the conclusion (?) of this shuttle-wreck of a story.
Where to start? Should I even bother? There are plot holes big enough to park an orbital habitat in... The characters that come off as hollow... The constant puzzles that aren't very good and take so much of the narrative.
It frankly bored me, and I suspect it would be so much worse for someone of the novel's target age group. What's worse is that it is not self contained—it ends on a cliffhanger. I absolutely will not be reading the conclusion (?) of this shuttle-wreck of a story.
August 22, 2012
Absolutely fantastic!
The author creates a world that seems more realistic than not, and offers a very cool and creative insight on where technology might take us. It's easy to maneuver your way through the pages through the eyes of Davey (the lead character) and take on the surprisingly challenging puzzles and obstacles that he faces along his journey.
Simply put, the book was beautifully written and I would recommend it to any growing young mind.
The author creates a world that seems more realistic than not, and offers a very cool and creative insight on where technology might take us. It's easy to maneuver your way through the pages through the eyes of Davey (the lead character) and take on the surprisingly challenging puzzles and obstacles that he faces along his journey.
Simply put, the book was beautifully written and I would recommend it to any growing young mind.
August 23, 2012
A thoroughly engaging story, even for the non-science fiction / fantasy reader. The hero and other characters are nicely drawn, with really believable personalities and endearing quirks. The story has real narrative drive and the puzzle aspect of it is completely addictive. Looking forward to seeing more from Ms. Hood in future.
September 6, 2012
I wanted to write a long and surly review here but I'm too tired... maybe I'll come back later and flesh one out. My main advice, though: don't read this book unless you can take the idea of children roller-skating around an empty space station while listening to Arcade Fire seriously. Because the author seems to think an idea like that is worth being taken seriously. Ugh.
August 27, 2012
It...wasn't bad. Not super, but not bad. Honestly, it felt kinda fluffy until that solid punch of hard science about 90% through. Although awkwardly written, it was interesting. I think of the whole book had close to that level of science, it would have been more interesting overall.
September 11, 2012
Meh. Not fantastic, but nice exposition on the feelings of a teenage space colonist from a humble background. However, main plot thrust seems rather contrived.
March 28, 2013
Well the first 70% of the book was a fun read and then it just fell off the rails. While I applaud the author for her first book, I am disappointed that I had to be the guinea pig to read it.
December 9, 2013
Starts of rather ok.
Then a plot twist and a way too lengthy pseudo-science stint send it down the drain.
I see this working for younger kids.
Then a plot twist and a way too lengthy pseudo-science stint send it down the drain.
I see this working for younger kids.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews