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Doom & Gloom
Dane Winter has never, ever been afraid of the dark. As the richest kid in Winterville, he lives in a mansion, owns tons of gadgets, and gets a hefty allowance. In fact, he has everything a twelve-year-old boy could want, except his freedom. Born with a rare sun allergy, Dane is forced to spend his days in the gloom of Winter Mansion, hiding from deadly UV rays, until his parents give him a solar protection suit that changes his life. Using this new gift, Dane explores the town his ancestors built, but he soon finds that all is not well with Winterville. The Mad Dogs are on the move, and they're planning their biggest caper yet. To stop them, Dane teams up with his klutzy gal pal, Jinx Bellamy, to resurrect their childhood duo of Doom & Gloom, except saving the day is a whole lot harder when the bad guys are real. Full of sci-fi fun and dazzling swordplay, Doom & Gloom delivers for action/adventure lovers.
260 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2013
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193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 12, 2013
Dane Winter, the 6th, was rich. He had everything he could want… well maybe not everything. Dane’s parents give him everything he could want but they really pay no attention to him. His parents travel to Outer Cambria a lot to help poor/sick kids, which is pretty ironic because their own kid feels so alone. Plus there’s the “little” matter that Dane has a rare disease where he’s super allergic to the sun and he can’t go outside except at night (that’s why his nickname is Gloom).
When his parents buy him a super-special suit that protects him from the UV (Ultra-Violet) rays from the sun, Dane gains his “freedom”. The suit is great and all that, but it means that he has to go to Outer Cambria, by order of his parents, which Dane doesn’t want to do because a) he has friends here in Winterville, where he lives and b) he’s pretty angry at his parents. The suit projects holographic images of Dane, so that anyone looking at him sees the real Dane, and not a weird suit. With his new suit, and his best friend, Jinx Bellamy (her nickname is Doom), Dane decides to take on the Mad Dogs, an evil group of terrorizing citizens of Winterville who are trying to take over the town (they burned down a doughnut store and a library! Can you believe that?!?), which Dane heard about from Jinx. Even though Dane and Jinx have no actual superpowers (although, the suit CAN turn into different costumes, or just plain invisible), Jinx is a black belt in TaeKwon-Do and Dane knows how to use a sword. But is that enough to stop the Mad Dogs?
I loved this book. The characters in this story are awesome. I like how Dane is rich, but is neglected (ex: his parents come from Outer Cambria to be with him on Christmas, but they do NOTHING together!), and how he seems to have it all but he has a horrible sun allergy. I think it gives more depth to the plot. Dane (the 6th) is a great character. I like him a lot. He’s got guts, a lot of money, and a nice home, but he has problems he has to overcome. This all makes Dane more “likeable” I like the idea of a normal person (especially a kid) becoming like a superhero even though they have no superpowers. I think it’s very cool. I hope that there is a Book 2 (there should be because this is a book 1 ;) ), even though this ended at a place where the book has a great ending and I felt like this part of the story was complete.
**NOTE -I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When his parents buy him a super-special suit that protects him from the UV (Ultra-Violet) rays from the sun, Dane gains his “freedom”. The suit is great and all that, but it means that he has to go to Outer Cambria, by order of his parents, which Dane doesn’t want to do because a) he has friends here in Winterville, where he lives and b) he’s pretty angry at his parents. The suit projects holographic images of Dane, so that anyone looking at him sees the real Dane, and not a weird suit. With his new suit, and his best friend, Jinx Bellamy (her nickname is Doom), Dane decides to take on the Mad Dogs, an evil group of terrorizing citizens of Winterville who are trying to take over the town (they burned down a doughnut store and a library! Can you believe that?!?), which Dane heard about from Jinx. Even though Dane and Jinx have no actual superpowers (although, the suit CAN turn into different costumes, or just plain invisible), Jinx is a black belt in TaeKwon-Do and Dane knows how to use a sword. But is that enough to stop the Mad Dogs?
I loved this book. The characters in this story are awesome. I like how Dane is rich, but is neglected (ex: his parents come from Outer Cambria to be with him on Christmas, but they do NOTHING together!), and how he seems to have it all but he has a horrible sun allergy. I think it gives more depth to the plot. Dane (the 6th) is a great character. I like him a lot. He’s got guts, a lot of money, and a nice home, but he has problems he has to overcome. This all makes Dane more “likeable” I like the idea of a normal person (especially a kid) becoming like a superhero even though they have no superpowers. I think it’s very cool. I hope that there is a Book 2 (there should be because this is a book 1 ;) ), even though this ended at a place where the book has a great ending and I felt like this part of the story was complete.
**NOTE -I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2014
Positive Points
The setting is original: a ridiculously rich kid with a rare disease, living in a mansion and playing with cool gadgets made just for him. The gadgets (ranging from dog robots to a special invisibility suit) are made up, of course, but the disease is real, though very rare. It's called Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), which is an allergy to the sun. I've learned a lot about this condition by reading this novel. I like novels that teach real facts in an entertaining way and that raise people's awareness to a little-known illness or situation. This is one of them.
The story is well written and engaging, with unexpected twists and a lot of suspense. I got sucked into the story from the beginning of chapter 1, and it kept my attention until the very last page.
The characters are unique and well developed. I love the main character, of course, but I think my favorite character is Alexandrov, the Russian fencing coach. I'm not the only one who likes him, apparently. The caregiver, Maeve, seems to enjoy his company a lot. His way of speaking was very well done. It added a touch of humor to the story. It made me laugh more than once. Dane's unlucky best friend, Jinx, is also very likable.
Negative Points
The only thing I can think of that would be negative is that the main character lies openly. It made him a little less of a role model, to my opinion. But I forgive him, because he saved the town from the Mad Dogs trying to take it over, and he became a hero in the process.
What makes this book unique
I'm sure children with XP will find comfort in reading this book. The hero is just like them! And for the rest of us, this book is a good way to learn that some kids don't get to play in the sun, something we take for granted and don't even think about. How would it be like to never go out in the sunlight? Dane shows it very well in this book.
Overall Impression
This was a great read, and I'm thinking it would appeal to both boys and girls, but especially to boys. I'm hearing there will be a book 2, but it hasn't been published yet. This novel read like a traditionally published book. I'm impressed!
The setting is original: a ridiculously rich kid with a rare disease, living in a mansion and playing with cool gadgets made just for him. The gadgets (ranging from dog robots to a special invisibility suit) are made up, of course, but the disease is real, though very rare. It's called Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), which is an allergy to the sun. I've learned a lot about this condition by reading this novel. I like novels that teach real facts in an entertaining way and that raise people's awareness to a little-known illness or situation. This is one of them.
The story is well written and engaging, with unexpected twists and a lot of suspense. I got sucked into the story from the beginning of chapter 1, and it kept my attention until the very last page.
The characters are unique and well developed. I love the main character, of course, but I think my favorite character is Alexandrov, the Russian fencing coach. I'm not the only one who likes him, apparently. The caregiver, Maeve, seems to enjoy his company a lot. His way of speaking was very well done. It added a touch of humor to the story. It made me laugh more than once. Dane's unlucky best friend, Jinx, is also very likable.
Negative Points
The only thing I can think of that would be negative is that the main character lies openly. It made him a little less of a role model, to my opinion. But I forgive him, because he saved the town from the Mad Dogs trying to take it over, and he became a hero in the process.
What makes this book unique
I'm sure children with XP will find comfort in reading this book. The hero is just like them! And for the rest of us, this book is a good way to learn that some kids don't get to play in the sun, something we take for granted and don't even think about. How would it be like to never go out in the sunlight? Dane shows it very well in this book.
Overall Impression
This was a great read, and I'm thinking it would appeal to both boys and girls, but especially to boys. I'm hearing there will be a book 2, but it hasn't been published yet. This novel read like a traditionally published book. I'm impressed!
January 9, 2014
Doom & Gloom is an action packed adventure that takes readers on a wild ride filled with superheroes, villains, and awesome gadgets.
Dane Winters comes from a very wealthy family, in fact he lives in a town named after his family, but Dane is affected with Xeroderma Pigmentosum. XP is a genetic disorder that affects the body's ability to repair damage caused by ultraviolet light. Dane has a severe case of XP and must avoid exposure to sunlight at all costs. Dane's parents live in Outer Cambria and because of his disorder he remains in the family mansion in Winterville. Dane's days are filled with laser tag, video games, fencing, dogbots, and spending time with his good friend Jinx. That is until the Mad Dogs gang sets out on a mission to destroy and take over Winterville. Dane vows to stop them, but is limited because of his XP. That is about to change. Dane's parents give him a fancy protective suit, invited by the Winter's company, that will protect him from UV light. But the suit comes with a catch, Dane must move to Outer Cambria. Can Dane save Winterville from the Mad Dogs and figure out how to get out of moving?
Doom & Gloom is a fresh and original story that takes creativity to a new level. Dane's gadgets are one of my favorite aspects of the story, his super suit, dart wielding umbrella, and robot attack dogs are inventive. Dane's ability to overcome setbacks faced by XP and create ways to fulfill his quest teach reader's that they can do anything if they set their minds to it.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Doom & Gloom.
Dane Winters comes from a very wealthy family, in fact he lives in a town named after his family, but Dane is affected with Xeroderma Pigmentosum. XP is a genetic disorder that affects the body's ability to repair damage caused by ultraviolet light. Dane has a severe case of XP and must avoid exposure to sunlight at all costs. Dane's parents live in Outer Cambria and because of his disorder he remains in the family mansion in Winterville. Dane's days are filled with laser tag, video games, fencing, dogbots, and spending time with his good friend Jinx. That is until the Mad Dogs gang sets out on a mission to destroy and take over Winterville. Dane vows to stop them, but is limited because of his XP. That is about to change. Dane's parents give him a fancy protective suit, invited by the Winter's company, that will protect him from UV light. But the suit comes with a catch, Dane must move to Outer Cambria. Can Dane save Winterville from the Mad Dogs and figure out how to get out of moving?
Doom & Gloom is a fresh and original story that takes creativity to a new level. Dane's gadgets are one of my favorite aspects of the story, his super suit, dart wielding umbrella, and robot attack dogs are inventive. Dane's ability to overcome setbacks faced by XP and create ways to fulfill his quest teach reader's that they can do anything if they set their minds to it.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Doom & Gloom.
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June 17, 2013I don't rate my own books!
March 31, 2016
I won this book in a Goodsreads Giveaway and it's a good book for young children about 9-11 because it's very simple to read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews