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Balky Point Adventures #1
The Universes Inside the Lighthouse
There's something not quite right inside the lighthouse ... something it would be easy for most people to miss. But Emma Nelson is not most people. Together with her twin brother Charlie, she tackles the challenge of unraveling this mystery. Little do they realize that unlocking the lighthouse's secrets will take them on the adventure of a lifetime, to distant planets, throughout time and the multiverse, and to a place where everything is possible.
Together with Charlie, an identical Charlie from a parallel Earth, mysterious Eve, enchanting Ben, and unconventional but endearing scientist Dr. Waldo, can Emma chase down Vik, a man under the influence of an entity called The Void, before he destroys all the universes?
Together with Charlie, an identical Charlie from a parallel Earth, mysterious Eve, enchanting Ben, and unconventional but endearing scientist Dr. Waldo, can Emma chase down Vik, a man under the influence of an entity called The Void, before he destroys all the universes?
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2014
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November 7, 2017
Wow. This was bad. So, so bad. I'm exhausted after struggling through this, and I don't even feel like writing a review. But I'm fed up with awful books with misleadingly high Goodreads ratings. I'm tired of wasting my time on stuff that should be good, but isn't.
The first problem with this book is that it doesn't know who its audience is. It's billed as "MG/YA sci-fi", but I don't think it would appeal to either age group. The characters are supposed to be 17 and 18, so they're driving around and letting their hormones make them all angsty. On the other hand, they act young. Some act so young, in fact, that I assumed they had an intellectual disability.
The main character (or so I thought, until near the end when the point of view jumped around to the point of distraction) is Emma, a girl whose defining characteristic is having a crush on Ben. She's also an introvert. That's literally the only character development we get for most of the story, which made Emma an excruciatingly boring character. Charlie is Emma's twin brother. He's old enough to go lusting after girls, but chants things like, "Aliens, aliens, aliens," when he discovers the identity of his new friends. And he doesn't just do this once. I guess it was supposed to be a character trait or quirk, but it just made him come across as someone with some sort of disorder. Ben is the guy Emma's lusting after. He's walking arrogance who has dark hair and... yep. That's about it. (The physical descriptions for many of the characters were either non-existent, or came way too late; we found out at 85% that Charlie had green eyes.) Eve is one of the "aliens", but she looks human, and of course she's blonde and beautiful and Ben and Charlie are both attracted to her, which leads to jealousy on Emma's part. (Although, when Charlie finds out that Eve isn't human, it leads to a kind of icky reaction where he pulls his arm away from her and asks if she's even really even a girl, as if the only thing that matters is what's hidden under her clothes.) Eve's father, Milo, is kind of a blank, although I winced when he made an inappropriate comment about his daughter's body odour in front of her new friends. Dr. Waldo is a sterotypical absent-minded professor who speaks in run-on sentences and has overly expressive body language. The villain's name is Vik, and he's pretty much what you'd expect from a bad villain: black hair, black clothes, perma-sneer, and a bad habit of talking about his evil plans in front of the protagonist.
Another problem was the way the characters--as well as the whole book--were written. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but then I realized that it reminded me of old kids' novels from the 1950s. Some of the word choices made the characters sound like they were in their 80s. And Emma and Charlie calling each other "dork" didn't help; do teenagers today even use that word? The characters could go from sounding like a child to a grandparent within a paragraph. It was really awkward. Also awkward were the emotions. They didn't fit half the time. Sometimes they were too strong, sometimes they were too weak, and sometimes they were just plain wrong, given the situation. Another thing that reminded me of those older books was the subtle sexism. The women had to organize the potluck. A woman came over to watch her husband fix a leak (because, apparently, women can't do plumbing themselves). Eve swooned into Ben's arms after an emotional outburst. No. It's the 21st century. I don't want to read that kind of crap.
For a book about travelling through multiple universes, the story is actually super boring. I think the main idea was that the teens were trying to stop Vik from destroying the method of travel throughout the universes. But you could be forgiven for not noticing. There were so many info-dumps, so many perseverating ramblings about things that had nothing to do with the story (like the names of the planets in a parallel solar system). I could definitely see where the author drew inspiration for parts of the story. The Void reminded me of the Dementors from the Harry Potter series, and the story about the planet that had been affected by The Void reminded me a lot of the movie Serenity. And yet, the rest was strangely unimaginative. At one point, the teens end up on another planet with "primitive natives", and we don't even find out anything about them (other than the fact that they can apparently change gender... but I suspect that was just a typo). Later, two eat a meal on Eve's home planet, and they eat... steak and salad. With sporks. With all the infinite possibilities, why are they eating a Western meal with a familiar utensil? There's too much of a reliance on stereotypes, which leads to the book feeling even younger (I'm thinking of the ghost planet in particular, where everyone wears flowing dresses, glides around, and talks like this: "Helloooooooo!").
The writing and editing were pretty bad. The writing was unsophisticated and disjointed. Conversations were especially hard to follow, since often questions would be asked but not answered... until pages later, when someone would bring the topic back up, as if it had never been left in the first place. It made me wonder if the book had been really badly edited, with new passages clumsily added, but I don't really feel like this book was edited at all. There were so many punctuation errors, and even duplicate words, especially toward the back half of the book. And, overall, the book's message is preachy, and kind of insulting to introverts. I wasn't impressed.
What little enjoyment I got out of this one was unintentional, and mostly from how bad it was. You can see how bored my brain was when it saw the following passage as dirty:
Am I the only one who found that funny? Probably. I was punchy and tired, though, from slogging through the utterly drab plot, so I guess I was looking for entertainment wherever I could find it.
Quotable moment:
https://theladybugreads.blogspot.ca/2...
The first problem with this book is that it doesn't know who its audience is. It's billed as "MG/YA sci-fi", but I don't think it would appeal to either age group. The characters are supposed to be 17 and 18, so they're driving around and letting their hormones make them all angsty. On the other hand, they act young. Some act so young, in fact, that I assumed they had an intellectual disability.
The main character (or so I thought, until near the end when the point of view jumped around to the point of distraction) is Emma, a girl whose defining characteristic is having a crush on Ben. She's also an introvert. That's literally the only character development we get for most of the story, which made Emma an excruciatingly boring character. Charlie is Emma's twin brother. He's old enough to go lusting after girls, but chants things like, "Aliens, aliens, aliens," when he discovers the identity of his new friends. And he doesn't just do this once. I guess it was supposed to be a character trait or quirk, but it just made him come across as someone with some sort of disorder. Ben is the guy Emma's lusting after. He's walking arrogance who has dark hair and... yep. That's about it. (The physical descriptions for many of the characters were either non-existent, or came way too late; we found out at 85% that Charlie had green eyes.) Eve is one of the "aliens", but she looks human, and of course she's blonde and beautiful and Ben and Charlie are both attracted to her, which leads to jealousy on Emma's part. (Although, when Charlie finds out that Eve isn't human, it leads to a kind of icky reaction where he pulls his arm away from her and asks if she's even really even a girl, as if the only thing that matters is what's hidden under her clothes.) Eve's father, Milo, is kind of a blank, although I winced when he made an inappropriate comment about his daughter's body odour in front of her new friends. Dr. Waldo is a sterotypical absent-minded professor who speaks in run-on sentences and has overly expressive body language. The villain's name is Vik, and he's pretty much what you'd expect from a bad villain: black hair, black clothes, perma-sneer, and a bad habit of talking about his evil plans in front of the protagonist.
Another problem was the way the characters--as well as the whole book--were written. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but then I realized that it reminded me of old kids' novels from the 1950s. Some of the word choices made the characters sound like they were in their 80s. And Emma and Charlie calling each other "dork" didn't help; do teenagers today even use that word? The characters could go from sounding like a child to a grandparent within a paragraph. It was really awkward. Also awkward were the emotions. They didn't fit half the time. Sometimes they were too strong, sometimes they were too weak, and sometimes they were just plain wrong, given the situation. Another thing that reminded me of those older books was the subtle sexism. The women had to organize the potluck. A woman came over to watch her husband fix a leak (because, apparently, women can't do plumbing themselves). Eve swooned into Ben's arms after an emotional outburst. No. It's the 21st century. I don't want to read that kind of crap.
For a book about travelling through multiple universes, the story is actually super boring. I think the main idea was that the teens were trying to stop Vik from destroying the method of travel throughout the universes. But you could be forgiven for not noticing. There were so many info-dumps, so many perseverating ramblings about things that had nothing to do with the story (like the names of the planets in a parallel solar system). I could definitely see where the author drew inspiration for parts of the story. The Void reminded me of the Dementors from the Harry Potter series, and the story about the planet that had been affected by The Void reminded me a lot of the movie Serenity. And yet, the rest was strangely unimaginative. At one point, the teens end up on another planet with "primitive natives", and we don't even find out anything about them (other than the fact that they can apparently change gender... but I suspect that was just a typo). Later, two eat a meal on Eve's home planet, and they eat... steak and salad. With sporks. With all the infinite possibilities, why are they eating a Western meal with a familiar utensil? There's too much of a reliance on stereotypes, which leads to the book feeling even younger (I'm thinking of the ghost planet in particular, where everyone wears flowing dresses, glides around, and talks like this: "Helloooooooo!").
The writing and editing were pretty bad. The writing was unsophisticated and disjointed. Conversations were especially hard to follow, since often questions would be asked but not answered... until pages later, when someone would bring the topic back up, as if it had never been left in the first place. It made me wonder if the book had been really badly edited, with new passages clumsily added, but I don't really feel like this book was edited at all. There were so many punctuation errors, and even duplicate words, especially toward the back half of the book. And, overall, the book's message is preachy, and kind of insulting to introverts. I wasn't impressed.
What little enjoyment I got out of this one was unintentional, and mostly from how bad it was. You can see how bored my brain was when it saw the following passage as dirty:
A young, dark-haired man stood in the empty space where there once was a door, covered in debris and dust from the explosion, a satisfied grin on his face, a giant weapon in his hands.
Am I the only one who found that funny? Probably. I was punchy and tired, though, from slogging through the utterly drab plot, so I guess I was looking for entertainment wherever I could find it.
Quotable moment:
Glen opened the door.
There stood the aliens.
"Eve!" said Ben and Charlie.
"Milo?" said Emma.
Amy Renee, who had joined her husband at the door, looked from the people standing in the doorway to her children and back. "So you're the aliens then?" she said matter-of-factly, as though people claiming to be aliens appeared on her doorstep every day. "I'm not so sure I should let you in."
https://theladybugreads.blogspot.ca/2...
January 7, 2016
Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided to The Review Board in exchange for an honest review.
“The Universes Inside of the Lighthouse” is a science fiction, fantasy mash-up story for young teens, but can be enjoyed by older teens as well. Or, even adults that appreciate a more simplistic, uncomplicated narrative.
Emma and her twin brother Charlie take a trip with their parents to a remote island on a vacation. The beach which houses a lovely Lighthouse is covered in odd stones. The twins, however, don’t think too much about it as Emma is too busy wondering about Ben, her crush and, Charlie is too busy being who he is, an outgoing, independent person. While twins, Emma and Charlie, are vastly different that doesn’t take away from their twin connection.
Soon, things ensue that prove to take Emma out of her comfort zone and put Charlie right in the middle of the action, just how he likes it.
Apparently, the Lighthouse is a hub for interdenominational travel. It is a portal that allows people to travel through the infinite number of universes that occupy space-time. The issue is that interdenominational travel can be tricky because the people traveling find themselves skipping about between one dimension and the other at different times. There are gadgets available, of course, in the form of “elevators” that help the travelers get back and forth, but everything is in the beginning stages which means that they can be faulty at times.
In comes Eve and her father Milo, as well as Dr. Waldo and an entire slew of otherworldly beings, including a Parallel Emma and Charlie. In the way of villains we have Vik and “The Void” which is an archetype for solitude and the need for socialization with others. It also interweaves themes like depression and the feeling of not fitting in.
If I say anything else, I’ll be giving away too much, so I’ll leave it here.
My thoughts on the book:
1. The character development was done well, with the exception of a few intervals where the growth might’ve fell flat a tad, as if the characters’ growth might have been stunted a bit. However, I’d by lying if I said that it ruined the story for me. Mostly, because whenever this happened, action or depth of plot took its place. So, there was a small exchange there.
2. I did enjoy the complexities and richness depicted in the alternate universes as well as their inhabitants; the names for the planets, the beings that inhabited them (if any), the difference in beliefs, society and evolutions.
3. One of my favorite things was that the author seemed to think of every little detail that might be needed to make the story viable.
For example: People from another world might not look or even speak like we do. So the travelers carry bracelets that cover them in a sort of illusionary blanket which makes them blend into the world that they are visiting. It also serves as a translator, just in case said world doesn’t speak the traveler’s world’s languages. I thought that was smart.
4. As a whole the story was very entertaining, and believable as well.
I truly enjoyed this story, but I do have to say that the writing was on the passive side and it really did need some professional editing as the punctuation and grammar was amiss. I think that had this book been put through good and extensive editing, it would’ve have gotten 10 stars from me. However, because of the less than stellar syntax, my score dropped a couple of notes, which really is a pity because I genuinely loved the storyline.
“The Universes in the Lighthouse” gets 4 stars. I really do hope and pray that the author takes the time to go back through the story with a fine-tooth comb (or a professional editor) just to perfect it as it is worth the effort.
“The Universes Inside of the Lighthouse” is a science fiction, fantasy mash-up story for young teens, but can be enjoyed by older teens as well. Or, even adults that appreciate a more simplistic, uncomplicated narrative.
Emma and her twin brother Charlie take a trip with their parents to a remote island on a vacation. The beach which houses a lovely Lighthouse is covered in odd stones. The twins, however, don’t think too much about it as Emma is too busy wondering about Ben, her crush and, Charlie is too busy being who he is, an outgoing, independent person. While twins, Emma and Charlie, are vastly different that doesn’t take away from their twin connection.
Soon, things ensue that prove to take Emma out of her comfort zone and put Charlie right in the middle of the action, just how he likes it.
Apparently, the Lighthouse is a hub for interdenominational travel. It is a portal that allows people to travel through the infinite number of universes that occupy space-time. The issue is that interdenominational travel can be tricky because the people traveling find themselves skipping about between one dimension and the other at different times. There are gadgets available, of course, in the form of “elevators” that help the travelers get back and forth, but everything is in the beginning stages which means that they can be faulty at times.
In comes Eve and her father Milo, as well as Dr. Waldo and an entire slew of otherworldly beings, including a Parallel Emma and Charlie. In the way of villains we have Vik and “The Void” which is an archetype for solitude and the need for socialization with others. It also interweaves themes like depression and the feeling of not fitting in.
If I say anything else, I’ll be giving away too much, so I’ll leave it here.
My thoughts on the book:
1. The character development was done well, with the exception of a few intervals where the growth might’ve fell flat a tad, as if the characters’ growth might have been stunted a bit. However, I’d by lying if I said that it ruined the story for me. Mostly, because whenever this happened, action or depth of plot took its place. So, there was a small exchange there.
2. I did enjoy the complexities and richness depicted in the alternate universes as well as their inhabitants; the names for the planets, the beings that inhabited them (if any), the difference in beliefs, society and evolutions.
3. One of my favorite things was that the author seemed to think of every little detail that might be needed to make the story viable.
For example: People from another world might not look or even speak like we do. So the travelers carry bracelets that cover them in a sort of illusionary blanket which makes them blend into the world that they are visiting. It also serves as a translator, just in case said world doesn’t speak the traveler’s world’s languages. I thought that was smart.
4. As a whole the story was very entertaining, and believable as well.
I truly enjoyed this story, but I do have to say that the writing was on the passive side and it really did need some professional editing as the punctuation and grammar was amiss. I think that had this book been put through good and extensive editing, it would’ve have gotten 10 stars from me. However, because of the less than stellar syntax, my score dropped a couple of notes, which really is a pity because I genuinely loved the storyline.
“The Universes in the Lighthouse” gets 4 stars. I really do hope and pray that the author takes the time to go back through the story with a fine-tooth comb (or a professional editor) just to perfect it as it is worth the effort.
July 27, 2018
Emma and her twin brother explore the photos in the lighthouse and notice something strange about a couple, who subsequently introduce themselves as aliens. Hard to figure out who the intended audience is. Emma and Charlie are teens, but the book seems rather childish.
November 23, 2014
Twins Emma and Charlie are spending their summer holiday on Dogwinkle island with their family when exploring a lighthouse out at Balky Point they stumble across a mystery that will take them to unknown worlds.
This is a young adult, sci-fi novel that reminded me of Christopher Pike’s wonderful series Spooksville (one of my all time favourites growing up) and I would recommend it to children of that age range (probably 11 upwards) despite the main characters being 17/18. It is a sci-fi novel as the children are travelling through space but it is not hard sci-fi, there is no complicated technology and the universes are reminiscent of dimensions giving the book a fantasy feel as well.
This book was light hearted and fun to read, an adventure story similar to The Famous Five only in space. The protagonists spend the novel jumping from one world to the next providing us with a glimpse into the authors imagination and the potential for the rest of the series. I hope that the next book will see the characters spending more time in one place and exploring these new planets deeper. As this was the first in a series the idea of jumping from planet to planet was clever as it showed us the scope of the world that Stucky has created and left me wanting more.
All of the characters were likeable and believable, the main character Emma is introverted and awkward while her twin Charlie is extroverted and charming both are loyal and adventurous. I particularly liked the characters of Charlie and the eccentric scientist Dr Waldo both are funny and entertaining and have a distinct voice. The dialogue within the novel is naturalistic and moves the pace along nicely.
The other characters are a little one dimensional but there is room for growth as the series progresses, there are a number of characters that could potentially be developed into interesting protagonists in future books. There are a few romantic triangles that appear in this book with no resolution, the love triangles are not overwhelming nor do they hinder the story and I am eager to see how they are resolved.
My one criticism is that the alien characters didn’t seem to object to people knowing their true identity or their business, quite a few characters were allowed in on the secret. Which begs the question how does the whole world not know about the existence of aliens? But I am always more lenient with these types of issues when they occur in a book that is the first in a series because they can always be answered as the series progresses. Having read the first book I am left confident in the authors ability to create an exciting and enthralling series.
One of the main themes of the book is loneliness and its debilitating nature, this is a theme that could be appealing and familiar to many teenagers and I think Stucky handled it well. She took loneliness and made it more than a theme, she made it an antagonist and that was an intriguing approach that prevented the issue from becoming too depressing.
The plot was full of twists and turns it was suspenseful and exciting a perfect children’s adventure story and a compelling read. I would recommend this to anyone with teenagers that enjoy adventure stories of any kind and I can't wait for the second in the series
This is a young adult, sci-fi novel that reminded me of Christopher Pike’s wonderful series Spooksville (one of my all time favourites growing up) and I would recommend it to children of that age range (probably 11 upwards) despite the main characters being 17/18. It is a sci-fi novel as the children are travelling through space but it is not hard sci-fi, there is no complicated technology and the universes are reminiscent of dimensions giving the book a fantasy feel as well.
This book was light hearted and fun to read, an adventure story similar to The Famous Five only in space. The protagonists spend the novel jumping from one world to the next providing us with a glimpse into the authors imagination and the potential for the rest of the series. I hope that the next book will see the characters spending more time in one place and exploring these new planets deeper. As this was the first in a series the idea of jumping from planet to planet was clever as it showed us the scope of the world that Stucky has created and left me wanting more.
All of the characters were likeable and believable, the main character Emma is introverted and awkward while her twin Charlie is extroverted and charming both are loyal and adventurous. I particularly liked the characters of Charlie and the eccentric scientist Dr Waldo both are funny and entertaining and have a distinct voice. The dialogue within the novel is naturalistic and moves the pace along nicely.
The other characters are a little one dimensional but there is room for growth as the series progresses, there are a number of characters that could potentially be developed into interesting protagonists in future books. There are a few romantic triangles that appear in this book with no resolution, the love triangles are not overwhelming nor do they hinder the story and I am eager to see how they are resolved.
My one criticism is that the alien characters didn’t seem to object to people knowing their true identity or their business, quite a few characters were allowed in on the secret. Which begs the question how does the whole world not know about the existence of aliens? But I am always more lenient with these types of issues when they occur in a book that is the first in a series because they can always be answered as the series progresses. Having read the first book I am left confident in the authors ability to create an exciting and enthralling series.
One of the main themes of the book is loneliness and its debilitating nature, this is a theme that could be appealing and familiar to many teenagers and I think Stucky handled it well. She took loneliness and made it more than a theme, she made it an antagonist and that was an intriguing approach that prevented the issue from becoming too depressing.
The plot was full of twists and turns it was suspenseful and exciting a perfect children’s adventure story and a compelling read. I would recommend this to anyone with teenagers that enjoy adventure stories of any kind and I can't wait for the second in the series
January 29, 2015
About the Book:
When Emma and her twin brother Charlie arrive on Dogwinkle Island for summer vacation, they are expecting a long boring summer away "away from it all," as their parents had put it. What they weren't expecting was to meet Eve, a time-traveling alien from another planet that would show them the universes that hid inside of the lighthouse on Balky Point. Their adventures take them to "The Hub" where they meat Dr. Waldo, a scientist examining the possibilities of the Universes. In the Hub, Emma, Charlie, and their friend Ben discover that the possibilities of their adventures are endless, only limited by their imagination. The four teens set out on an adventure looking for Vik, the villain in the story, who is trying to destroy the "elevators" that allow for travel between universes. In his travels, Vik is actually spreading this horrible thing call the "The Void."
My Review
Pam Stucky's book The Universes Inside the Lighthouse was a delightful surprise for me. As a scientist, I usually stray away from science fiction because when it isn't done well, it leaves me screaming at the books; however this book was extremely intelligently written. I actually stayed up late on several nights because I couldn't put the book down. The premise of the book, on the surface, appears to be far fetched, but trust me, read the book and discover an adventure of a lifetime. The characters in the story are well developed and the overall plot lays the foundation for a series of books to come in this Balky Point Adventure series.
In particular, I found myself scribbling notes in the margins of the book because there were so many quotes from the book that spoke to me. The story reminds me of A Wrinkle in Time, but for a much older audience. After reading the book, I think it would be best suited for 10 and older. I tried to read it with my eight-year-old, but the concepts in the book were too abstract for her to understand. I think in a couple years, she will be ready and eager to read this book. I will be sending this book to my niece, who is a couple years older than Miss M, to see what she thinks as a young reader.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for both the adventure and the philosophical pondering. I especially enjoyed the character Dr. Waldo, who provided a welcome contrast to the teenage angst of the main character Emma. I think if I was a teenager reading this I would have related to Emma, but as an adult, I definitely understand the world more from the perspective of Dr. Waldo. The "Hub" where Dr. Waldo does his work was my favorite setting in the book because of the limitless possibilities of this location. Go, download this book now. It is a great read as an adult and as a middle-grade/ young adult fiction novel.
Disclosure: * I was given this book free-of-charge by the author in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
When Emma and her twin brother Charlie arrive on Dogwinkle Island for summer vacation, they are expecting a long boring summer away "away from it all," as their parents had put it. What they weren't expecting was to meet Eve, a time-traveling alien from another planet that would show them the universes that hid inside of the lighthouse on Balky Point. Their adventures take them to "The Hub" where they meat Dr. Waldo, a scientist examining the possibilities of the Universes. In the Hub, Emma, Charlie, and their friend Ben discover that the possibilities of their adventures are endless, only limited by their imagination. The four teens set out on an adventure looking for Vik, the villain in the story, who is trying to destroy the "elevators" that allow for travel between universes. In his travels, Vik is actually spreading this horrible thing call the "The Void."
My Review
Pam Stucky's book The Universes Inside the Lighthouse was a delightful surprise for me. As a scientist, I usually stray away from science fiction because when it isn't done well, it leaves me screaming at the books; however this book was extremely intelligently written. I actually stayed up late on several nights because I couldn't put the book down. The premise of the book, on the surface, appears to be far fetched, but trust me, read the book and discover an adventure of a lifetime. The characters in the story are well developed and the overall plot lays the foundation for a series of books to come in this Balky Point Adventure series.
In particular, I found myself scribbling notes in the margins of the book because there were so many quotes from the book that spoke to me. The story reminds me of A Wrinkle in Time, but for a much older audience. After reading the book, I think it would be best suited for 10 and older. I tried to read it with my eight-year-old, but the concepts in the book were too abstract for her to understand. I think in a couple years, she will be ready and eager to read this book. I will be sending this book to my niece, who is a couple years older than Miss M, to see what she thinks as a young reader.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for both the adventure and the philosophical pondering. I especially enjoyed the character Dr. Waldo, who provided a welcome contrast to the teenage angst of the main character Emma. I think if I was a teenager reading this I would have related to Emma, but as an adult, I definitely understand the world more from the perspective of Dr. Waldo. The "Hub" where Dr. Waldo does his work was my favorite setting in the book because of the limitless possibilities of this location. Go, download this book now. It is a great read as an adult and as a middle-grade/ young adult fiction novel.
Disclosure: * I was given this book free-of-charge by the author in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 13, 2015
Charlie and Emma are two inquisitive teens who discover a doorway into multiple universes -- inside a lighthouse on the small island where they're vacationing. From there, it's a short trip into a delightfully drawn tale that leads them to many unlikely places.
Author Pam Stuckey has expertly woven an improbable plotline into a book that is part science fiction, and part Alice In Wonderland. The twins hook up with an ensemble cast of aliens --- all of whom look remarkably no different than, say, your next door neighbor -- and go in search of a mysterious alien named Nik, who is causing all sorts of intergalactic grief.
Charlie and Emma team up with Emma's secret heartthrob Ben to quiz a quirky alien scientist named Dr. Waldo, who presents them with an arresting revelation about one of the universes they've discovered: the dead don't ever really depart, as we've always thought. Most often, they simply "stick around," as Dr. Waldo says, or they "move on" -- sometimes to inhabit entire worlds just filled with spirits.
Needless to say, this is much more than a simple Young Adult adventure story -- although it still somehow manages to accomplish that as well, moving the reader along briskly with snappy dialogue, keen wit, and a surprise around every corner.
The quest turns serious when they become stranded in a strange world with three moons, but their alien-guide Eve finally saves the day by dialing in the correct coordinates for The Hub, where Dr. Waldo is anxiously awaiting their arrival.
But wait! That isn't Charlie, after all. It's Parallel Charlie, who switched places with the real Charlie in one of the many alternate Earths. Just kidding, Emma, he says, when his twin sister finds out what they did. Also, Ben has activated a homing beacon on his wrist in hopes of being transported home. Problem is, the device was a beta model and Ben just might have his atoms scattered across the multiverse.
There's more drama in store as the twins continue their romp around the galaxy before finally accomplishing their task --sort of. It's a twist ending, and I don't want to spoil it.
The Universes Inside the Lighthouse is an imaginative read that's well-written, well-edited and fun to race through, as the twins find themselves in one dilemma after another -- but always finding their way out. This book is a YA standout and I give it five stars.
Author Pam Stuckey has expertly woven an improbable plotline into a book that is part science fiction, and part Alice In Wonderland. The twins hook up with an ensemble cast of aliens --- all of whom look remarkably no different than, say, your next door neighbor -- and go in search of a mysterious alien named Nik, who is causing all sorts of intergalactic grief.
Charlie and Emma team up with Emma's secret heartthrob Ben to quiz a quirky alien scientist named Dr. Waldo, who presents them with an arresting revelation about one of the universes they've discovered: the dead don't ever really depart, as we've always thought. Most often, they simply "stick around," as Dr. Waldo says, or they "move on" -- sometimes to inhabit entire worlds just filled with spirits.
Needless to say, this is much more than a simple Young Adult adventure story -- although it still somehow manages to accomplish that as well, moving the reader along briskly with snappy dialogue, keen wit, and a surprise around every corner.
The quest turns serious when they become stranded in a strange world with three moons, but their alien-guide Eve finally saves the day by dialing in the correct coordinates for The Hub, where Dr. Waldo is anxiously awaiting their arrival.
But wait! That isn't Charlie, after all. It's Parallel Charlie, who switched places with the real Charlie in one of the many alternate Earths. Just kidding, Emma, he says, when his twin sister finds out what they did. Also, Ben has activated a homing beacon on his wrist in hopes of being transported home. Problem is, the device was a beta model and Ben just might have his atoms scattered across the multiverse.
There's more drama in store as the twins continue their romp around the galaxy before finally accomplishing their task --sort of. It's a twist ending, and I don't want to spoil it.
The Universes Inside the Lighthouse is an imaginative read that's well-written, well-edited and fun to race through, as the twins find themselves in one dilemma after another -- but always finding their way out. This book is a YA standout and I give it five stars.
January 5, 2016
Reviewed on behalf of The Review Board by Harmony Kent.
I received a free PDF copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This book is aimed at YA, and falls within light science fiction/fantasy and is full of adventure. It is a clean read suitable for a range of ages. I would say that 13 – 14 year olds would enjoy this more than older teens.
Teenagers Emma and Charlie find themselves holidaying on a remote island with their parents, and in search of things to do. Emma is hopeful that local boy, Ben, will return her interest; however, the threesome soon have much more on their minds than dating, and more than enough to occupy their time.
I love the underlying message in this book, portrayed through ‘The Void’, which shows readers how dangerous disconnection and feeling alone can be, and how it important it is to find a way of connecting with others.
Sadly, the read is let down through a passive narrative style, which is full of grammatical issues such as split infinitives and comma splices, and way too many exclamation points. Filter words also abound, as does overuse of words such as ‘own’ and ‘very’, which litter the text unecessarily. The plot, pacing, and world building are done to a good standard, although the characters felt a little one-dimensional. At one point, the ages given just don’t translate. In Eve’s universe she is 11, and in Earth years 17.5; her father is 25. Whether this is Earth years or Other Universe years, the ages just don’t work—her father needs to be older.
All of that said, it is an easy and enjoyable read with an important underlying message. This is the first book in a series, but works as a standalone novel. The conclusion is open ended, leaving room for the sequel, but it doesn’t end on too steep a cliff. It gets 7 out of 10 TRB stars from me, which equates to 3.5 out of 5 on other rating scales. For posting purposes, I round this up to a soft 4.
I received a free PDF copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This book is aimed at YA, and falls within light science fiction/fantasy and is full of adventure. It is a clean read suitable for a range of ages. I would say that 13 – 14 year olds would enjoy this more than older teens.
Teenagers Emma and Charlie find themselves holidaying on a remote island with their parents, and in search of things to do. Emma is hopeful that local boy, Ben, will return her interest; however, the threesome soon have much more on their minds than dating, and more than enough to occupy their time.
I love the underlying message in this book, portrayed through ‘The Void’, which shows readers how dangerous disconnection and feeling alone can be, and how it important it is to find a way of connecting with others.
Sadly, the read is let down through a passive narrative style, which is full of grammatical issues such as split infinitives and comma splices, and way too many exclamation points. Filter words also abound, as does overuse of words such as ‘own’ and ‘very’, which litter the text unecessarily. The plot, pacing, and world building are done to a good standard, although the characters felt a little one-dimensional. At one point, the ages given just don’t translate. In Eve’s universe she is 11, and in Earth years 17.5; her father is 25. Whether this is Earth years or Other Universe years, the ages just don’t work—her father needs to be older.
All of that said, it is an easy and enjoyable read with an important underlying message. This is the first book in a series, but works as a standalone novel. The conclusion is open ended, leaving room for the sequel, but it doesn’t end on too steep a cliff. It gets 7 out of 10 TRB stars from me, which equates to 3.5 out of 5 on other rating scales. For posting purposes, I round this up to a soft 4.
March 18, 2015
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
Be prepared to completely suspend disbelief when starting The Universes Inside the Lighthouse. If you try too hard to make sense of everything, your brain might implode. Part fantasy, part sci-fi, and all adventure, this novel is a fast-paced story incorporating time travel, multi-verses, and rather interesting characters.
I liked twins Emma and Charlie. They are very supportive of each other, and seem to always have the other's back. Putting the elevators to alternate dimensions in the lighthouses was also intriguing. Other than the romance and the ages of the characters, this book really read more like a middle-grade adventure than YA. Frankly I think the romance wasn't really necessary and pulled me from the aspects I found more interesting.
Everyone was so accepting as they learned about the two aliens in their midst. It made things much easier since there wasn't page after page of denial. Even the adults were eager to accept the outlandish claim. Perhaps their lives were so dull that they were desperate for anything even remotely exciting. It also surprised me how quickly the aliens divulged their secrets. The two had been around for over a century, which made it seem strange that they suddenly needed the help of a group of modern teens. But I guess there wouldn't be much of a story if the aliens remained tight-lipped.
The travel to other dimensions was fun and definitely imaginative. It was by far my favorite part of the book. Overall The Universes Inside the Lighthouse was a fun read with lots of action and an intriguing plot. I recommend it for readers as young as twelve.
Be prepared to completely suspend disbelief when starting The Universes Inside the Lighthouse. If you try too hard to make sense of everything, your brain might implode. Part fantasy, part sci-fi, and all adventure, this novel is a fast-paced story incorporating time travel, multi-verses, and rather interesting characters.
I liked twins Emma and Charlie. They are very supportive of each other, and seem to always have the other's back. Putting the elevators to alternate dimensions in the lighthouses was also intriguing. Other than the romance and the ages of the characters, this book really read more like a middle-grade adventure than YA. Frankly I think the romance wasn't really necessary and pulled me from the aspects I found more interesting.
Everyone was so accepting as they learned about the two aliens in their midst. It made things much easier since there wasn't page after page of denial. Even the adults were eager to accept the outlandish claim. Perhaps their lives were so dull that they were desperate for anything even remotely exciting. It also surprised me how quickly the aliens divulged their secrets. The two had been around for over a century, which made it seem strange that they suddenly needed the help of a group of modern teens. But I guess there wouldn't be much of a story if the aliens remained tight-lipped.
The travel to other dimensions was fun and definitely imaginative. It was by far my favorite part of the book. Overall The Universes Inside the Lighthouse was a fun read with lots of action and an intriguing plot. I recommend it for readers as young as twelve.
March 3, 2015
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
If you like time travel books then you will most assuredly enjoy this book. This book is not traveling through time, but through different universes. Emma and Charlie Neeson are twins who find themselves on Dogwinkle Island. They really think they are going to have a boring time. Then they learn about the Balky Point Lighthouse. Inside is where they can jump from one universe to another. Dr. Waldo is in charge of "The Hub". Emma and Charlie travel with Ben and Eva an alien they have befriended. This would be just another ordinary science fiction book if it was only about visiting other time periods. Instead the author has you visiting multiple universes. The author threw in antagonist Vik. The aliens are trying to find Vik because he is causing some major problems. He is trying to destroy the only way to travel between the universes. He is spreading what they called "The Void". It reminded me of "The Neverending Story" and the nothingness. The characters were all well developed. You have Charlie who is very outgoing and then his sister Emma who likes to hang back, she's somewhat introverted. The story starts out at a great pace. The events begin to ramp up the tension within the story making it almost impossible to put down the book. You want to continue to read to the end of the book. This is one that I know my science fiction loving students will really enjoy. I look forward to reading more from this author.
If you like time travel books then you will most assuredly enjoy this book. This book is not traveling through time, but through different universes. Emma and Charlie Neeson are twins who find themselves on Dogwinkle Island. They really think they are going to have a boring time. Then they learn about the Balky Point Lighthouse. Inside is where they can jump from one universe to another. Dr. Waldo is in charge of "The Hub". Emma and Charlie travel with Ben and Eva an alien they have befriended. This would be just another ordinary science fiction book if it was only about visiting other time periods. Instead the author has you visiting multiple universes. The author threw in antagonist Vik. The aliens are trying to find Vik because he is causing some major problems. He is trying to destroy the only way to travel between the universes. He is spreading what they called "The Void". It reminded me of "The Neverending Story" and the nothingness. The characters were all well developed. You have Charlie who is very outgoing and then his sister Emma who likes to hang back, she's somewhat introverted. The story starts out at a great pace. The events begin to ramp up the tension within the story making it almost impossible to put down the book. You want to continue to read to the end of the book. This is one that I know my science fiction loving students will really enjoy. I look forward to reading more from this author.
January 8, 2015
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am very thankful to Pam Stucky for giving me the opportunity to visit her world, a world I might not have chosen on my own to read. It is an easy, well paced adventure! This Young Adult story not only featured fun romps through many (well detailed) layered Multiverses but also put forth a unique take on possible Time Travel (which I am a HUGE sucker for), ghosts and Aliens...that's right...Aliens, Infinite Universes, ghosts AND Time Travel...a winning literary combination if ever there was one. The main characters were easy to empathize with and the world building was well thought out and seamlessly executed. My only gripe was that the Aliens divulged their secrets with little to no hesitation nor prodding from the main characters. All in all The Universes In The Lighthouse was a fun, unique, well written Young Adult novel that expertly set the stage for what I can easily foresee being an extraordinary series. I'll be on the lookout for the next book in the series for sure.
August 1, 2018
I am a space nerd (own a giant telescope), so I freaked when I read the title and synopsis. Aaaand, wasn’t what I was hoping for. I wanted tons of planet exploration and action. Didn’t happen. The characters were a little bland. I just wish there would’ve been a display of a variety of planet habitats and inhabitants.
January 16, 2025
The title is interesting and seemingly magical. It piqued my curiosity since I am interested in alternate realities. But then it read as more of a science fiction, the UFO and alien type of thing. Kids or teens who have an interest in the topic would enjoy this book.
As the characters stressed in the story, different “universes” were introduced and described. Speaking of characters, I found the twins annoying at the beginning. One was lovesick and the other kept yapping and cracking jokes which weren’t funny. And then there was a lot of talking and explaining that seemed to get nowhere and many questions asked that were unanswered because they kept interrupting the talkers. Though, there was a bit of character development and a lesson to be learned. But personally, I wouldn’t hang out with these guys. Haha!
And as usual for any teen adventure, they would disregard the parents, the grownups would practically be useless, and the younger ones were the ones who would solve the problems.
Over all, it’s all right. The theories were explained, although I feel that the pop and cultural references were of the millennial age group. It also tried to instill values for young people.
As the characters stressed in the story, different “universes” were introduced and described. Speaking of characters, I found the twins annoying at the beginning. One was lovesick and the other kept yapping and cracking jokes which weren’t funny. And then there was a lot of talking and explaining that seemed to get nowhere and many questions asked that were unanswered because they kept interrupting the talkers. Though, there was a bit of character development and a lesson to be learned. But personally, I wouldn’t hang out with these guys. Haha!
And as usual for any teen adventure, they would disregard the parents, the grownups would practically be useless, and the younger ones were the ones who would solve the problems.
Over all, it’s all right. The theories were explained, although I feel that the pop and cultural references were of the millennial age group. It also tried to instill values for young people.
August 30, 2021
I was intrigued by the premise. I went in knowing that this is a YA book, so I was not disappointed. For a YA book that is the first in a series, it is good. It does a good job of introducing the characters and setting up the premise for future adventures. I might read the sequels at some point if I feel like I need a quick break in between reading heavier stuff. I wouldn't recommend this to my adult friends, but I'd certainly recommend to younger readers around middle school or maybe even high school age.
March 22, 2018
Fantastic story
A fantastic story with a great cast of characters. Follow our characters as they discover the multi-verse parallel universes other dimensions time travel you name it. Think sliders but not just parallel universes whole other universes and dimensions as they should search for their goal and meet other people and other worlds and explore. Definitely an entertaining read
A fantastic story with a great cast of characters. Follow our characters as they discover the multi-verse parallel universes other dimensions time travel you name it. Think sliders but not just parallel universes whole other universes and dimensions as they should search for their goal and meet other people and other worlds and explore. Definitely an entertaining read
February 15, 2022
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It is a bit Wrinkle in Time and a bit Doctor Who both things I love, but doesn't quite pull it off as much as I had hoped. It has great themes of accepting yourself and asking for help when you need it and the importance of community. I just felt like this was more explained to me than shown to me. This might be because it is geared for younger readers.
October 17, 2018
Great and interesting story
Thanks Pam, I enjoyed soaring to other worlds, planets and universes. I like the hidden message that came through when Emma was talking to Vik. No spoilers here read and enjoy for yourself. I know the author listed this as an ya book but this O A loved it.😊😊😊
Thanks Pam, I enjoyed soaring to other worlds, planets and universes. I like the hidden message that came through when Emma was talking to Vik. No spoilers here read and enjoy for yourself. I know the author listed this as an ya book but this O A loved it.😊😊😊
June 28, 2021
Take an island lighthouse, connect it to universes full of other place some where magic happens, some where science does.
Two-dimensional elephants, psychics, a garden where secrets grow, ghosts, multiple selves... and a growing villainous being called the Void.
Like a Wrinkle in Time this book blends science and fantasy together into a fun whole.
Two-dimensional elephants, psychics, a garden where secrets grow, ghosts, multiple selves... and a growing villainous being called the Void.
Like a Wrinkle in Time this book blends science and fantasy together into a fun whole.
July 21, 2021
Amazing
This is a very different and thought provoking mystery. I enjoyed the different characters and how the writer had me thinking about the Void. It encouraged me to look inward about how I viewed myself and how each individual could be reminded to look at more positive things in their own lives to change their outward views. I enjoyed reading this book a lot.
This is a very different and thought provoking mystery. I enjoyed the different characters and how the writer had me thinking about the Void. It encouraged me to look inward about how I viewed myself and how each individual could be reminded to look at more positive things in their own lives to change their outward views. I enjoyed reading this book a lot.
February 27, 2020
Fantastic book!!!
This was a fantastic book in every way! Loved the story line. Loved all the characters and care what happens to them. Could not get enough. Eager to read the next book in the serues. Found a new favorite author.
This was a fantastic book in every way! Loved the story line. Loved all the characters and care what happens to them. Could not get enough. Eager to read the next book in the serues. Found a new favorite author.
October 2, 2019
I found a new home
I’ve never been a sci-fi guy. This introduced me to a new world, and I like it. Thanks for the new world and the travels it will allow.
I’ve never been a sci-fi guy. This introduced me to a new world, and I like it. Thanks for the new world and the travels it will allow.
Read
July 20, 2021DNF 23%. I usually try to get further into a book before I give up, but in this case I just didn't care about the characters nor did I want to unravel the mysteries within the lighthouse.
July 20, 2021
Did not finish
September 19, 2021
Interesting and enjoyable science fiction that I would continue to read the rest of the series if it weren’t for the mountain of books currently in my TBR pike.
January 20, 2022
I had to say finished as there isn't a chance to say gave up. I didn't get very far into the book before I got bored. Sorry.
May 10, 2022
Weird book
July 24, 2022
This really might be one of the worst books I have ever read.
December 23, 2022
I like it
Fun to read. Great message. The characters are interesting and funny. A wonderful story line. Read it. You won’t regret it.
Fun to read. Great message. The characters are interesting and funny. A wonderful story line. Read it. You won’t regret it.
July 23, 2016
This book was given to us for free in return for an honest review.
Seventeen-year-old Emma and her twin brother Charlie are expecting another boring summer vacation when the family travels to Balky Point. As much as they like the locals, it is a quiet, unassuming town where there's not much going on. Charlie and Emma go exploring and the adventure all begins inside the lighthouse. They notice pictures there decades apart that show the same girl in each one – not aging or changing in any way. Then they find the same girl – Eve – at the town get together and track her down to get answers to all their questions. The next thing they know, Emma and Charlie are traveling with Eve to new Universes and having all sorts of experiences that blow their minds. Eve is on the trail of a criminal and together they all learn more about themselves and they strength they possess inside.
I loved this book! The first thing that jumped out at me is how family oriented it is. As Emma and Charlie explore and learn about the other universes, the first thing they do is talk to their parents and their friends in town. While they may sneak off, Emma and Charlie are very close to their parents and work to reunite the family. It is not a dysfunctional family as we read in so many stories. Mom and Dad love Emma and Charlie and have their best interests at heart. They are very present in the kids' lives and try to understand and be involved as much as they can.
I really enjoyed the idea of multiple universes. It is presented in a way that is easy enough for all to understand. Yet it really makes you think. The characters encounter alternate versions of their home universe and have to deal with the implications those can bring.
The villain in this book is someone who has been corrupted by "the Void". The author does a great job describing this feeling and desire to isolate ourselves from one another, to spend more time with our phones that with our friends. There is a whole society that has failed because The Void has convinced all the people to stay on their own and not interact with anyone. Emma is faced with the temptations of The Void and we get to see how she faces it and how her friends and family help her conquer it. I love the resolution at the end with Emma and Vik – but I'm not going to get into it here and ruin the story for you!
This was a fun read that kept my interest. The rest of this series is on my to-read list and I am excited to see the adventures unfold.
Review by Patti F. for Truth About Books
Seventeen-year-old Emma and her twin brother Charlie are expecting another boring summer vacation when the family travels to Balky Point. As much as they like the locals, it is a quiet, unassuming town where there's not much going on. Charlie and Emma go exploring and the adventure all begins inside the lighthouse. They notice pictures there decades apart that show the same girl in each one – not aging or changing in any way. Then they find the same girl – Eve – at the town get together and track her down to get answers to all their questions. The next thing they know, Emma and Charlie are traveling with Eve to new Universes and having all sorts of experiences that blow their minds. Eve is on the trail of a criminal and together they all learn more about themselves and they strength they possess inside.
I loved this book! The first thing that jumped out at me is how family oriented it is. As Emma and Charlie explore and learn about the other universes, the first thing they do is talk to their parents and their friends in town. While they may sneak off, Emma and Charlie are very close to their parents and work to reunite the family. It is not a dysfunctional family as we read in so many stories. Mom and Dad love Emma and Charlie and have their best interests at heart. They are very present in the kids' lives and try to understand and be involved as much as they can.
I really enjoyed the idea of multiple universes. It is presented in a way that is easy enough for all to understand. Yet it really makes you think. The characters encounter alternate versions of their home universe and have to deal with the implications those can bring.
The villain in this book is someone who has been corrupted by "the Void". The author does a great job describing this feeling and desire to isolate ourselves from one another, to spend more time with our phones that with our friends. There is a whole society that has failed because The Void has convinced all the people to stay on their own and not interact with anyone. Emma is faced with the temptations of The Void and we get to see how she faces it and how her friends and family help her conquer it. I love the resolution at the end with Emma and Vik – but I'm not going to get into it here and ruin the story for you!
This was a fun read that kept my interest. The rest of this series is on my to-read list and I am excited to see the adventures unfold.
Review by Patti F. for Truth About Books
January 28, 2015
Twins, Emma and Charlie Nelson, aren’t too excited about spending their summer vacation on a remote island with little to do. Bored, with the exception of a slight dating prospect, the teens go camping. Only to find that there is much more to life than what this world would have them believe.
Stuck in parallel universes and on extraordinary planets Charlie, Emma, and their newfound friends race against time to save themselves and the universes from succumbing to The Void and it’s minion, Vik.
Hott Review:
What I liked: The Universes Inside the Lighthouse is a really cool book. It’s a complete non-stop adventure! I really enjoyed this book from the first to the last word. The published synopsis & cover do not do it justice.
The multi-universes and time traveling elements along with the teen heroics made this an utter win for teen readers.
I LOVED The Void. The terror in this book is essentially a reference to depression and self-absorption. I think these are both very important topics that need to be shown as an enemy, especially to teens!
What I didn’t like: The science references can be construed as anti-Christian, so if you’re not into fantasy that calls that into question, this isn’t the book for you.
More…
Author: Pam Stucky
Source: This was a gift from Pam Stucky in exchange for an honest review.
Grade: B
Ages: 14+
Steam: Nada
Setting: Balky Point, Washington
Series: Balky Point Adventures #1
Stuck in parallel universes and on extraordinary planets Charlie, Emma, and their newfound friends race against time to save themselves and the universes from succumbing to The Void and it’s minion, Vik.
Hott Review:
What I liked: The Universes Inside the Lighthouse is a really cool book. It’s a complete non-stop adventure! I really enjoyed this book from the first to the last word. The published synopsis & cover do not do it justice.
The multi-universes and time traveling elements along with the teen heroics made this an utter win for teen readers.
I LOVED The Void. The terror in this book is essentially a reference to depression and self-absorption. I think these are both very important topics that need to be shown as an enemy, especially to teens!
What I didn’t like: The science references can be construed as anti-Christian, so if you’re not into fantasy that calls that into question, this isn’t the book for you.
More…
Author: Pam Stucky
Source: This was a gift from Pam Stucky in exchange for an honest review.
Grade: B
Ages: 14+
Steam: Nada
Setting: Balky Point, Washington
Series: Balky Point Adventures #1
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews