Finding Naballon: A Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure

by J. Dillworth Winston

"O Naballon...Seek out the Children of Prophecy, for their innocence will rescue you from your failings." — Llaad, 3154 E.L.

Twelve-year-old Jessica thinks she’s just a normal kid trying to survive the social minefield of middle school. A 12-year-old boy in Ireland named Patrick thinks the same. Neither one of them understands that the "real world" is just a thin veil and their destiny lies beyond it.

While exploring the woods near her house, Amber somehow pierces the barrier to Naballon—a breathtaking world of all sorts of beings called Oids. It is a colorful land full of ancient magic, but a shadow is falling over it. The dark entities Sinten and Rukabah are rising, defying Naballon's creator, Llaad, and hunting the "Children of Prophecy."

Suddenly, Jessica's middle school world fades away. She, Amber, and Patrick are the only ones who can save this mystical world from eternal darkness.

Can three friends find the courage to fulfill a prophecy written in the stars? Or will the evil Sinten and Rukabah consume Naballon forever?

Step into a whimsical, high-stakes adventure perfect for fans of middle-grade fantasy and stories of lasting friendship.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2026

About the author

J. Dillworth Winston was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. His first novel is entitled Finding Naballon. Before becoming an author, Winston was an educator, eventually retiring from the profession in 2023. He was also a radio deejay at a number of Gulf Coast stations during the '80's and '90's. He specializes in writing for former, current, and future middle-schoolers, drawing inspiration from his many teaching experiences. Winston's hobbies include reading, writing, bicycling, and sailing. He also cherishes spending time with his family. For the last 41 years, he has resided in Kiln, Mississippi with his wife, three daughters, and their two granddogs.

Reviews

[EarnedIt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author’s debut

Finding Naballon by J. Dillworth Winston

Jessica is a troubled child who misbehaves every chance she gets, but maybe there’s a reason behind it. Her father left five years ago, and she has been waiting every day for him to come back. Meanwhile, Jessica struggles to accept the reality of her mother moving on. Everything changes when someone arrives at their door and begins living with them.

Since this is the author’s first book, I want to point out a few things I noticed while reading. Jessica, Jessie, and Jess are all used repeatedly within the same paragraphs, and this happens with several other characters as well — Amber, Am, and Amber Lynn; Zag and Zagyel; Joe and Joenapel, etc. Also, when the kids are not narrating the story, “Mary” should probably be used instead of “Momma” for the mother’s name. At times, scenes seem to forget certain characters before suddenly bringing them back. For example, toward the end of the book, Patrick was supposed to be with the girls, but he disappears from the scene while they are running. Another example is that the cops had supposedly already gone home, yet the ending mentions that a cop witnessed what happened. There were some other inconsistencies as well. Like if Am knows the way in, why can’t they take the same way back out and why is the path longer than the path to come in?

I also hope younger readers can understand the southern drawl written into the dialogue. The fantasy elements do not really begin until after the halfway point, and personally, I preferred the first half’s family drama over the second half.

I wanted to read a kids’ story, and since this middle-grade book had a cover that reminded me of some of my childhood favorites, I had to pick it up. It ended up being very different from what I expected, but it still kept me engaged throughout. I would love to see what the author writes next.

3.6/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨