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Milligan Creek #3
The Water War
When a beautiful new girl moves to Milligan Creek, everyone in town is so smitten that her mere presence threatens to ruin the perfect summer that Matt has planned for him, his brother, Chad, and their best friends, Andrew and Dean. So, the boys come up with what seems like the perfect distraction: a water war. It’s the ultimate game of survival, where every player is both hunter and prey. But when Matt's buddies invite the new girl to join in, the game that was supposed to unite them against the interloper threatens to tear their close friendship apart.
- GenresAdventureMiddle Grade
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2018
60 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Miller
36 books46 followersKevin is an award-winning author, and filmmaker. His debut novel, "Up the Creek," topped Amazon.com's Canadian literature best-seller list for over 17 weeks. Kevin has been involved in over a dozen films in various capacities, and as a writer, editor, co-writer, and contributor, he's been involved in too many books to count. Kevin has been featured on CBC Radio, CNN, and numerous other radio and TV outlets and podcasts. His work has his been written about and reviewed in dozens of publications, including the New York Times, Variety, and the Globe and Mail. Raised on a farm outside of Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, Kevin still thinks the prairies are the best place to be, but the mountains are a close second. He currently makes his home in Kimberley, BC, with his wife and four kids. Learn more about Kevin at www.kevinmillerxi.com.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 6, 2019
The Water War is an absolutely brilliant addition to the Milligan Creek series by Kevin Miller!
Can I just say, I am oh so frustrated with this series! Why did it have to come out when I was an adult?! I would have ate this book up as a child! This is the most fun I've had in a long time reading a book, and I truly mean that. It's the type of book I needed as a kid - dosed in reality yet so full of hilarity!
This time around, the boys of Milligan Creek have a brand new resident to deal with - Fiona Pickleberrybush. Everyone loves this girl - she's pretty and lounges around the pool all day with her sunglasses on. With everyone falling at her feet, Matt knows something is up and he wants his life back to normal. To try to get attention away from this girl and have a fun summer, the boys decide to play Assassin - a giant game of tag with water guns where you hit your intended target with water. Those who have their target hit are out of the game! The prize is determined to be a date with Fiona or Matt (or not Matt, in case you are wondering). And with that, the games are off!
This story is packed with relatable characters that feel real. These kids seem like they fit right in with my childhood and Kevin does a great job of developing them over the books. Matt's character development is definitely the focus of this book, and boy does Kevin do it justice! Seeing Matt change over the book and the surprise ending, well, it impressed me!
Each kid in this story has their own personalities and quirks that make them feel like real kids. They are intelligent, resourceful, hilarious and written beautifully. Some of the quirks are more interesting than others, like the kids who like to "Moo", but they still feel like real children and speak like children. One of my biggest pet peeves of children's books is when the kids talk like adults. Yet, these kids feel like kids! Kevin knows how to make these characters and build them up over time.
I think this is a great quality series (from a Canadian author!) that should be read to all children! Put this book in school libraries, use it for reading buddies, use it for library events and spread the word around! There are few books out there that have so much fun packed into one little book AND have a great theme.
This book focuses on accepting others despite their differences, and that is a really big issue in today's society. Having Kevin include that theme in a book like this makes me have a lot of faith for the next generations. If you haven't read the first two in this series, I highly recommend it! You could easily pick this book up without reading the past two, but why would you?! This series just keeps getting better with each novel that introduced.
I 100% recommend this book to anyone looking for a lighthearted, fun, and inspirational read for themselves or their kids. Books like this show how powerful literature truly is. Unique stories like this are one of the reasons I love reviewing books!
Five out of five stars.
I received a free copy of this book from the author Kevin Miller in exchange for an honest review.
Can I just say, I am oh so frustrated with this series! Why did it have to come out when I was an adult?! I would have ate this book up as a child! This is the most fun I've had in a long time reading a book, and I truly mean that. It's the type of book I needed as a kid - dosed in reality yet so full of hilarity!
This time around, the boys of Milligan Creek have a brand new resident to deal with - Fiona Pickleberrybush. Everyone loves this girl - she's pretty and lounges around the pool all day with her sunglasses on. With everyone falling at her feet, Matt knows something is up and he wants his life back to normal. To try to get attention away from this girl and have a fun summer, the boys decide to play Assassin - a giant game of tag with water guns where you hit your intended target with water. Those who have their target hit are out of the game! The prize is determined to be a date with Fiona or Matt (or not Matt, in case you are wondering). And with that, the games are off!
This story is packed with relatable characters that feel real. These kids seem like they fit right in with my childhood and Kevin does a great job of developing them over the books. Matt's character development is definitely the focus of this book, and boy does Kevin do it justice! Seeing Matt change over the book and the surprise ending, well, it impressed me!
Each kid in this story has their own personalities and quirks that make them feel like real kids. They are intelligent, resourceful, hilarious and written beautifully. Some of the quirks are more interesting than others, like the kids who like to "Moo", but they still feel like real children and speak like children. One of my biggest pet peeves of children's books is when the kids talk like adults. Yet, these kids feel like kids! Kevin knows how to make these characters and build them up over time.
I think this is a great quality series (from a Canadian author!) that should be read to all children! Put this book in school libraries, use it for reading buddies, use it for library events and spread the word around! There are few books out there that have so much fun packed into one little book AND have a great theme.
This book focuses on accepting others despite their differences, and that is a really big issue in today's society. Having Kevin include that theme in a book like this makes me have a lot of faith for the next generations. If you haven't read the first two in this series, I highly recommend it! You could easily pick this book up without reading the past two, but why would you?! This series just keeps getting better with each novel that introduced.
I 100% recommend this book to anyone looking for a lighthearted, fun, and inspirational read for themselves or their kids. Books like this show how powerful literature truly is. Unique stories like this are one of the reasons I love reviewing books!
Five out of five stars.
I received a free copy of this book from the author Kevin Miller in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2019
A ton of fun for the whole family. Water War is a wonderfully written book with a lot of humor and heart. Enjoy reading it with your kids or let them discover the adventure on their own. The characters and story will draw in any young reader.
Kevin Miller's writing really captures the authentic voices and motivations of kids at this age. Kids who are fans of funny, madcap romps like Diary of a Wimpy Kid will love this.
Kevin Miller's writing really captures the authentic voices and motivations of kids at this age. Kids who are fans of funny, madcap romps like Diary of a Wimpy Kid will love this.
December 26, 2018
“The Water War” third book in the “Milligan Creek” series opens when Matt Taylor’s brother Chad, and their friends Andrew and Dean make a beeline for the local pool because like other boys in town they're smitten by the beauty of town newcomer Fiona Pickelberrybush. Exasperated by all the adulation, fearing his summer is wrecked and wanting a distraction for his friends, Matt proposes a game of “Assassin” where every player is both hunter and prey. With the inducement of a cash prize and a date with the new girl, the game heats up especially when Fiona dreading a boring summer joins in, her presence threatening the boys’ close friendship.
Set in the community of Milligan Creek that’s looking forward to their annual summer days festival and the crowning of a Miss Milligan Creek, twelve-year-old Matt Taylor disgusted that his plans for the holidays with his friends and brother are being ruined by the new girl in town, proposes a game to bring them back on track only to have his scheme go awry when Fiona joins in. The fun and humor quickly build as events unfold that have Dean’s mother, the formidable Mrs. Muller getting involved and training one of the first of the game’s casualties to be part of her team.
Well-developed and wonderfully absorbing for pre-teens the story twists and turns near the end as events ignite that have Matt disguised as an old woman, a debate over the competition for Miss Milligan Creek heating up the chambers of the local council, and even setting one Taylor brother against the other. Fast-paced, the action never slows as casualties mount and the competition grows fierce as the Milligan Creek Daze festivities approach.
Like all of Kevin Miller’s Milligan Creek series the characters are realistic and compelling, breathing life into this captivating plot with their unique personalities. Heading the cast is twelve-year old Matt Taylor who is clever, competitive and very resourceful, irritated that his friends are smitten with the lovely, self-absorbed, wily but enigmatic Fiona Pickleberrybush.
I loved “The Water War”, a story that will intrigue and bring laughter to the younger patrons of my local library.
Set in the community of Milligan Creek that’s looking forward to their annual summer days festival and the crowning of a Miss Milligan Creek, twelve-year-old Matt Taylor disgusted that his plans for the holidays with his friends and brother are being ruined by the new girl in town, proposes a game to bring them back on track only to have his scheme go awry when Fiona joins in. The fun and humor quickly build as events unfold that have Dean’s mother, the formidable Mrs. Muller getting involved and training one of the first of the game’s casualties to be part of her team.
Well-developed and wonderfully absorbing for pre-teens the story twists and turns near the end as events ignite that have Matt disguised as an old woman, a debate over the competition for Miss Milligan Creek heating up the chambers of the local council, and even setting one Taylor brother against the other. Fast-paced, the action never slows as casualties mount and the competition grows fierce as the Milligan Creek Daze festivities approach.
Like all of Kevin Miller’s Milligan Creek series the characters are realistic and compelling, breathing life into this captivating plot with their unique personalities. Heading the cast is twelve-year old Matt Taylor who is clever, competitive and very resourceful, irritated that his friends are smitten with the lovely, self-absorbed, wily but enigmatic Fiona Pickleberrybush.
I loved “The Water War”, a story that will intrigue and bring laughter to the younger patrons of my local library.
April 29, 2023
Great book!
I read this to my grandsons, ages 10, 13, & 15. We all laughed out loud many times. And that ending was completely unexpected & wonderful! We can’t wait to start book #4.
I read this to my grandsons, ages 10, 13, & 15. We all laughed out loud many times. And that ending was completely unexpected & wonderful! We can’t wait to start book #4.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews