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Jack Zulu #1
Jack Zulu and the Waylander's Key
From the creator of the million-plus selling Green Ember series comes a brand new story with an old soul—the can’t-miss first adventure in a thrilling new series.
Escape Into Reality.
Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key is an enchanting adventure in the tradition of Tolkien and Lewis, as well as Spielberg and Lucas. But this fantastical journey launches in rural West Virginia in the eighties, with a half-Appalachian, half-African kid trying to escape the town he sees defining his small, sad life. Jack discovers a gate hiding a city between twelve realms, and finds out where he truly belongs in a surprising, satisfying adventure.
Escape Into Reality.
Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key is an enchanting adventure in the tradition of Tolkien and Lewis, as well as Spielberg and Lucas. But this fantastical journey launches in rural West Virginia in the eighties, with a half-Appalachian, half-African kid trying to escape the town he sees defining his small, sad life. Jack discovers a gate hiding a city between twelve realms, and finds out where he truly belongs in a surprising, satisfying adventure.
304 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2022
108 people are currently reading
629 people want to read
About the author
S.D. Smith
17 books2,036 followersS. D. Smith is the author of The Green Ember Series, a million+ selling adventure saga featuring heroic #RabbitsWithSwords. The Green Ember spent time as the number one bestselling audiobook in the world on Audible. He is also the author of the madcap Mooses with Bazookas: And Other Stories Children Should Never Read as well as the touching throwback adventure, The Found Boys. Finally, he has co-authored two fantasy adventure novels with his son (J. C. Smith), Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key and Jack Zulu and the Girl with Golden Wings. Smith’s stories are captivating readers across the globe who are hungry for “new stories with an old soul.”
Though packed with old school virtue and moral imagination, Smith doesn't merely create "safe" stories, but bold, daring, truthful tales of light that help shape children who become dangerous—dangerous to the darkness.
Smith is a founder and owner of Story Warren, a publishing, events, and IP development house based in rural West Virginia. Story Warren exists to serve families as “allies in imagination.”
S. D. Smith lives in Gran
Though packed with old school virtue and moral imagination, Smith doesn't merely create "safe" stories, but bold, daring, truthful tales of light that help shape children who become dangerous—dangerous to the darkness.
Smith is a founder and owner of Story Warren, a publishing, events, and IP development house based in rural West Virginia. Story Warren exists to serve families as “allies in imagination.”
S. D. Smith lives in Gran
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
November 2, 2022
“The problem with baseball is that at first you’re desperate to leave home. Then, once you’re gone, you’ll do just about anything to get back. Even steal. But you can’t get back the way you came. You have to take another way home . . . It was only an after-school pickup game, sure, but to Jack it was another step on the long road to greater things – things far from Myrtle, West Virginia. Jack’s father, dead now for many years, had immigrated from South Africa, where the last name Zulu was as common as Robinson. His father had married a West Virginia girl after college and settled into her town of Myrtle. Jack’s background was complex, but his focus was singular. He was going somewhere. Somewhere else.”
When Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key opens, it is 1984 in West Virginia. A half-African, half-Appalachian kid named Jack Zulu from Myrtle, West Virginia was about as normal as any middle school-aged kid could be. Jack had a best friend, a girl he liked, a sport he loved, and a longing to go somewhere and do something. Oh, and he could not get enough pizza. Good thing for Jack that his best friend Benny was an Irish-Italian American whose family owned a pizza parlor. And, as I said, he was a normal middle school kid, so he made a fool of himself whenever he was near that girl, Michelle.
What makes Jack different from many other middle schoolers is that his police chief father was killed in the line of duty, and his mother is dying of cancer. Jack might be normal, but his life isn’t very normal, and when this story opens, it is going to get a lot less normal in a hurry.
“(Michelle) was beautiful, dark-skinned, and enchanting . . . their dads, the only two black officers in the county, had worked together for many years. The two families grew close and had spent a lot of time together, but they drifted apart when Jack’s dad died. Police Chief Ruben Zulu and Officer Steven Robinson had gone missing for weeks on a case. When Officer Robinson returned, he brought back a blood-covered police badge to an endless supply of unanswered questions. There had been an awkwardness between the two families ever since.”
Ruben Zulu’s death is shrouded in mystery. Neither the reader nor the characters in this book seem to know much about it, except for Officer Robinson, who is not talking, and the kindly old bookshop owner, Mr. Wheeler, with his strange accent and eccentric ways.
In the years since Ruben’s death, Mr. Wheeler has become a mentor to Jack, keeping him well supplied with interesting books about faraway places and other worlds. When strange things begin to happen, Mr. Wheeler trusts Jack with something precious and gives him strange instructions about how to guard it. This, of course, is how the adventure begins.
S. D. Smith says that he writes new books with old souls. But this time, he is joined by a new author with an old soul, his sixteen-year-old son, Josiah. Together, they take us on an adventure into the space between twelve worlds with peoples and politics just like ours and completely different at the same time. Jack, Benny, and Michelle do escape Myrtle, West Virginia, but they find that home isn’t such a bad place after all.
While this is the first credited collaboration between Sam and Josiah, it is not the first time they have worked together. Josiah has been helping with his father’s story writing for years. This time, what is different is that this is a world that Josiah created, which he invited his father into. Developed initially as a screenplay for a TV series, the father and son pair worked together to retell this story as a novel. It is really fun to see their two voices blend in this story!
As I have said so many times, Sam has a big heart for our young people, and his stories do much to encourage them as they entertain. As always, Sam’s stories confront real issues and push back against real darkness. It is a joy to see how Josiah writes in the same way. This story of his creation is the right kind of hero story – the kind in which the heroes are drawn like real people with real problems and who are choosing to behave virtuously.
This series-starter tackles the issue of racism, and the evils of prejudice head-on by bringing our characters to another world where racism is just as evil and divisive there as it is here. It also asks important questions about identity – who we are, how people see us, and how we respond to how they see us. And, Jack faces incredible temptation. Honorable temptation. He has to make a choice between good and evil which is incredibly hard since the evil is parading itself as an important good.
I enjoyed this book and genuinely enjoyed reading it aloud to my kids. As a child of the ‘80s, I enjoyed going back to a time when I was twelve and felt a little like these characters did. In our interview with Sam and Josiah we talked about how this story highlights the best of the 1980s while steeping it in virtue. And I enjoyed sharing that time with those cultural references with my kids. I was sad, however, that no DeLorean made an appearance . . .
When Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key opens, it is 1984 in West Virginia. A half-African, half-Appalachian kid named Jack Zulu from Myrtle, West Virginia was about as normal as any middle school-aged kid could be. Jack had a best friend, a girl he liked, a sport he loved, and a longing to go somewhere and do something. Oh, and he could not get enough pizza. Good thing for Jack that his best friend Benny was an Irish-Italian American whose family owned a pizza parlor. And, as I said, he was a normal middle school kid, so he made a fool of himself whenever he was near that girl, Michelle.
What makes Jack different from many other middle schoolers is that his police chief father was killed in the line of duty, and his mother is dying of cancer. Jack might be normal, but his life isn’t very normal, and when this story opens, it is going to get a lot less normal in a hurry.
“(Michelle) was beautiful, dark-skinned, and enchanting . . . their dads, the only two black officers in the county, had worked together for many years. The two families grew close and had spent a lot of time together, but they drifted apart when Jack’s dad died. Police Chief Ruben Zulu and Officer Steven Robinson had gone missing for weeks on a case. When Officer Robinson returned, he brought back a blood-covered police badge to an endless supply of unanswered questions. There had been an awkwardness between the two families ever since.”
Ruben Zulu’s death is shrouded in mystery. Neither the reader nor the characters in this book seem to know much about it, except for Officer Robinson, who is not talking, and the kindly old bookshop owner, Mr. Wheeler, with his strange accent and eccentric ways.
In the years since Ruben’s death, Mr. Wheeler has become a mentor to Jack, keeping him well supplied with interesting books about faraway places and other worlds. When strange things begin to happen, Mr. Wheeler trusts Jack with something precious and gives him strange instructions about how to guard it. This, of course, is how the adventure begins.
S. D. Smith says that he writes new books with old souls. But this time, he is joined by a new author with an old soul, his sixteen-year-old son, Josiah. Together, they take us on an adventure into the space between twelve worlds with peoples and politics just like ours and completely different at the same time. Jack, Benny, and Michelle do escape Myrtle, West Virginia, but they find that home isn’t such a bad place after all.
While this is the first credited collaboration between Sam and Josiah, it is not the first time they have worked together. Josiah has been helping with his father’s story writing for years. This time, what is different is that this is a world that Josiah created, which he invited his father into. Developed initially as a screenplay for a TV series, the father and son pair worked together to retell this story as a novel. It is really fun to see their two voices blend in this story!
As I have said so many times, Sam has a big heart for our young people, and his stories do much to encourage them as they entertain. As always, Sam’s stories confront real issues and push back against real darkness. It is a joy to see how Josiah writes in the same way. This story of his creation is the right kind of hero story – the kind in which the heroes are drawn like real people with real problems and who are choosing to behave virtuously.
This series-starter tackles the issue of racism, and the evils of prejudice head-on by bringing our characters to another world where racism is just as evil and divisive there as it is here. It also asks important questions about identity – who we are, how people see us, and how we respond to how they see us. And, Jack faces incredible temptation. Honorable temptation. He has to make a choice between good and evil which is incredibly hard since the evil is parading itself as an important good.
I enjoyed this book and genuinely enjoyed reading it aloud to my kids. As a child of the ‘80s, I enjoyed going back to a time when I was twelve and felt a little like these characters did. In our interview with Sam and Josiah we talked about how this story highlights the best of the 1980s while steeping it in virtue. And I enjoyed sharing that time with those cultural references with my kids. I was sad, however, that no DeLorean made an appearance . . .
May 22, 2023
I started out reading this as a group read with my sisters, but then we got super busy and didn't have time, so I continued on my own once we decided that's what we'd do. So, let's get to the review!
Characters:
Jack is a nice boy, and he's relatable and easy to get along with...there's nothing extremely remarkable...I definitely still like Picket and Jo from the Green Ember Series most, but Jack was a solid lead character.
Benny was so funny and so sweet! I loved him so much! I honestly think I might have liked Benny more than Jack...lol...
Michelle was nice, and the twist at the end was something I didn't see coming, and I'm still not 100% sure what I think about it...whether I liked it or not...I'm trying to decide. *shrugs*
Themes:
Most of the themes seemed to revolve around doing the right thing even when the wrong thing would benefit us. Jack has to make some really tough decisions, and even though, through most of the book, he's trying to get away from his hometown, he finds out in the end that Myrtle isn't so bad after all. I liked the themes; they were nicely woven, and I enjoyed the conclusion to them at the end of the story...though Jack did have me worried for just a moment there...lol...
Language:
Nothing but a few Dags, I want to think heck may have been used...but don't quote me...and Mama Mia is used...nothing to speak of if you ask me.
Romance:
Jack has a crush on Michelle but that's all that there is...nothing more.
Overall:
I enjoyed the story a lot when it first started, it hit a slow section in the middle that was a little hard to read through, and then it picked back up into some super intense action that was awesome! Then it slowed for a bit and skimmed a bit of stuff, some of which I would have liked to have read more on, but overall, it wasn't much skimming. Then the grand finale arrived, and wow! It was so awesome! Though the ending felt a touch rushed on the other side of the finale...but it was still so good, and everything was rounded out well with the themes and conclusion of the story.
This was a fun story, and I'd recommended it for Middle-Grade readers 9 and up, or you could do 7 if you had an adult to explain aspects of the story. There's one scene with the villain that's a bit creepy too.
And if you've read this book but nothing else by Master Smith, definitely check out The Green Ember Series!
Characters:
Jack is a nice boy, and he's relatable and easy to get along with...there's nothing extremely remarkable...I definitely still like Picket and Jo from the Green Ember Series most, but Jack was a solid lead character.
Benny was so funny and so sweet! I loved him so much! I honestly think I might have liked Benny more than Jack...lol...
Michelle was nice, and the twist at the end was something I didn't see coming, and I'm still not 100% sure what I think about it...whether I liked it or not...I'm trying to decide. *shrugs*
Themes:
Most of the themes seemed to revolve around doing the right thing even when the wrong thing would benefit us. Jack has to make some really tough decisions, and even though, through most of the book, he's trying to get away from his hometown, he finds out in the end that Myrtle isn't so bad after all. I liked the themes; they were nicely woven, and I enjoyed the conclusion to them at the end of the story...though Jack did have me worried for just a moment there...lol...
Language:
Nothing but a few Dags, I want to think heck may have been used...but don't quote me...and Mama Mia is used...nothing to speak of if you ask me.
Romance:
Jack has a crush on Michelle but that's all that there is...nothing more.
Overall:
I enjoyed the story a lot when it first started, it hit a slow section in the middle that was a little hard to read through, and then it picked back up into some super intense action that was awesome! Then it slowed for a bit and skimmed a bit of stuff, some of which I would have liked to have read more on, but overall, it wasn't much skimming. Then the grand finale arrived, and wow! It was so awesome! Though the ending felt a touch rushed on the other side of the finale...but it was still so good, and everything was rounded out well with the themes and conclusion of the story.
This was a fun story, and I'd recommended it for Middle-Grade readers 9 and up, or you could do 7 if you had an adult to explain aspects of the story. There's one scene with the villain that's a bit creepy too.
And if you've read this book but nothing else by Master Smith, definitely check out The Green Ember Series!
April 4, 2025
I gave this three stars for the reasons listed below. I didn't hate this book but it's not my top ten favorites. (There's a lot of rambling ahead but read it, it might be interesting.) Maybe three stars is harsh but on the Goodreads rating, it means I liked it so TAKE THAT! XD
I went into this book with high-ish expectations and interest in the father/son writing aspect. I think this book has ✨ potential ✨. Don't get me wrong, I did finish the book but there is a lot going on. It's like a superhero, adventure, fantasy, and mystery. It also had a small romance subplot but it could've done without in my taste (and I like romance subplots) because of the age range. Jack and his friends are middle school age but they feel like high schoolers. And I'm a senior so that's saying something. XD
- i would've loved to see jack's character arc be really built up. i felt like it was a bit flat but he still made some big decisions which was good to see.
- benny was adorable. he's my favorite.
- Michelle felt too perfect to me & I'm curious to see her background with her father & jack's father & why the ending...
- the 80's is the time period but aside from "Our house" song reference & some other things...i didn't feel like i was in the 80's.
- wayland is really interesting! I've read quite a bit of fantasy worlds & it feels pretty typical but it's got a lot filtered in it to make it a bit different. i do like the elvish aspect. i feel like the townspeople are kinda oblivious to anything happening in their town and that Jack's school is lax.
my overall opinion on this book is i would rec it to someone. simply because it's not bad and it's a cool story idea. i just have a high opinion that means totally nothing. the writing isn't bad & it has no horrible content in it. s.d smith & his son j.c smith did a good job. (kudos to the son for the eccentric idea, it makes your head spin). i also want to say that writing isn't easy and i know that because I'm also a writer. so my end note is read this book & tell me YOUR opinion on it.
now i shall be waiting to read the next one. because i hate cliffhangers.
I went into this book with high-ish expectations and interest in the father/son writing aspect. I think this book has ✨ potential ✨. Don't get me wrong, I did finish the book but there is a lot going on. It's like a superhero, adventure, fantasy, and mystery. It also had a small romance subplot but it could've done without in my taste (and I like romance subplots) because of the age range. Jack and his friends are middle school age but they feel like high schoolers. And I'm a senior so that's saying something. XD
- i would've loved to see jack's character arc be really built up. i felt like it was a bit flat but he still made some big decisions which was good to see.
- benny was adorable. he's my favorite.
- Michelle felt too perfect to me & I'm curious to see her background with her father & jack's father & why the ending...
- the 80's is the time period but aside from "Our house" song reference & some other things...i didn't feel like i was in the 80's.
- wayland is really interesting! I've read quite a bit of fantasy worlds & it feels pretty typical but it's got a lot filtered in it to make it a bit different. i do like the elvish aspect. i feel like the townspeople are kinda oblivious to anything happening in their town and that Jack's school is lax.
my overall opinion on this book is i would rec it to someone. simply because it's not bad and it's a cool story idea. i just have a high opinion that means totally nothing. the writing isn't bad & it has no horrible content in it. s.d smith & his son j.c smith did a good job. (kudos to the son for the eccentric idea, it makes your head spin). i also want to say that writing isn't easy and i know that because I'm also a writer. so my end note is read this book & tell me YOUR opinion on it.
now i shall be waiting to read the next one. because i hate cliffhangers.
May 24, 2025
4.75⭐
Love this book! It reminds me of Lewis and Tolkien without copying them, like J.K Rowling does. S.D. Smith and his son pretty much nailed it. :)
Love this book! It reminds me of Lewis and Tolkien without copying them, like J.K Rowling does. S.D. Smith and his son pretty much nailed it. :)
July 6, 2024
Based on the description, I was very excited to try this book. However, I think a better description would be "Magician's Nephew meets Onward meets Infinity War." And not really in a good way.
It felt like a cheesy 80's version of the Magician's Nephew but with fantasy monsters coming out of a portal. And then mix in 14 year olds saying "oooh she's in the room, I don't know how to act, she's so cute." No stop. Please stop. I know I'm more critical of YA books because these are books that children are reading and learning from. I don't want my siblings reading about relationships and crushes like this at a young age.
One thing I did like was the mom's battle with cancer and the touching moments between the mother and son. Also, there is a character who communicates with his parents, which was a nice touch for a YA book.
It felt like a cheesy 80's version of the Magician's Nephew but with fantasy monsters coming out of a portal. And then mix in 14 year olds saying "oooh she's in the room, I don't know how to act, she's so cute." No stop. Please stop. I know I'm more critical of YA books because these are books that children are reading and learning from. I don't want my siblings reading about relationships and crushes like this at a young age.
One thing I did like was the mom's battle with cancer and the touching moments between the mother and son. Also, there is a character who communicates with his parents, which was a nice touch for a YA book.
October 9, 2023
Finally! A portal fantasy novel in which the main character has actually read fantasy and knows the basics of fantasy worlds.
Content:
Mild violence.
Content:
Mild violence.
June 8, 2023
4.5 stars: Really really enjoyed this first of a new series written by Green Ember author S.D. Smith. In fact, I might have even liked it more than GE.
This is the story of Jack Zulu, a half African, half white kid growing up in rural West Virginia in the 1980s, who discovers a portal to another world. This book was fun and imaginative and creative and made me laugh a lot.
I really liked Jack’s character, who is also dealing with his father’s death and his mother’s cancer, all while trying to find his way in the world(s). I loved his best friend Benny! He was so funny! And Jack’s friend and crush Michelle was also great. I mean, the scene with her using her karate champion skills to fight off a murderous murder of huge crows while dressed as Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility was… awesome. Sometimes she was a little too perfect, but I liked her so much that it didn’t bother me that much. And the scenes when Jack was trying to talk to her were so adorably awkward and relatable.
What did feel off was how the three kids spoke and acted like very mature teenagers or adults when they were supposed to be 13. Mature as in wise. I don’t know many 13 year olds like that. And Jack basically lived alone. His dad has passed, his mom is in the hospital, but he’s living by himself. Isn’t 13 young for that? Some of the battle scenes were a little hard for me to picture too, but I think that might just be my issue with Smith’s style of writing.
This book has great themes of love, sacrifice, making the right and not easy choice, courage, family, and hope in dark times. It was also a really fun adventure story, and I appreciated the WV setting. Great book for middle schoolers, especially if they are the rare mature and wise kind.
This is the story of Jack Zulu, a half African, half white kid growing up in rural West Virginia in the 1980s, who discovers a portal to another world. This book was fun and imaginative and creative and made me laugh a lot.
I really liked Jack’s character, who is also dealing with his father’s death and his mother’s cancer, all while trying to find his way in the world(s). I loved his best friend Benny! He was so funny! And Jack’s friend and crush Michelle was also great. I mean, the scene with her using her karate champion skills to fight off a murderous murder of huge crows while dressed as Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility was… awesome. Sometimes she was a little too perfect, but I liked her so much that it didn’t bother me that much. And the scenes when Jack was trying to talk to her were so adorably awkward and relatable.
What did feel off was how the three kids spoke and acted like very mature teenagers or adults when they were supposed to be 13. Mature as in wise. I don’t know many 13 year olds like that. And Jack basically lived alone. His dad has passed, his mom is in the hospital, but he’s living by himself. Isn’t 13 young for that? Some of the battle scenes were a little hard for me to picture too, but I think that might just be my issue with Smith’s style of writing.
This book has great themes of love, sacrifice, making the right and not easy choice, courage, family, and hope in dark times. It was also a really fun adventure story, and I appreciated the WV setting. Great book for middle schoolers, especially if they are the rare mature and wise kind.
December 10, 2022
I was excited to see a new series from SD Smith, and pre-ordered this book. Honestly it took a while to get "into" it, and I was completely lost with all the other-world jargon and whatnot. I felt kind of like Benny, knowing nothing about it all and just confused! However, after finishing the book, I did enjoy it and would be interested in reading the next installment when it is published.
June 9, 2023
I'm torn on S D Smith but my (10 yr old) son is an absolute super fan. Anything that gets that dyslexic to pick up a book gets at least 4 stars from me.
May 31, 2023
This book was so good. My boys kept asking for me to read more every time I read a chapter. As someone born in the 80’s, all the 80’s nostalgia is extra fun for me. I also got to explain a lot of things to my kids like a walkman. Lots of fantastic spiritual analogies as well that we had some discussions about after reading. Fantastic storyline that left us wanting to get to know these characters and their places in the worlds even more. Can’t wait for book 2!
January 26, 2023
"Yes, Jack. Go to your mother and pray. Pray for her and us and for the whole world-for every world. A great breaking is at hand, and we must stand together against it."
"I realized that,while terrible evils occur and justice is often delayed in this life, I lack nothing."
This is an imaginative tale full of battles and bravery. Nonetheless, I felt a great deal of truth in this story; a true escape into reality. It was a refreshing adventure into a new world that I am excited to see more of. The worldbuilding was brilliant and vividly portrayed, with deliciously fleshed-out history and culture built into the setting. This book is brimming with fresh and creative ideas.
My one complaint is that the characters seem much older than they actually are--high school upperclassman rather than 12-year-olds. Their relatively young age is why the slight romance sub-plot didn't really work well for me. But no matter. I overall enjoyed the characters a lot, particularly Wheeler. I also really look forward to see what character development Benny will experience.
Well done, authors! More of this please.
"I realized that,while terrible evils occur and justice is often delayed in this life, I lack nothing."
This is an imaginative tale full of battles and bravery. Nonetheless, I felt a great deal of truth in this story; a true escape into reality. It was a refreshing adventure into a new world that I am excited to see more of. The worldbuilding was brilliant and vividly portrayed, with deliciously fleshed-out history and culture built into the setting. This book is brimming with fresh and creative ideas.
My one complaint is that the characters seem much older than they actually are--high school upperclassman rather than 12-year-olds. Their relatively young age is why the slight romance sub-plot didn't really work well for me. But no matter. I overall enjoyed the characters a lot, particularly Wheeler. I also really look forward to see what character development Benny will experience.
Well done, authors! More of this please.
October 31, 2024
This was a very enjoyable read. My eight year old daughter and ten year old son and I were very engaged and even pushed back bedtime a few nights to keep reading. We definitely want to read the next book in the series. The only reason I gave it a lower rating was because there were a few confusing plot points that don't seem to go anywhere and relationships between characters that are never explained well. These things weren't enough to ruin the story but they were distracting and confusing. There was also a little bit of lack in the world building department.
January 26, 2023
Loved this! Can’t wait for my boys to read it.
June 3, 2023
3.5 stars
Fun read. Strong Green Ember vibes (sages, refugees, training for battle). I’m looking forward to the next installment, and I bet my older boys will really like it.
Fun read. Strong Green Ember vibes (sages, refugees, training for battle). I’m looking forward to the next installment, and I bet my older boys will really like it.
February 23, 2024
Soooooo good! You MUST read!!!!!
February 21, 2023
I'm not crying, you're crying.
I am crying. I cried a few times during this touching and adventurous story. The coming of age tale woven together in this book is so very human, and it hits all the right notes for someone who constantly dreams that something magical will sweep in and make life more exciting.
Though this is collaborative writing, the narrative flows smoothly from beginning to end. Kudos to the father-son duo for putting this excellent story together. I can not wait to see more of the series!
P.S. If you can snag yourself a copy of the audiobook, Zeno Robinson is the perfect narrator for Jack's tale. I can't recommend it enough!
I am crying. I cried a few times during this touching and adventurous story. The coming of age tale woven together in this book is so very human, and it hits all the right notes for someone who constantly dreams that something magical will sweep in and make life more exciting.
Though this is collaborative writing, the narrative flows smoothly from beginning to end. Kudos to the father-son duo for putting this excellent story together. I can not wait to see more of the series!
P.S. If you can snag yourself a copy of the audiobook, Zeno Robinson is the perfect narrator for Jack's tale. I can't recommend it enough!
June 14, 2023
Good book
SD Smith is my new fav author
Btw if u are a fan of this book than If u have not already try the green ember books also by SD Smith
SD Smith is my new fav author
Btw if u are a fan of this book than If u have not already try the green ember books also by SD Smith
November 9, 2022
Another great book by SD Smith
November 22, 2024
Smith and now his son do it again! This was gripping and catechizing in the best of ways for Caleb and I.
April 5, 2025
Loved this Christian youth fiction. Lots of adventure, great characters, and great message. This was a read aloud for me and Jackson!
February 24, 2024
Jack Zulu is a slow burn fantasy adventure with a dash of 80s charm. An invitation to a slower time where sunshine and friends occupied our days mashed up with the wonder of discovering new realms in your own backyard.
I loved the dynamic between Jack and Benny. Jack has the chosen one vibes, but he's got his own personality and struggles that bring him to life. His love and worry for his mother and his respect for others give him a nobility readers can look up to. And Benny's no worries attitude was refreshing in the face of the school bully, but my favorite characteristic of Benny is his undying loyalty to Jack, no matter what.
While Jack is the athletic baseball player, Benny is the comic best friend with a family pizzeria. I loved watching Benny begin to find his own interests in the Wayland by the end of the story and hope to see more development from him in other stories. Wheeler was also fun. We love a competent mentor with an epic, mysterious past and respectable skills.
Having so many different places to go in the story lent to the adventurous spirit of the story. Different places in the town of Myrtle and the fantastical sights and cultures of the Wayland keep the reader engaged. I enjoyed the small town, laid back vibe of Myrtle. It was fun to feel like a kid who could bike through neighborhoods again, another reminder of a simpler time. The Wayland promises many more adventures to come and I'm excited to learn about some of the other cultures, lands, and people in future stories.
I wouldn't call the story a page-turner. It took me a little while to buy in, but by the end, I did really find the story quite a sweet one with themes of home, friendship, and family. The story deals with the difficulty of lost loved ones and trusting in God through hard seasons. I believe kids need stories that deal with hard things like grief and sickness with the light of truth and hope. And this story does just that.
It's a charming little read with some throwback references for the adults and light fantasy adventure for the kiddos. There are some mildly creepy bits, but it follows the classic good vs. evil with man and monsters surrounded by solid character dynamics and relationships set in a homey, small town.
Content: no swearing, some mild fantasy violence, and nothing more than a light middle grade school crush. Parents should be cognizant that the story does touch on cancer, but it is gently done. I'd feel comfortable giving this one to a preteen.
I loved the dynamic between Jack and Benny. Jack has the chosen one vibes, but he's got his own personality and struggles that bring him to life. His love and worry for his mother and his respect for others give him a nobility readers can look up to. And Benny's no worries attitude was refreshing in the face of the school bully, but my favorite characteristic of Benny is his undying loyalty to Jack, no matter what.
While Jack is the athletic baseball player, Benny is the comic best friend with a family pizzeria. I loved watching Benny begin to find his own interests in the Wayland by the end of the story and hope to see more development from him in other stories. Wheeler was also fun. We love a competent mentor with an epic, mysterious past and respectable skills.
Having so many different places to go in the story lent to the adventurous spirit of the story. Different places in the town of Myrtle and the fantastical sights and cultures of the Wayland keep the reader engaged. I enjoyed the small town, laid back vibe of Myrtle. It was fun to feel like a kid who could bike through neighborhoods again, another reminder of a simpler time. The Wayland promises many more adventures to come and I'm excited to learn about some of the other cultures, lands, and people in future stories.
I wouldn't call the story a page-turner. It took me a little while to buy in, but by the end, I did really find the story quite a sweet one with themes of home, friendship, and family. The story deals with the difficulty of lost loved ones and trusting in God through hard seasons. I believe kids need stories that deal with hard things like grief and sickness with the light of truth and hope. And this story does just that.
It's a charming little read with some throwback references for the adults and light fantasy adventure for the kiddos. There are some mildly creepy bits, but it follows the classic good vs. evil with man and monsters surrounded by solid character dynamics and relationships set in a homey, small town.
Content: no swearing, some mild fantasy violence, and nothing more than a light middle grade school crush. Parents should be cognizant that the story does touch on cancer, but it is gently done. I'd feel comfortable giving this one to a preteen.
January 30, 2023
We loved this new work from the author of the Green Ember series! Fun characters, exciting adventure, and a super compelling plot makes this a read-aloud that will have your kiddos begging for "just one more chapter" over and over.
May 9, 2025
This was a good first book to a fantasy series. It had a lot of different elements and mysteries going on with a lot of loose ends in the conclusion. But i did end the book satisfied enough. There was a lot of introduction to the new world though. It was set in the 80’s which I was stoked about. But besides the fact that they didn’t have cell phones and like one Walkman reference I didn’t feel like I was in the 80s. I thought the fantasy world was cool and think that kids will love it. I absolutely loved Benny. He is the best character of the book. He is average at “greatness” but stellar at “goodness”. He is the most witty and the greatest friend. I loved the gospel messages about death and loved ones. It is a completely clean and fun fantasy book that I would recommend to kids. The narrator was fantastic as well and recommend that format.
SPOILERS and book notes:
Great fantastic gospel messages about death. And loved ones.
The narration is fantastic. I love this prologue: “I do not receive; I take. From The Holy Book of Rancast Waybreaker,
recorded by Scribe Gelder.” Aww!!! Look at the time period and place! (The south) Myrtle, West Virginia
September 1984
Jack Zulu is such a fantastic name. (Jack is my favorite name of all time). He is half South African(dad. the last name of Zulu was as common as Robinson.) half American(white mom). I love that Jacks best friend is his complete opposite!! A white nerd to his athletic baseball loving self. But they are so supportive of each other! “Jack’s best friend, Benny Marino, looked up from his comic book as the game neared its zenith. Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his freckled nose,” Love this sentence on baseball: “The problem with baseball is that at first you’re desperate to leave home. Then, once you’re gone, you’ll do just about anything to get back. Even steal. But you can’t get back the way you came. You have to take another way home.” But Jack is a nerd too! He is friends with Mr wheeler! “Mr. Wheeler was a good man. He owned the bookshop in town and kept the grounds for the park. He also kept Jack supplied with strange old books—the kind Jack loved, about ancient curses and lost lands,” jacks dad is dead and his mom super sick in the hospital. Mr wheeler’s good advice for Jack about his mom: “There is no other way but to face the truth and act nobly in love. That is the only way.” And Jack ain’t afraid to read fantasy books with love in them! ““There is a love story about a warrior named Cohvaire and a princess named Kreyne in the second book that will get your young heart beating fast.” Jack nodded and smiled awkwardly. “Super,” he said flatly. Michelle Robinson’s face appeared in his mind, and he inhaled deeply.” And Benny is like a brother to him. Michelle is so cool. She is in karate and dance. She is so kind and thoughtful and was his childhood friend as both dads were bffs on the police force. “I’ll see you later, Jack,” she said, touching his arm. “I’m praying for your mom.” “Thank you,” he said. She smiled” and Bennys dad is uncle Freddie to him! Michelle invited him to join her book club! Songs that it’s the 80s: no cell phones, juke boxes, Walkman’s, Regan for president signs lol. Jack is armed with a baseball bat and Benny a sling shot. Benny tells his parents everything. And they let him go places on his bike that now days wouldn’t fly lol. Benny, Jack, Mr wheeler enter Wayland (a place between worlds) through a tree. The monster they battled is Mothman aka Mordok (a shardhark). He came from Wayland into our world but can’t go further than the bridge bc each entrance: ““The gate in the tree has an area around it where inter-realm travelers can explore. All the gates out of the Wayland have this feature. Think of it like the narthex at church.” “Narthex?” Jack asked, eyes darting from Mr. Wheeler to Benny. “That sounds made up.” Benny patted Jack’s back. “Like a lobby or foyer?” You need a key to be able to go beyond the foyer. CROWS ARE ALWAYS DEATH AND EVIL: “But I knew it was bad. The crows. I saw the crows.” “What’s odd about crows?” “These were crows from Kaalgrad, larger and more deadly by far than the crows of our world. They serve their dark master and can more easily slip through the boundaries between worlds. They are the reason so many stories from earth have crows or ravens as a sign of evil.” Bc Jack cut Mordoks hand off that monster will hunt him till he is killed. mouterslaabs: “The beings were small, half the size of an average man, with furry cheeks and arms and odd hawk-like faces.” Wayland is a place that connects 12 worlds! ““Yes, earth is one of them. But folk here usually call it Myrtle or, more commonly, Vandalia, because of a mix up with where this gate led into earth.” Benny smiled, shooting up a confident index finger. “Vandalia was once a name for West Virginia—or at least our region. It was considered as a possible official name when President Lincoln made us a state.” “But the point is that to folks in the Wayland and to those in the other realms, humans are most often known as Vandals.” “Vandals? That’s a name for villains, people who vandalize,” Jack said. “Doesn’t seem fair.” That’s funny bc The Idaho Vandals are the football team of the University of Idaho here in Moscow Idaho. This is a cool species that live on the elf realm of Thandalia: ““Thaons,” Jack said, his eyes alight. “They are winged creatures, a second race of magnificent beings on their planet. They are only seen once a year in the skies, flying over the valley as a reminder to the Thandalians of the long-ago victory over the dragons of Skeev in that same place. Their appearance means hope. It means light. It means life.” I love how the Thandalians greet each other: ““Light and hope to you,” she said.” The Thaons are no more though. And thandalians are refugees at Wayland and other realms. Wheeler is part of a council of twelve that protect the realms: what would you expect a sage from an interworld society who protects an ancient gate with a sword of legend to do?” Rancast is the name of the evil villain that ransack all these worlds looking for the fountain of youth. He is a human aka a vandal. He found it and can only die now if he is killed. Benny had a brother and lost him. This makes me cry for Benny about being invited to things: ““That was an Anjoocan invite, Jack.” “Anjoocan, Jack. It’s an Anjoocan invite, man,” Benny replied. “I know one when I see one, my dude. I get them all the time. ‘We want you Jack; come on, Jack; come, come and be cool with us, Jack Zulu, please! . . . ummmm, and you can bring Benny.’” “Anjoocan?” Jack asked, frowning. Benny nodded. “Anjoocan bring Benny, as long as he stays in your shadow.”
“I’m sorry about that, Benny. You’re my best friend—my brother. I know you had a brother—and it’s horrible that you lost him—but I’ve never had one. There’s only you. I’m sorry if it felt like Mr. Wheeler’s invite was an Anjoocan. That’s lousy. But the truth is, I want to do it, and I want you with me.” Benny smiled as they stopped and stood over their bikes. “I’m with you, Jack. That’s what I do. I’m in.” BENNY IS THE BEST. They are training to be akalights. Everyone (elves) hates vandals though. I LOCE THIS WUOTE: ““Rancast isn’t good, but he is great. Right now, you are good, but not great. When you become great, you will have a choice about whether you will still be good. You can exalt yourself or humble your heart. You can choose the way of life or the way of death. There are no other paths.” How do you stay humble? ““My life,” Wheeler replied, “is a constant invitation to self-sacrifice. I am a sage, yes; a warrior, yes. I am someone with status in the Wayland. I could let that turn me to the way of death, but I try to surrender every day. I try to live my life as an action of surrender.” My favorite scene is Benny, Jack, and Michelle fighting off giant crows in Halloween costumes at their school. I like that wheeler says he doesn’t need a sword to win. Plot twist! Michelle is secretly a winged elf angel. Also I love Benny bc his number one strength is being the best most amazing friend ever. He is average at “greatness” but stellar at “goodness” His mom is healing from her tumor!
SPOILERS and book notes:
Great fantastic gospel messages about death. And loved ones.
The narration is fantastic. I love this prologue: “I do not receive; I take. From The Holy Book of Rancast Waybreaker,
recorded by Scribe Gelder.” Aww!!! Look at the time period and place! (The south) Myrtle, West Virginia
September 1984
Jack Zulu is such a fantastic name. (Jack is my favorite name of all time). He is half South African(dad. the last name of Zulu was as common as Robinson.) half American(white mom). I love that Jacks best friend is his complete opposite!! A white nerd to his athletic baseball loving self. But they are so supportive of each other! “Jack’s best friend, Benny Marino, looked up from his comic book as the game neared its zenith. Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his freckled nose,” Love this sentence on baseball: “The problem with baseball is that at first you’re desperate to leave home. Then, once you’re gone, you’ll do just about anything to get back. Even steal. But you can’t get back the way you came. You have to take another way home.” But Jack is a nerd too! He is friends with Mr wheeler! “Mr. Wheeler was a good man. He owned the bookshop in town and kept the grounds for the park. He also kept Jack supplied with strange old books—the kind Jack loved, about ancient curses and lost lands,” jacks dad is dead and his mom super sick in the hospital. Mr wheeler’s good advice for Jack about his mom: “There is no other way but to face the truth and act nobly in love. That is the only way.” And Jack ain’t afraid to read fantasy books with love in them! ““There is a love story about a warrior named Cohvaire and a princess named Kreyne in the second book that will get your young heart beating fast.” Jack nodded and smiled awkwardly. “Super,” he said flatly. Michelle Robinson’s face appeared in his mind, and he inhaled deeply.” And Benny is like a brother to him. Michelle is so cool. She is in karate and dance. She is so kind and thoughtful and was his childhood friend as both dads were bffs on the police force. “I’ll see you later, Jack,” she said, touching his arm. “I’m praying for your mom.” “Thank you,” he said. She smiled” and Bennys dad is uncle Freddie to him! Michelle invited him to join her book club! Songs that it’s the 80s: no cell phones, juke boxes, Walkman’s, Regan for president signs lol. Jack is armed with a baseball bat and Benny a sling shot. Benny tells his parents everything. And they let him go places on his bike that now days wouldn’t fly lol. Benny, Jack, Mr wheeler enter Wayland (a place between worlds) through a tree. The monster they battled is Mothman aka Mordok (a shardhark). He came from Wayland into our world but can’t go further than the bridge bc each entrance: ““The gate in the tree has an area around it where inter-realm travelers can explore. All the gates out of the Wayland have this feature. Think of it like the narthex at church.” “Narthex?” Jack asked, eyes darting from Mr. Wheeler to Benny. “That sounds made up.” Benny patted Jack’s back. “Like a lobby or foyer?” You need a key to be able to go beyond the foyer. CROWS ARE ALWAYS DEATH AND EVIL: “But I knew it was bad. The crows. I saw the crows.” “What’s odd about crows?” “These were crows from Kaalgrad, larger and more deadly by far than the crows of our world. They serve their dark master and can more easily slip through the boundaries between worlds. They are the reason so many stories from earth have crows or ravens as a sign of evil.” Bc Jack cut Mordoks hand off that monster will hunt him till he is killed. mouterslaabs: “The beings were small, half the size of an average man, with furry cheeks and arms and odd hawk-like faces.” Wayland is a place that connects 12 worlds! ““Yes, earth is one of them. But folk here usually call it Myrtle or, more commonly, Vandalia, because of a mix up with where this gate led into earth.” Benny smiled, shooting up a confident index finger. “Vandalia was once a name for West Virginia—or at least our region. It was considered as a possible official name when President Lincoln made us a state.” “But the point is that to folks in the Wayland and to those in the other realms, humans are most often known as Vandals.” “Vandals? That’s a name for villains, people who vandalize,” Jack said. “Doesn’t seem fair.” That’s funny bc The Idaho Vandals are the football team of the University of Idaho here in Moscow Idaho. This is a cool species that live on the elf realm of Thandalia: ““Thaons,” Jack said, his eyes alight. “They are winged creatures, a second race of magnificent beings on their planet. They are only seen once a year in the skies, flying over the valley as a reminder to the Thandalians of the long-ago victory over the dragons of Skeev in that same place. Their appearance means hope. It means light. It means life.” I love how the Thandalians greet each other: ““Light and hope to you,” she said.” The Thaons are no more though. And thandalians are refugees at Wayland and other realms. Wheeler is part of a council of twelve that protect the realms: what would you expect a sage from an interworld society who protects an ancient gate with a sword of legend to do?” Rancast is the name of the evil villain that ransack all these worlds looking for the fountain of youth. He is a human aka a vandal. He found it and can only die now if he is killed. Benny had a brother and lost him. This makes me cry for Benny about being invited to things: ““That was an Anjoocan invite, Jack.” “Anjoocan, Jack. It’s an Anjoocan invite, man,” Benny replied. “I know one when I see one, my dude. I get them all the time. ‘We want you Jack; come on, Jack; come, come and be cool with us, Jack Zulu, please! . . . ummmm, and you can bring Benny.’” “Anjoocan?” Jack asked, frowning. Benny nodded. “Anjoocan bring Benny, as long as he stays in your shadow.”
“I’m sorry about that, Benny. You’re my best friend—my brother. I know you had a brother—and it’s horrible that you lost him—but I’ve never had one. There’s only you. I’m sorry if it felt like Mr. Wheeler’s invite was an Anjoocan. That’s lousy. But the truth is, I want to do it, and I want you with me.” Benny smiled as they stopped and stood over their bikes. “I’m with you, Jack. That’s what I do. I’m in.” BENNY IS THE BEST. They are training to be akalights. Everyone (elves) hates vandals though. I LOCE THIS WUOTE: ““Rancast isn’t good, but he is great. Right now, you are good, but not great. When you become great, you will have a choice about whether you will still be good. You can exalt yourself or humble your heart. You can choose the way of life or the way of death. There are no other paths.” How do you stay humble? ““My life,” Wheeler replied, “is a constant invitation to self-sacrifice. I am a sage, yes; a warrior, yes. I am someone with status in the Wayland. I could let that turn me to the way of death, but I try to surrender every day. I try to live my life as an action of surrender.” My favorite scene is Benny, Jack, and Michelle fighting off giant crows in Halloween costumes at their school. I like that wheeler says he doesn’t need a sword to win. Plot twist! Michelle is secretly a winged elf angel. Also I love Benny bc his number one strength is being the best most amazing friend ever. He is average at “greatness” but stellar at “goodness” His mom is healing from her tumor!
July 31, 2023
I picked up this book because I read Green Ember with my boys. I give this book 3.5 stars but I rounded it up to 4 because I loved that S.D. Smith wrote it together with his son. The father son duo was my favorite part of the book.
Set in West Virginia and a fantasy land, The Wayland, our characters of the book go back and forth throughout the story. I appreciated the respect given to parents and authority that was written into the story. And I appreciate the picture of humility and perseverance displayed by Mr. Wheeler. I also appreciated the message that growing up in small town West Virginia is a good thing and a blessing.
I started the book via audio and the narrator brought Benny's character to life in ways that I didn't read myself when I finished the book via paperback. The first half of the book they did world building for their fantasy Wayland, which the details and info about the Wayland was very interesting, it was just the way it was told to the reader was a bit boring. It felt like we spent half of the book of either Wheeler or Jack explaining to Benny what the Wayland was about. I think this is an aspect of show not tell, and they could have built their world without endless walking about and talking.
Content Considerations: Because many readers who pick up this book might be doing so based on their love for Green Ember, I think it is appropriate to mention that there are tones in this book that make the reader audience older than the Green Ember audience. There is a love interest right off the start between Jack and Michelle, that never goes far. But its sorta akward. And in the end the authors don't do anything to tie up that part of the storyline. So the love interest is almost not necessary since the storyline dies anyways, perhaps a good friendship between the two might have been better?
Another consideration for content would be for the younger readers who fell in love with the bunnies in Green Ember, they might be shocked or scared by some of the more creepy and scary elements. Like the weird psycho lady on the bridge (Allegra was is??). Her character and storyline also just died and was not resolved. Which makes you wonder, what was all of that about?
And the ending was shocking, in a way because it came out of nowhere and made me laugh out loud - although I think the ending was supposed to be impactful and wow.
Set in West Virginia and a fantasy land, The Wayland, our characters of the book go back and forth throughout the story. I appreciated the respect given to parents and authority that was written into the story. And I appreciate the picture of humility and perseverance displayed by Mr. Wheeler. I also appreciated the message that growing up in small town West Virginia is a good thing and a blessing.
I started the book via audio and the narrator brought Benny's character to life in ways that I didn't read myself when I finished the book via paperback. The first half of the book they did world building for their fantasy Wayland, which the details and info about the Wayland was very interesting, it was just the way it was told to the reader was a bit boring. It felt like we spent half of the book of either Wheeler or Jack explaining to Benny what the Wayland was about. I think this is an aspect of show not tell, and they could have built their world without endless walking about and talking.
Content Considerations: Because many readers who pick up this book might be doing so based on their love for Green Ember, I think it is appropriate to mention that there are tones in this book that make the reader audience older than the Green Ember audience. There is a love interest right off the start between Jack and Michelle, that never goes far. But its sorta akward. And in the end the authors don't do anything to tie up that part of the storyline. So the love interest is almost not necessary since the storyline dies anyways, perhaps a good friendship between the two might have been better?
Another consideration for content would be for the younger readers who fell in love with the bunnies in Green Ember, they might be shocked or scared by some of the more creepy and scary elements. Like the weird psycho lady on the bridge (Allegra was is??). Her character and storyline also just died and was not resolved. Which makes you wonder, what was all of that about?
And the ending was shocking, in a way because it came out of nowhere and made me laugh out loud - although I think the ending was supposed to be impactful and wow.
June 6, 2024
S. D. Smith is one of my favorite authors, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. I got about 30 pages then put it down for three months. It felt very different than the Green Ember series which is one of my favorite series of all time. I could definitely tell there was a cowriter because of how the world building was confusing, which I had never found with S. D. Smith’s other books. I ended up putting the book down for three months before I picked it up again. I started reading it again, mostly because I was going to meet both authors in person and wanted to have read the book. Some of the world building was confusing, but I did enjoy the characters. Didn’t hate it but didn’t love it.
January 2, 2025
I oscillated between three and four stars for this book. Personally, I found it more juvenile than expected, considering the author's fantastic work on the youth fantasy series, The Green Ember. While the created world was enjoyable, some middle parts felt a bit clumsy and rushed. Despite this, there were memorable moments, and an overall clean, heartwarming story. It's well-suited for middle school or younger readers, though the crossover into the adult audience might be less than the author's other works. I'll settle on four stars, considering its appeal to the most appropriate audience.
February 26, 2024
This book is so good! Benny is my favorite character and the friendship between him and jack reminds me of Frodo and Sam in the lord of the rings 🙂
October 3, 2024
It’s the 80’s, and young Jack Zulu and his best friend Benny Marino are just a pair of average middle schoolers in Myrtle, West Virginia. They both love baseball, they love riding their bikes through the woods, and neither of them can figure out how to act cool around girls. But when it comes to old man Wheeler’s bookstore and its rare collection of high fantasy, well, that one is all Jack. Unfortunately for Benny, it just so happens the books aren’t fantasies. They’re actually histories of things that really happened in another realm called the Wayland. And the boys are about to find out just how real.
When old man Wheeler asks Jack to look after a mysterious key, the boys find themselves ambushed in the night by a winged monster named Mordok. Jack is mistaken for a guardian knight and is challenged to a duel for the key. Fortunately for Benny, Mordok brushes him aside in good humor, convinced he’s nothing more than Jack’s servant or pageboy.
Armed with nothing more than a baseball bat, Jack’s swing proves to be of little use against a— well, whatever Mordok is. (Although, some call him the West Virginia Mothman.) But old man Wheeler comes to the rescue, wielding a rainbow-edged sword as he sends the boys through a portal in a tree. The boys finally catch their breath, but never mind the fact that they just dodged a winged terror and escaped into a fantasy realm. Jack has a bigger worry, hoping he’s not some kind of chosen one who has to fulfill some prophecy. Because that’s been done already!
Wheeler puts the boy at ease, assuring Jack that things don’t work like that in the Wayland. But grudges do matter, and sadly, big baddie Mordok lost an arm in the fight. That means he’ll be coming after the boys for recompense. It’ll be up to the boys to arm themselves, and a couple of baseball bats won’t do.
“Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key” is inventive, genre-twisting fun from the father-son duo S.C. Smith and J.C. Smith. The family collaboration provides young readers with a step above the classic light versus darkness battle, elevating the material with a wacky yet effective parallel to the spiritual battles of the real world. From Jack’s problems at home with his mother’s failing health to his adventures in the Wayland against a tornado of evil crows, kids will be inspired to trade in their baseball bats for their own glowing swords in the spiritual fight against evil right in front of them.
“Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key” by S.D. Smith and J.C. Smith earns our highest recommendation.
When old man Wheeler asks Jack to look after a mysterious key, the boys find themselves ambushed in the night by a winged monster named Mordok. Jack is mistaken for a guardian knight and is challenged to a duel for the key. Fortunately for Benny, Mordok brushes him aside in good humor, convinced he’s nothing more than Jack’s servant or pageboy.
Armed with nothing more than a baseball bat, Jack’s swing proves to be of little use against a— well, whatever Mordok is. (Although, some call him the West Virginia Mothman.) But old man Wheeler comes to the rescue, wielding a rainbow-edged sword as he sends the boys through a portal in a tree. The boys finally catch their breath, but never mind the fact that they just dodged a winged terror and escaped into a fantasy realm. Jack has a bigger worry, hoping he’s not some kind of chosen one who has to fulfill some prophecy. Because that’s been done already!
Wheeler puts the boy at ease, assuring Jack that things don’t work like that in the Wayland. But grudges do matter, and sadly, big baddie Mordok lost an arm in the fight. That means he’ll be coming after the boys for recompense. It’ll be up to the boys to arm themselves, and a couple of baseball bats won’t do.
“Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key” is inventive, genre-twisting fun from the father-son duo S.C. Smith and J.C. Smith. The family collaboration provides young readers with a step above the classic light versus darkness battle, elevating the material with a wacky yet effective parallel to the spiritual battles of the real world. From Jack’s problems at home with his mother’s failing health to his adventures in the Wayland against a tornado of evil crows, kids will be inspired to trade in their baseball bats for their own glowing swords in the spiritual fight against evil right in front of them.
“Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key” by S.D. Smith and J.C. Smith earns our highest recommendation.
September 7, 2023
Jack's life has hit a low point. His dad is already dead and his mom is now in a serious battle with cancer it looks like she won't win. He could use an escape. So when he is tasked by the comic book store owner to bring a box to the park in the middle of the night, he's up for the adventure. His best friend Benny isn't about to let Jack have all the fun, so he's there as back up. And when strange things happen in the park and Mr. Wheeler unlocks a portal in a tree to a realm straight out of a fantasy adventure, Jack and Benny are enthralled. The Wayland is an area between worlds which is in the middle of serious discussions about what to do with a human, Rancast, who has wreaked havoc across many of the worlds, some of which are actively evacuating because of the actions of Rancast's minions. Wheeler is a sage in the Wayland and invites Jack and Benny to train with him in their free time and maybe learn enough to become acolytes and train at the academy in the Wayland. It won't be easy, and it could even be dangerous as Rancast's followers up their attacks to free their master.
The Smiths have built an interesting world here with a lot of different things going on. Jack has a lot on his plate, and eventually has to choose between Rancast's promise of healing his mom or sticking with Wheeler's side. I do like how Jack has so many other adults in the community looking out for him. Benny has to deal with feeling like he's just Jack's shadow, but he's also the comic relief (and I love how he tells his parents everything - which may never have been done in the history of fantasy adventures and possibly middle grade fiction in general). Jack's crush Michelle eventually gets drawn to the Wayland and into training, has a great heart for the refugees, and is full of surprises. Mr Wheeler/Sage Wheeler is a man of many secrets, is very wise, but also isn't perfect. Overall, an adventurous and entertaining fantasy adventure with touches of Christian themes done well.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There are battles with some creatures getting maimed. Rancast has committed genocide on several planets. Jack and Benny face prejudice because they are human like Rancast. Jack's mom is dying of cancer.
The Smiths have built an interesting world here with a lot of different things going on. Jack has a lot on his plate, and eventually has to choose between Rancast's promise of healing his mom or sticking with Wheeler's side. I do like how Jack has so many other adults in the community looking out for him. Benny has to deal with feeling like he's just Jack's shadow, but he's also the comic relief (and I love how he tells his parents everything - which may never have been done in the history of fantasy adventures and possibly middle grade fiction in general). Jack's crush Michelle eventually gets drawn to the Wayland and into training, has a great heart for the refugees, and is full of surprises. Mr Wheeler/Sage Wheeler is a man of many secrets, is very wise, but also isn't perfect. Overall, an adventurous and entertaining fantasy adventure with touches of Christian themes done well.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There are battles with some creatures getting maimed. Rancast has committed genocide on several planets. Jack and Benny face prejudice because they are human like Rancast. Jack's mom is dying of cancer.
June 13, 2023
What FUN! This is an ambitious portal fantasy—the first in a series that's still being written by S. D. Smith and his son, Josiah. It's about Jack Zulu, average kid of the 80s, and his best friend Benny. Jack's father was killed in the line of police duty, and his mother is dying in the hospital. He takes refuge in baseball and books. One day, Mr. Wheeler, the elderly bookstore owner asks him to protect a curious box while he goes on a mysterious errand. After that, Jack's life is never the same, and neither is Benny's. They go from being regular kids to heroes of the Wayland.
S. D. Smith is straightup hilarious, and his humor SHINES in this book! There's tons of situational humor and even more hilarious dialogue. I think this is perfect for kids who want a book that'll make them laugh but that brings a lot more to the table than just cheap jokes.
The time and place ('80s small-town West Virginia) adds a lot of charm to the story as well. I loved the pizza dive, the bookshop, the wood. It has a great flavor to it.
The themes in this book just can't be beat—friendship, courage, hard work. The author's note states that their goal was to write a story that makes kids "dangerous to the darkness." They wanted to build kids' courage and help them to see the good AND the evil that coexist in this world and show kids that they are capable of choosing what's right even in the face of sore temptation.
I feel like this book resembles Book 1 of The Green Ember because it's an investment in the rest of the story that's to come. It's a little too long, and the beats felt off. I liked the Wayland, but I wish it had the same level of charm as Myrtle. And the story's message was a little too on the nose.
But overall, YES, what a great book. I hope gets the attention it deserves.
S. D. Smith is straightup hilarious, and his humor SHINES in this book! There's tons of situational humor and even more hilarious dialogue. I think this is perfect for kids who want a book that'll make them laugh but that brings a lot more to the table than just cheap jokes.
The time and place ('80s small-town West Virginia) adds a lot of charm to the story as well. I loved the pizza dive, the bookshop, the wood. It has a great flavor to it.
The themes in this book just can't be beat—friendship, courage, hard work. The author's note states that their goal was to write a story that makes kids "dangerous to the darkness." They wanted to build kids' courage and help them to see the good AND the evil that coexist in this world and show kids that they are capable of choosing what's right even in the face of sore temptation.
I feel like this book resembles Book 1 of The Green Ember because it's an investment in the rest of the story that's to come. It's a little too long, and the beats felt off. I liked the Wayland, but I wish it had the same level of charm as Myrtle. And the story's message was a little too on the nose.
But overall, YES, what a great book. I hope gets the attention it deserves.
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