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The Eldridge Conspiracy
Kaye must save his father's life and stop an assassination that will spark a war between two kingdoms...but will he learn the truth too late?When Kaye learns that his father's life is in danger, he runs afoul of the ruthless Baron Thomas, a man who believes that he alone has the right to rule the kingdom of Eldridge. Baron Thomas will do anything it takes to make that happen-anything.To save his father, Kaye must find and convince the baron's most trusted advisor to reveal the details of the horrible plan, all the while dodging attempts by the baron's henchmen to capture him and his friends. Riddled with self-doubt, Kaye faces a terrifying time of uncertainty as he, Reggie, and Beau race against the clock to save his father. Is he a capable enough knight to save his father-and the kingdom?Perfect for fans and graduates of the Magic Treehouse The Knight at Dawn, the Magic Treehouse the Merlin Missions books, and The Boxcar Children books. Also ideal for fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Winner of six book awards, including best series, this chapter book for ages 8-12 reminds readers that there's more to being a knight than being an adult. Kindness, courage, and valor know no age. Filled with humor, heart, fun, and adventure, this book makes a perfect gift! Instill a life-long love of reading in your child with this tale of courage, friendship, and kindness."This set of books just gets better and better. Yes, it's a non-stop adventure, packed full of nasty barons and battling knights. But it's also a story which is strongly-themed and where the bond between the characters is highly prized." -Wishing Shelf Book Awards"Books of adventure and challenge that still offer an emotional component are hard to come by for middle-grade readers-and even more so for middle-grade boys-yet Don M. Winn hits the mark dead center." -Patricia Reding for Readers' FavoriteThis Readers' Favorite Book Award winner, Mom's Choice Award gold medalist, and Royal Dragonfly Award for best series winner is great for reading aloud.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2018
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Don M. Winn
31 books15 followersDon M. Winn is the multi-award-winning author of twelve picture books and five children's novels—The Knighting of Sir Kaye, The Lost Castle Treasure, Legend of the Forest Beast, The Eldridge Conspiracy, and Mystery of the White Knight. Don's picture books include The Higgledy-Piggledy Pigeon; Superhero; Twitch the Squirrel and the Forbidden Bridge; Shelby the Cat; Space Cop Zack, Protector of the Galaxy; and many others.
Parents and educators know that when stories are fun and engaging, kids spend more time reading. But what if the books you choose for your children or students not only entertain but also teach? Imagine finding stories that combine the life lessons of Aesop's Fables with the appealing characters and compelling adventures of beloved classics. Don Winn's award-winning picture books are just such a find.
Don Winn's Sir Kaye the Boy Knight series, starring the young knight Sir Kaye Balfour, is full of fun, exciting adventures that appeal to even the most reluctant reader. Kaye's beloved but absent father is his inspiration, and he strives to meet challenges with the values his chivalrous father taught him. His best pal, Reggie, who is dyslexic and also struggles with low self-esteem, often surprises himself by his ability to make meaningful contributions to those around him. The Sir Kaye series is unique because it features characters learning to meet life's challenges without magic or superpowers. These young heroes deal with internal questions and uncertainty as they work through the events they face, and each one finds his own way. The books are fun and enjoyed by any reader, but they are particular favorites of kids who need heroes dealing with difficulties like their own: dyslexia, learning challenges, absentee parents, being targets of bullying, or struggling with low self-esteem.
Don has been writing for over 20 years. A dyslexic reader and writer himself, Don works tirelessly to encourage struggling young readers to embrace their love of stories and to keep on reading!
Don Winn lives in Round Rock, Texas with his wife.
Find out more at www.donwinn.com
Parents and educators know that when stories are fun and engaging, kids spend more time reading. But what if the books you choose for your children or students not only entertain but also teach? Imagine finding stories that combine the life lessons of Aesop's Fables with the appealing characters and compelling adventures of beloved classics. Don Winn's award-winning picture books are just such a find.
Don Winn's Sir Kaye the Boy Knight series, starring the young knight Sir Kaye Balfour, is full of fun, exciting adventures that appeal to even the most reluctant reader. Kaye's beloved but absent father is his inspiration, and he strives to meet challenges with the values his chivalrous father taught him. His best pal, Reggie, who is dyslexic and also struggles with low self-esteem, often surprises himself by his ability to make meaningful contributions to those around him. The Sir Kaye series is unique because it features characters learning to meet life's challenges without magic or superpowers. These young heroes deal with internal questions and uncertainty as they work through the events they face, and each one finds his own way. The books are fun and enjoyed by any reader, but they are particular favorites of kids who need heroes dealing with difficulties like their own: dyslexia, learning challenges, absentee parents, being targets of bullying, or struggling with low self-esteem.
Don has been writing for over 20 years. A dyslexic reader and writer himself, Don works tirelessly to encourage struggling young readers to embrace their love of stories and to keep on reading!
Don Winn lives in Round Rock, Texas with his wife.
Find out more at www.donwinn.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 13, 2017
WOW! What a way to end an exciting, unique series! In their biggest, grandest quest yet, our young knight Kaye, and his friends Reggie, and Beau test all the bounds of friendship, family and loyalty. What I loved about this series are the strong, relateable characters. These are boys you would love your kids to be friends with, you know they would never let you down. The message is great for young people. This series is perfect for reluctant readers and for fans of adventure and suspense. Add these to your child’s summer reading list! Summer Reading should be FUN Reading and Kaye’s adventures are a blast!
June 23, 2017
I have said it before, and I will say it again: the Sir Kaye the Boy Knight series makes the librarian in me want to gather a group of kids, put these books in their hands, and watch the magic happen. As is the case with the first three books in the series, book four, The Eldridge Conspiracy, immediately draws-in the reader with action, danger, and suspense, and it never lets up. Add to the mix bad guys readers will love to hate and the sprinkling of illustrations by the talented Dave Allred, and it’s a perfect package for young and/or reluctant readers.
Throughout the books, author Don Winn reinforces a set of consistent themes, but he layers them and spins different angles to illustrate their application. At the heart of it all is a set of values and lessons about friendship, loyalty, perseverance, and honesty (and so much more) that will stick with readers, young and old. What’s refreshing is that the values aren’t demonstrated in a cookie-cutter way, and the characters aren’t always inclined to stay true to their core values. They sometimes struggle with doing or saying the right thing, and Winn shows that it’s okay to struggle – and he also carefully shows the consequences of a careless word spoken or a selfish action taken.
The characters are never stale or predictable, and they act realistically. For example, where in book one, The Knighting of Sir Kaye, readers see Kaye modeling the importance of not reacting to teasing, by book four, The Eldridge Conspiracy, we see him really struggling when he can’t shake the nickname, Sir Donkey, and it begins to affect him and the decisions he makes. Readers will see Kaye go off course a bit when his pride gets in the way and he’s sidetracked by unimportant distractions. Fortunately, Kaye grows and reflects – and even self-diagnoses – to recognize and remedy his shortcomings. It was heartbreaking to see the pressure Kaye put upon himself to not only save his father, but to save his father like a hero (a knight) would save him. When Kaye reveals that his fear is that his father will die being disappointed in Kaye, my heart nearly broke.
Cue Reggie – the ultimate cheerleader and best friend. Reggie, who has heartbreaking struggles of his own due to his dyslexia and upbringing, shows growth and increasing self-awareness and amazing insight, especially as he observes Kaye and his quest to be just like his father. Reggie saves the day on many levels in The Eldridge Conspiracy, but you’ll get no spoilers here. Suffice it to say that Reggie is more of a hero than any knight in the stories. I could talk for hours about the virtues of Reggie and the value of having a character like him play a major role in the book. (Go ahead, ask me some time.)
As with all the Sir Kaye books, in The Eldridge Conspiracy, Don Winn doesn’t disappoint. The book is cleanly edited, and the writing is full of figurative language and words that put readers perfectly in the moment (like mud sliding off a hill and making a “sloppy whumping noise.”) Winn has a wonderfully engaging story line full of adventure and richly described settings and characters. The ending was excellent, and the brilliance of Reggie’s idea to metaphorically put one of Kaye’s problems to rest was especially satisfying.
The Sir Kaye series is like vitamin fortified cereal. Kids will devour the stories while getting a sneaky but healthy dose of the good stuff that fuels them. In a world where it’s sometimes hard to find positive role models, the Sir Kaye series is an excellent and highly recommended reading choice.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE STUDY GUIDE:
The newly published Study Guide for the Sir Kaye the Boy Knight Series is absolutely icing on the cake for this series. Not only does it include book-by-book lesson plans, there are games, activities, and vocabulary spotlights that support and explore the main themes of the stories. Also included is a section of supplemental historical material about the middle ages. Readers are again treated to the wonderful illustrations by Dave Allred as everything from jousting to dental care is explored. (These pages reminded me of the library’s always checked-out, fascinating DK (Dorling Kindersley) Eyewitness books.) The study guide is a fabulous tool for educators to be able to teach a fascinating unit on medieval times. Bonus: it has a beautiful cover!
Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tours and the author for providing me a print copy in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review plus other features on Hall Ways Blog http://kristinehallways.blogspot.com/...
Throughout the books, author Don Winn reinforces a set of consistent themes, but he layers them and spins different angles to illustrate their application. At the heart of it all is a set of values and lessons about friendship, loyalty, perseverance, and honesty (and so much more) that will stick with readers, young and old. What’s refreshing is that the values aren’t demonstrated in a cookie-cutter way, and the characters aren’t always inclined to stay true to their core values. They sometimes struggle with doing or saying the right thing, and Winn shows that it’s okay to struggle – and he also carefully shows the consequences of a careless word spoken or a selfish action taken.
The characters are never stale or predictable, and they act realistically. For example, where in book one, The Knighting of Sir Kaye, readers see Kaye modeling the importance of not reacting to teasing, by book four, The Eldridge Conspiracy, we see him really struggling when he can’t shake the nickname, Sir Donkey, and it begins to affect him and the decisions he makes. Readers will see Kaye go off course a bit when his pride gets in the way and he’s sidetracked by unimportant distractions. Fortunately, Kaye grows and reflects – and even self-diagnoses – to recognize and remedy his shortcomings. It was heartbreaking to see the pressure Kaye put upon himself to not only save his father, but to save his father like a hero (a knight) would save him. When Kaye reveals that his fear is that his father will die being disappointed in Kaye, my heart nearly broke.
Cue Reggie – the ultimate cheerleader and best friend. Reggie, who has heartbreaking struggles of his own due to his dyslexia and upbringing, shows growth and increasing self-awareness and amazing insight, especially as he observes Kaye and his quest to be just like his father. Reggie saves the day on many levels in The Eldridge Conspiracy, but you’ll get no spoilers here. Suffice it to say that Reggie is more of a hero than any knight in the stories. I could talk for hours about the virtues of Reggie and the value of having a character like him play a major role in the book. (Go ahead, ask me some time.)
As with all the Sir Kaye books, in The Eldridge Conspiracy, Don Winn doesn’t disappoint. The book is cleanly edited, and the writing is full of figurative language and words that put readers perfectly in the moment (like mud sliding off a hill and making a “sloppy whumping noise.”) Winn has a wonderfully engaging story line full of adventure and richly described settings and characters. The ending was excellent, and the brilliance of Reggie’s idea to metaphorically put one of Kaye’s problems to rest was especially satisfying.
The Sir Kaye series is like vitamin fortified cereal. Kids will devour the stories while getting a sneaky but healthy dose of the good stuff that fuels them. In a world where it’s sometimes hard to find positive role models, the Sir Kaye series is an excellent and highly recommended reading choice.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE STUDY GUIDE:
The newly published Study Guide for the Sir Kaye the Boy Knight Series is absolutely icing on the cake for this series. Not only does it include book-by-book lesson plans, there are games, activities, and vocabulary spotlights that support and explore the main themes of the stories. Also included is a section of supplemental historical material about the middle ages. Readers are again treated to the wonderful illustrations by Dave Allred as everything from jousting to dental care is explored. (These pages reminded me of the library’s always checked-out, fascinating DK (Dorling Kindersley) Eyewitness books.) The study guide is a fabulous tool for educators to be able to teach a fascinating unit on medieval times. Bonus: it has a beautiful cover!
Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tours and the author for providing me a print copy in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review plus other features on Hall Ways Blog http://kristinehallways.blogspot.com/...
June 28, 2017
ENTER TO WIN a copy of this book on my blog: https://booksandbroomsticks.blogspot....
It’s that time of the year when summertime conjures up magical days of make-believe and moments perfect for daydreams. As a child, and even now as an adult, I was (and still am) an avid daydreamer. As a person who majored in English Literature, I’m a sucker for a story about brave knights and tales of adventure. Well, this chapter book fit the bill for both my past and present selves. And I had the wonderful opportunity of reviewing such a book during my favorite time of the year: summer, when it seems the magic of the golden sunshine can turn a story in the pages of a book into a real-life adventure.
This charming chapter book is told from the point of view of Reggie, a dyslexic boy who wants nothing more than to be a writer of chronicles despite his learning difference. Through Reggie’s eyes, we see the story unfold of how a group of friends can band together to fight even the most menacing of foes to save their king and country from being overthrown by a treasonous baron.
Within the pages of this book, young readers will discover adventure, mystery, loyalty, and friendship. There’s something in this book for every reader. There are brave knights, both young and adult, there are castles, ships, horses, abbeys, and midnight escapes from blundering bad guys.
What I really loved (besides the awesome, swash-buckling story) was that there are lovely illustrations throughout the book, placed almost strategically to give young readers a chance to pause reading and reinforce the story with some visual imagery. Fantastic, I tell ya!
When I was a kid, I would have loved reading this book. I won’t give away (too many) spoilers here, because this book deserves to be devoured like a delicious piece of cake.
Needless to say, this book has a satisfying ending. And, no, I won’t tell you how it ends. You’ll have to discover it by yourself. What I will tell you is this- the author dedicates this book to all dyslexic and struggling readers. That endeared me immediately to this book and this author. Follow this blog tour and discover the study guide that goes along with this book. You won’t regret it!
I encourage readers of all ages and reading levels to grab a copy of this book for summer reading. And grab a copy for a friend while you’re at it. Also, don’t forget that you can scroll down for a chance to ENTER TO WIN a copy of Sir Kay The Boy Knight!
Henceforth, I knight this book with 5 Gleaming Illustrious Stars!
It’s that time of the year when summertime conjures up magical days of make-believe and moments perfect for daydreams. As a child, and even now as an adult, I was (and still am) an avid daydreamer. As a person who majored in English Literature, I’m a sucker for a story about brave knights and tales of adventure. Well, this chapter book fit the bill for both my past and present selves. And I had the wonderful opportunity of reviewing such a book during my favorite time of the year: summer, when it seems the magic of the golden sunshine can turn a story in the pages of a book into a real-life adventure.
This charming chapter book is told from the point of view of Reggie, a dyslexic boy who wants nothing more than to be a writer of chronicles despite his learning difference. Through Reggie’s eyes, we see the story unfold of how a group of friends can band together to fight even the most menacing of foes to save their king and country from being overthrown by a treasonous baron.
Within the pages of this book, young readers will discover adventure, mystery, loyalty, and friendship. There’s something in this book for every reader. There are brave knights, both young and adult, there are castles, ships, horses, abbeys, and midnight escapes from blundering bad guys.
What I really loved (besides the awesome, swash-buckling story) was that there are lovely illustrations throughout the book, placed almost strategically to give young readers a chance to pause reading and reinforce the story with some visual imagery. Fantastic, I tell ya!
When I was a kid, I would have loved reading this book. I won’t give away (too many) spoilers here, because this book deserves to be devoured like a delicious piece of cake.
Needless to say, this book has a satisfying ending. And, no, I won’t tell you how it ends. You’ll have to discover it by yourself. What I will tell you is this- the author dedicates this book to all dyslexic and struggling readers. That endeared me immediately to this book and this author. Follow this blog tour and discover the study guide that goes along with this book. You won’t regret it!
I encourage readers of all ages and reading levels to grab a copy of this book for summer reading. And grab a copy for a friend while you’re at it. Also, don’t forget that you can scroll down for a chance to ENTER TO WIN a copy of Sir Kay The Boy Knight!
Henceforth, I knight this book with 5 Gleaming Illustrious Stars!
June 20, 2017
The Eldridge Conspiracy is the fourth and last in the Sir Kaye the Boy Knight series. The story begins with the boys, Sir Kaye, Reggie (our faithful narrator), and Beau, already knee deep in adventure.
Sir Kaye’s latest quest to save his father, Sir Henry, sends all three boys into dangerous territory as the events from book 3 (Legend of the Forest Beast) have put them in danger of being captured by the two minions of Baron Thomas, who will stop at nothing to be King.
Sir Kaye continues to suffer from excessive pride as he struggles to be the perfect knight like his father. His ridiculous nickname, Sir Donkey, follows him where ever he goes, stinging his pride and making him feel like he will always be a fool and never make his father proud. Reggie also continues to struggle with self doubt because of his dismal writing skills. But the boys are quite clever and ingenious in figuring out plans of escape and rescue by working together and leveraging all of their skills and strengths.
What’s fantastic about all of these books is that the feelings of inadequacy, failure, excessive pride, and jealousy that these boys face are real-life struggles that can be difficult (but not impossible) to shake and overcome. The valuable lessons they learn by the end of The Eldridge Conspiracy show that the boys have matured and can appreciate their skills and the knowledge that everyone must all forge their own path and discover their own unique talents.
The study guide for the entire series is chock full of games/activities, main themes, reading comprehension questions, and all sorts of useful information about life in the middle ages, castles, food, knights, storytelling, jousting, and even knitting. This guide is a great learning companion for all four books.
***
"There's a cold spot inside me that only hot soup will fix." ~ chapter 3
"I can be anything I want. I don't have to choose just one thing for the rest of my life." ~ chapter 4
Sir Kaye’s latest quest to save his father, Sir Henry, sends all three boys into dangerous territory as the events from book 3 (Legend of the Forest Beast) have put them in danger of being captured by the two minions of Baron Thomas, who will stop at nothing to be King.
Sir Kaye continues to suffer from excessive pride as he struggles to be the perfect knight like his father. His ridiculous nickname, Sir Donkey, follows him where ever he goes, stinging his pride and making him feel like he will always be a fool and never make his father proud. Reggie also continues to struggle with self doubt because of his dismal writing skills. But the boys are quite clever and ingenious in figuring out plans of escape and rescue by working together and leveraging all of their skills and strengths.
What’s fantastic about all of these books is that the feelings of inadequacy, failure, excessive pride, and jealousy that these boys face are real-life struggles that can be difficult (but not impossible) to shake and overcome. The valuable lessons they learn by the end of The Eldridge Conspiracy show that the boys have matured and can appreciate their skills and the knowledge that everyone must all forge their own path and discover their own unique talents.
The study guide for the entire series is chock full of games/activities, main themes, reading comprehension questions, and all sorts of useful information about life in the middle ages, castles, food, knights, storytelling, jousting, and even knitting. This guide is a great learning companion for all four books.
***
"There's a cold spot inside me that only hot soup will fix." ~ chapter 3
"I can be anything I want. I don't have to choose just one thing for the rest of my life." ~ chapter 4
June 16, 2017
Perfect summer read (or any other season to be honest), Wynn brings a story full of adventure, friendship and, just in general, life lessons that are beneficial for both children and adult alike.
Once again we meet Kaye, the boy knight, in a time of danger for the kingdom. In this new adventure – the last in the series – he and his friends have to face a Baron, who is wanting the throne.
Full of adventure this magical story grabs you from page one and won’t let you down. It’s an epical finale for a series and long-time readers don’t have anything to fear. As always wonderfully written, you live the quest as just any other of Kaye’s friends.
If you happen to be looking for a new read, then take a look at this series because it’s absolutely wonderful. I cannot recommend it enough.
Disclaimer: I got a copy from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Once again we meet Kaye, the boy knight, in a time of danger for the kingdom. In this new adventure – the last in the series – he and his friends have to face a Baron, who is wanting the throne.
Full of adventure this magical story grabs you from page one and won’t let you down. It’s an epical finale for a series and long-time readers don’t have anything to fear. As always wonderfully written, you live the quest as just any other of Kaye’s friends.
If you happen to be looking for a new read, then take a look at this series because it’s absolutely wonderful. I cannot recommend it enough.
Disclaimer: I got a copy from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
March 13, 2017
Review of ARC copy: As sad as it is to see such a brilliant series come to an end, the final installment for the Sir Kaye the Boy Knight series does an amazing job of tying up loose ends and satisfying its faithful readers. In The Eldridge Conspiracy, the boys face their biggest adventure yet, as they take on inner and external challenges to save their kingdom from an evil baron who is trying to take the throne. Readers of all ages will be hooked as the friends encounter a cast of captivating characters and use their wit to meander dangerous situations. And along the way, the boys learn the value of friendship and what it means to put your pride aside for greater good. This is a story you do not want to miss.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews