Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire (Arlo Finch Series #1)

by John August

Overview

Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire is the first book in a spellbinding middle grade fantasy adventure series by screenwriter John August.

“A thrilling adventure full of magic and wonder. John August is a master storyteller.” —Ransom Riggs, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Some trails lead to magic. Some lead to danger.

As Arlo looked around, the walls of his room began to vanish, revealing a moonlit forest. Only his bed remained, and the frame of his window, through which he saw the girl. The world on her side of the glass was sparkling with silver and gold, like a palace made of autumn leaves.
She looked off to her right. Someone was coming. Her words came in an urgent whisper: "If I can see you, they can see you . . . Be careful, Arlo Finch.”

Arlo Finch is a newcomer to Pine Mountain, Colorado, a tiny town of mystery and magic, but he's already attracted the attention of dark and ancient forces. At first he thinks these increasingly strange and frightening occurrences are just part of being in Rangers, the mountain scouting troop where he learns how to harness the wild magic seeping in from the mysterious Long Woods.

But soon Arlo finds himself at the center of a dangerous adventure, where he faces obstacles that test the foundations of the Ranger's Vow: Loyalty, Bravery, Kindness, and Truth.

Praise for Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire:

“Much like other popular series such as 'Percy Jackson,' [this is] an exciting fantasy novel grounded in reality with a strong emphasis on friendships and great characters. This new series will appeal to fans of mystery and adventure as well as reluctant readers.” —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250294258
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	01/08/2019
Series:	Arlo Finch Series , #1
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	448,584
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.50(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	670L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

John August is a screenwriter whose credits include Big Fish, Charlie's Angels, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, and Frankenweenie. He is also the creator of the Writer Emergency Pack, an educational storytelling school distributed to more than two thousand classrooms worldwide. Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, John now lives in Los Angeles with his family.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire:

“A thrilling adventure full of magic and wonder. John August is a master storyteller.” —Ransom Riggs, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

“A fast, fun, and fearless tale. Arlo's adventures feel both completely real and entirely magical. I loved it!” —Ally Condie, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Matched and Summerlost

“A masterful mix of mystery and adventure, set in a supernatural scouting troop. Reading this book made me wish I hadn't dropped out of Cub Scouts.” —Geoff Rodkey, New York Times–bestselling author of the Tapper Twins series

“Accomplished screenwriter August artfully thrusts readers into a whole new world, right alongside Arlo . . . This is just the first volume in a new series, so readers won’t have to wait long to plunge back into the mysterious Long Woods.” —Booklist

“Much like other popular series such as 'Percy Jackson,' [this is] an exciting fantasy novel grounded in reality with a strong emphasis on friendships and great characters. This new series will appeal to fans of mystery and adventure as well as reluctant readers.” —School Library Journal

“The mysteries—from what makes Arlo a target to why a girl who vanished years ago has reappeared to him and only him—become increasingly more compelling as more pieces are revealed . . . Readers will find Arlo relatable, especially if they’ve ever struggled to fit in themselves.” —The Bulletin

From the Publisher

02/01/2018
Gr 4–7—Arlo Finch's family has returned to his mother's hometown of Pine Mountain, CO, to try to regain some normalcy after a stressful few years. But nothing is normal in Pine Mountain. From the house they live in that comes complete with an eccentric taxidermist uncle to the magical creatures that have taken special notice of Arlo, adventure and mystery are everywhere. To make new friends, 12-year-old Arlo joins the Rangers, a scoutlike group, and finds that they don't just learn to build fires—they learn some magic craft and about creatures from other realms. As Arlo prepares for his first test to advance a rank, he has no idea he and his friends' lives will be at stake. Much like other popular series such as "Percy Jackson," magic and realism are woven together. The first novel is clearly laying the groundwork for future installments, and it is very fertile ground. Enough questions are answered to provide satisfaction, but unanswered questions and mysteries that remain. VERDICT An exciting fantasy novel grounded in reality with a strong emphasis on friendships and great characters. This new series will appeal to fans of mystery and adventure as well as reluctant readers.—Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK

School Library Journal

2017-11-13
A 12-year-old white boy finds out he's special in a new middle-grade fantasy series.Arlo Finch has just arrived in the tiny town of Pine Mountain, atop the high peaks of Colorado. Times are tight, and Arlo, his sister, and their mother have moved into the crumbling family home with his taxidermist uncle. Arlo, who has one green eye and one brown, isn't in Pine Mountain long before he makes friends with (the requisite girl and boy sidekicks) supersmart Indian-American doctors' daughter Indra Srinivasaraghavan-Jones and Chinese-American STEM genius Henry Wu. When Arlo joins the Rangers, a mixed-gender scouting troop, he's made privy to thunderclaps (literal hand-clapping that sounds like thunder) and snaplights (a snap of the fingers that creates illumination) along with traditional scouting tasks such as tying knots and pitching tents. As Arlo works toward earning his first rank—Squirrel—questions mount. What is the Wonder? What and where are the Long Woods, the Realm, and the Valley of Fire? How is Arlo connected to a long-lost girl only he can see? Who wants to kill him, and why? Arlo is a smart, likable boy, but his story adds little new to the genre. The mountain setting and eerie house filled with stuffed and mounted animals provide an evocative sense of place for Arlo's adventure, but characters and plot feel too familiar, particularly a Goblet of Fire-like Ranger challenge.Atmospheric at best, formulaic at worst. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews