BOOK REVIEW: The Blood Guard by Carter Roy

BLURB:

When thirteen-year-old Ronan Truelove’s seemingly ordinary mom snatches him from school, then sets off on a high speed car chase, Ronan is shocked. His quiet, nerdy dad has been kidnapped? And the kidnappers are after him, too? 

His mom, he quickly learns, is anything but ordinary. In fact, she’s a member of an ancient order of knights, the Blood Guard, a sword-wielding secret society sworn to protect the Pure—thirty-six noble souls whose safety is crucial if the world as we know it is to survive. 

Now all those after-school activities—gymnastics, judo, survival training—she made him take, make sense. For suddenly Ronan is swept up in a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, but always thrilling adventure—dashing from one danger to the next, using his wits to escape the Bend Sinister, a posse of evil doers with strange powers. Falling in with two unlikely companions, Greta, a scrappy, strong-willed girl he’s never much liked and Jack, a devil-may-care teenage pickpocket, Ronan is left with only his wits and his mom’s last words of advice: Trust no one. 

That’s a lot for an ordinary kid to deal with. But then again, maybe Ronan’s not ordinary at all.

REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 12 years, 8 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

Evelyn Ronan Truelove is an ordinary boy with an ordinary family, or so he thought. 

One day his mom unexpectedly picks him up from school, tells him that his dad has been kidnapped by evil people, and she is part of a secret society. After a high speed chase involving a car on top of stairs, and his mom having super speed and blocking bullets, she drops him off on a train where he meets another member of the secret society. The secret society is called "The Blood Guard" and Ronan's old schoolmate Greta is part of it as well. Together, they embark on an epic journey with a little help. 

My favorite parts are when Greta and Ronan work together. Greta is my favorite character because she is so smart, brave, and resourceful. If you like mystery, action, adventure, and true friendship then you will love this book by Carter Roy. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 and up.