The Silver Strand
Book 1 in the Mastermind Academy Series
by L.J.Clarkson
298 pages – ages 9+
Published by Indicated Publications & Promotions on September 27, 2013
Isabelle is shocked when a silver strand of hair pokes through her scalp and grows into a large streak. Isabelle feels very embarrassed by the hair and thinks it looks weird and it makes her self-conscious at school. That day at home, she wishes that the strand never appeared. Then, the strand shrivels up and gets discolored. Isabelle is even more shocked when 2 people (well 1 person and one talking cat who used to be a person) from a magical world called Agartha (a strange world of magic) show up and tell her she’s going to die in five days unless she can heal her strand. Isabelle learns that the strand is a source of magical powers, HER magical powers and she must pass some “tests” in order to heal it. But is it too late?
This was one of those “I-got-in-trouble-because-my-parents-caught-me-reading-this-book-under-my-covers-with-a-flashlight-at-ten-o’clock-at-night-on-a-school-night” books. I really liked the plot to this story and I couldn’t put it down (hence the “under the covers” part 🙂 ). The book was a fun read for me because of the magic part of it and there was the right amount of humor mixed into it. Isabelle is a great main character. I enjoyed getting to know her and I cared about what was happening to her. Esme and Boldrick (the two from Agartha) were good characters too. Ms. Clarkson did a good job writing an exciting story that is good for younger kids. By the end of the book, I was wanting more (but in a good way). I am glad to see that this is book 1 so I am guessing a book 2 is being written! YAY! The only thing I would change is that the cover was a bit too dark on the ebook version I read, but it still looks cool.
Five out of five bookworms for The Silver Strand. 
To learn more about this book, please visit the official website HERE.
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Categories: Age 9+
Well, that is high praise – reading under the covers with a flashlight!
~Cool Mom
🙂
I love the sound of this!
It’s great!
The title sounds just like the cover looks!
😀
Must be a good one to rate under cover status!
Yup! 😎
It must be good if you got caught under your sheets with a flashlight! Don’t you have a book light? The story sounds good. Reminds me a bit of Shannon Messenger’s books “Keeper of the Lost Cities,” and I’m reading the latest in the series, Exile. Many a night I’ve snuck into bed hoping my husband wouldn’t wake up and see the time!
I do have a book light… It broke after I used it too much! 😉
Sounds good! I’ll have to check this out 🙂
I think you’d like it! 😀
Hi Erik! I’m so pleased you enjoyed the book and so sorry I got you in trouble 😛 Thank you so much for the wonderful review. It has made my day.
Thank YOU for finding the time to comment on my review of your book! I appreciate it very much! 😀
Hurray, so glad you like the book. We have it on our to read list. Congrats Louisa.
Thanks Julie!
It’s awesome! 😀
Looks great. Sounds like a dark tale sporting frightening concepts! Erik! I hope you weren’t tired the next day.
Well, it isn’t that dark or frightening… And I wasn’t any more tired than usual the next day, Dr. Clune. 😉
Lol!
The cover looks quite “grown-up” – I was surprised it was a book for tweens. But it certainly sounds intriguing.
It is fun to read! 😀
This is right up my alley! I love the cover, but it is a little hard to see on my computer. It’s going on the list.
I think you’d like it!
I love that it kept you up. The sign of a great book.
Yup! 🙂
I agree the cover is much too dark. This sounds like a fun book and the cover should reflect that.
Erik, ask Santa for a Kindle white paper. The light is just enough to read in the dark but doesn’t throw off a shadow. Much safer than a flashlight. It is nice to see a young person willing to risk so much for literature. Shakespeare would be proud (I’m guessing, never met the man myself). 😀
OK! Thanks for the recommendation! (But how is it safer than a flashlight??? ❓ )
OOOoooo, and Erik, I was going to say how much I love the cover! I guess on an e-reader it can never have the same appeal 🙂 I’m not an e-reader fan Muwahahahahaaaaaaa lol
Anyway, the fact that you couldn’t put it down says a LOT! It sounds good 🙂
It IS good! 😀
This book is awesome! I love the cover and must get my hands on it!
I think you’d love it! 😀
Oh wow, looks like a riveting series indeed to keep you reading under the bedcovers! Hope to find it in our libraries.
I think this is only an ebook, but I may be wrong. 🙂
It comes in paperback as well 😉
Yay! 😀