Scourge - Reviewed

Scourge
Author: David H. Burton
Release Date: November 2010
Publisher: David H. Burton
Pages: 232
Target Age: Middle Grade
Source: Given to me by the author for an honest review
Summary from Amazon.com
Two dads, five siblings, and goggles! Grim Doyle has always known his life was not exactly "normal", and things get even more curious when he discovers a set of stones that sweep him and his family to the fantasy, steampunk world of Verne - a place they had escaped from years ago. Now that they've returned, Grim and his siblings hide from the evil Lord Victor and his minions. And while learning about Jinns, Mystics, and the power of absinth they try to discover who is trying to kill them with the deadly Scourge.

Scourge is the first Middle Grade book that I've read in quite a long time and it was my very first steampunk ever, and I gotta say, I was impressed.  The story grabs you pretty quickly and the children find themselves in a whole new world.  A world with dirigibles and mushrooms that attack!  I loved the way Burton built up this world and described things to you while engaging you with the characters at the same time. I really enjoyed how the story was moving on and you didn't feel as if you were reading through page after page of description. There are enough fight scenes and cool/creepy characters to keep even the most fidgety boys entranced.  The characters are so much fun and range from pixies to robotic spiders.  This is one of those books that you could read out loud to your children and not feel as if you are reading a "children's" book, while still feel good reading it with your child.  I will definitely be looking forward to diving into another adventure with Grim and his brothers and sisters.  Well done Mr. Burton!