Title: Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle
Author: R.K. Mortenson
Published by Barbour Publishing, 2005.
ISBN: 1-59310-881-8.
Move Over, Harry Potter! Landon Snow is on the scene. His family's trip to help celebrate his Grandpa Karl's birthday in Button Up, Minnesota is unlike any trip to Grandpa's house before. Before the celebrating can start, Grandpa has an accident. This brings our young hero to reflect on whether life itself is an accident.
Grandpa's house is one mystery waiting to be discovered. There are pages in an ancient Bible which mysteriously turn. But wait, there is also a secret passageway. Landon is looking for adventure, well, adventure is right around the corner. Armed with the ancient Bible and "Book of Meanings" Landon ventures into Wonderwood. Creatures called Odds and puzzles abound in this fantasy land. Landon meets up with Melech, who is a very strange horse named Melech. There is a riddle to be solved, will Landon be able to solve it? And more importantly will his family believe him when he tells them that there is a fantasy land just beyond the secret passageway.
This is the first book in a wonderful series written especially for children ages 9-12 who enjoy a magical adventure. This is a wonderful story and I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series. Biblical truths are presented in this book without being too overbearing. The references are gently presented. I love this book and wish more authors would write books like this one!