REVIEW FOR - JACK TEMPLAR - MONSTER HUNTER - THE TEMPLAR CHRONICLES - BOOK ONE - BY JEFF GUNHUS

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendant of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him.

As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Jack has lived with his Aunt Sophie most of his life.  He thinks that the world is wonderful.  When he wakes up the day before his 14th birthday, everyone and every thing seems to be acting different.  His body is changing.  He is all of the sudden much stronger.

Jacks adventure begins right off the bat.  He runs into a stranger on the street, who is dressed in a cloak with weird teeth, and he thinks he is just dreaming up these weird happenings.

I love how this book is told in first person.  I love first person.  It is so much easier for me to connect with the character when I feel like they are talking right to me.  This book is full of adventure, strange creatures, awesome battles, and friendships.  I cannot wait to read this with my 10 yr old son.  I think he will love this book.  Jack is a great character.  Strong, and kind.  

The creatures in this book are interesting, and a little creepy, but so fantastic.  I cannot wait to see what Jack does in the next book.  I will definitely be reading more of this series.  It's a quick, easy, and fun read.  Great for middle age kids.  

Source:  I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

Where to Buy:

 

(as of today it's only $.99 on Kindle!!!!)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

Jeff Gunhus is the author of the Middle Grade/YA series The Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. Jeff is also the co-CEO of a national company with over 4,000 employees that has been featured in national media for its unique opportunity for college students to learn entrepreneurial skills. He is the author of the motivational career guides No Parachute Required (Hyperion) and Wake Up Call (Seven Guns Press). After his experience with his son, he is passionate about helping parents reach young reluctant readers and is active in child literacy issues. As a father of five, he leads an active lifestyle in Maryland by trying to constantly keep up with his kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the CIty Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel.