Kenai’s parents taught him lots of things, including critical thinking skills; handy as he now needs them. As the youngest ever investigator for ‘Beyond Belief’, the world’s premier debunker of the paranormal, his adventures will be anything but straightforward. Together with his Uncle Freeman and special drone Tinkerbell, Kenai hunts ghosts, werewolves, sasquatches, and scammers! His greatest adventure yet is to find his parents, a year after their disappearance.
‘Beyond Belief, the Adventure Begins’ by Ron Crouch is a great first book in this series. Appealing to children reading chapter books, from age 7 upwards, there are themes of mystery, family, trust and conspiracy – as well as magic and the paranormal.
With no illustrations to aid the narrative, language complexity is kept basic to aid the flow of the story. Potentially this book will help children to encourage reading, support learning and inspire creativity through discussion points and complementary ‘spooky- themed’ activities. It can be read by children themselves, in class or with parents (but perhaps not at bedtime if children are of a more sensitive nature to avoid nightmares of chasing monsters and such.)
To the end goal of educating, inspiring and nurturing growing minds, this is a read I have no problem recommending. I award 4.5 stars, as below.
Storytelling and Narrative Quality – 5 Stars Strong narrative flow. Multilayered story with emotional depth. Captures imagination brilliantly. Creates lasting emotional impact
Character Development – 4 Stars Well-developed characters with distinct personalities and strong character interactions
Educational and Developmental Value – 4 Stars Introduces complex concepts accessibly. Encourages critical thinking
Illustration Quality – not applicable
Emotional Resonance and Impact – 4 Stars Strong emotional resonance. Meaningful emotional exploration. Supports emotional understanding. Creates lasting emotional impressions. Encourages empathy and reflection
