iowagirlreads's review against another edition
4.0
Fast paced I can see why my students last year loved it and couldn’t wait to get their hands on the second book. Should be a popular choice for Iowa Children’s Choice this year!
Grades 4-6 I’d say. From an adult lens I felt like there were some grey areas in the plot, it just seemed to move through the story a little too quickly for me. You definitely need to read this one first before the second one!
Grades 4-6 I’d say. From an adult lens I felt like there were some grey areas in the plot, it just seemed to move through the story a little too quickly for me. You definitely need to read this one first before the second one!
froggylibrarian1's review against another edition
5.0
So glad I got a chance to read this. Action, adventure, couldn't put it down!!!
Cassie's life is pretty boring. Yes she is livng in Rome but she doesn't really get to do anything and her dad is just an art professor. But, when he comes to get her at school one day and people start shooting at her, life becomes unboring. It turns out Cassie is from a bloodline that can control the Spear of Destiny. There is an organization called the Hastati that is so afraid of it getting into the wrong hands that they will kill anyone in the bloodline - meaning Cassie.
But when her father is shot Cassie doesn't know who to trust... her best friend, a monk, a mysterious boy named Asher, a grandmother she never knew she had.
Full of twists, turns, riddles, legend, and surprises this was a great read.
Cassie's life is pretty boring. Yes she is livng in Rome but she doesn't really get to do anything and her dad is just an art professor. But, when he comes to get her at school one day and people start shooting at her, life becomes unboring. It turns out Cassie is from a bloodline that can control the Spear of Destiny. There is an organization called the Hastati that is so afraid of it getting into the wrong hands that they will kill anyone in the bloodline - meaning Cassie.
But when her father is shot Cassie doesn't know who to trust... her best friend, a monk, a mysterious boy named Asher, a grandmother she never knew she had.
Full of twists, turns, riddles, legend, and surprises this was a great read.
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Fatphobia and Racial slurs
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
Rarely do I read books for middle graders that are so action packed that you find it hard to put it down. I don't mean those books that are so good that they grab your heart and you can't put it down. I mean those books that are non-stop, every chapter is a cliffhanger, and you just have to see how it's going to end books. This is one of them. Kids who are looking for a book that pulls them in right away, this is the one you want to hand off. Loved it.
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Twelve-year-old Cassie has moved from town to town with her father, an art history professor. They are living in Rome when her whole world changes. Cassie's father is shot and she is running for her life, armed with only the knowledge the she and her father are wanted by a secret society. With the help of her best friend Simone, she begins following a trail of clues in the hopes of rescuing her father and saving herself. This exciting adventure will appeal to fans of Rick Riordan and the Copernicus Legacy. Highly recommended to grades 4 and up.
clwshorty01's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I won a copy of this book through a contest here on Goodreads.
Cassie Arroyo is the normal daughter of an everyday art history professor, until she finds out she's not. Instead, she is the key to changing destiny, and some want to use her for their own plans. Others just want her dead. It's a race to save her life and her father's from those who want to take them simply because she was born to control destiny.
Moving Target is a well-written and engaging book for middle schoolers. It is very fast-paced and full of adventure and action, great for students of this age group. The mystery in the story is well-crafted; there are twists and turns that also make sense in the narrative. There are enough clues given that I had an idea about one of the major plot twists (it was just an educated guess, though), but I think a middle schooler would not see it coming (or would feel especially clever for figuring it out if he/she did). There is some history (a smidgen of it religious history), a great locale in Rome, and riddles to keep the reader intrigued. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will happily recommend it to my students.
Cassie Arroyo is the normal daughter of an everyday art history professor, until she finds out she's not. Instead, she is the key to changing destiny, and some want to use her for their own plans. Others just want her dead. It's a race to save her life and her father's from those who want to take them simply because she was born to control destiny.
Moving Target is a well-written and engaging book for middle schoolers. It is very fast-paced and full of adventure and action, great for students of this age group. The mystery in the story is well-crafted; there are twists and turns that also make sense in the narrative. There are enough clues given that I had an idea about one of the major plot twists (it was just an educated guess, though), but I think a middle schooler would not see it coming (or would feel especially clever for figuring it out if he/she did). There is some history (a smidgen of it religious history), a great locale in Rome, and riddles to keep the reader intrigued. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will happily recommend it to my students.
abigailbat's review
3.0
This book is a complete thrill ride - perfect for kids who like a lot of rip-roaring action in a book they can't put down.
When Cassie's father picks her up in a panic after school one day, she learns that there is an ancient group called the Hastati that wants her dead. Cassie is part of an ancient bloodline that allows her to control the Spear of Destiny and alter the course of human history. Before she knows it, Cassie's father has been shot and she's on her own to figure this out - with the help of a few friends.
There are lots of twists and turns to the plot and the nonstop action really keeps the pages turning. Hand this to kids who are looking for something exciting to read. And of course it ends on a total cliffhanger, so be sure to have the second book, Return Fire, close by!
When Cassie's father picks her up in a panic after school one day, she learns that there is an ancient group called the Hastati that wants her dead. Cassie is part of an ancient bloodline that allows her to control the Spear of Destiny and alter the course of human history. Before she knows it, Cassie's father has been shot and she's on her own to figure this out - with the help of a few friends.
There are lots of twists and turns to the plot and the nonstop action really keeps the pages turning. Hand this to kids who are looking for something exciting to read. And of course it ends on a total cliffhanger, so be sure to have the second book, Return Fire, close by!
tcbueti's review against another edition
4.0
Dan Brown for tweens. Cassie is yanked from her Roman schoolgirl troubles to realize that her art historian/teacher father has been keeping a secret: she is linked to an ancient spearhead that can control the future. This power pits her in danger. When her father is shot, Cassie, het best friend Simone, and their mysterious new accomplice Asher must find the spearhead while avoiding the powerful forces trying to stop them.
Suspense, puzzles, betrayals. This cliffhanger has it all.
Suspense, puzzles, betrayals. This cliffhanger has it all.
faerietears's review against another edition
3.0
Special thanks to the MCBD for providing a copy in exchange for this review.
Another reviewer compared Moving Target to the DaVinci Code and I have to agree. It’s like DaVinci Code Light. Or Diet DaVinci Code. It’s a great introduction to kids who are into that kind of adventure story.
This is a fairly short book, so I personally could have done with some more character building, but I think for the target age there is just enough for them to get connected and engaged.
The action starts off with a bang - literally - when Cassie and her dad start running from she doesn’t even know what. When Cassie’s dad is shot, she’s on her own, left with only one cryptic clue from her father, which sends her down the rabbit hole and change her life forever.
I like that the author chose to use the Spear of Destiny as the object the kids are after. I like the lore she created for the Spear, that one person can control the destiny of the world. And I love that if Cassie gets her hands on it, the fate of the world will rest in the hands of an 8th grader. Yikes!
The action in this book was pretty much non-stop, only slowing down in the beginning once Cassie gets to the Monastery. I’m really not sure if there’s anything else that could have helped that though because that info needed to be given, the scenes had to happen.
It was cool to see a variation of languages in this book as well. Cassie's father is of Cuban descent so she and her father speak Spanish from time to time. The story takes place in Italy, so there is also some Italian sprinkled in. It makes me want to start using my DuoLingo app again because I recognized some of that Italian, but I couldn’t translate it in my head!
Some of the riddles/puzzles Cassie had to solve to complete her quest were too easy in my opinion. It baffled me that no adult character had figured it all out sooner. I had to keep reminding me that the target audience for this book would not have the same reasoning skills as an adult.
The characters also read a little young to me. I kept forgetting that the girls were 8th graders and Asher was 15. They just felt younger to me.
There was a twist at the end, but I saw it coming, which was sort of disappointing. Until the last twist happened that I did not see coming, so that was a real treat! I’m curious to read the second book just to see what comes next for Cassie.
Overall it was a quick read. It wasn’t a book I couldn't put down, but I also didn’t dread having to pick it up again. For me as an adult, it was average. But I’m not the target audience and I think middle grade kids will enjoy it.
So, should you read it?
I don’t think adult readers will get much out of this story, but I think middle grade kids would, especially those who like fast past books with puzzles and riddles. I considered having my 4th grader read it, but I think she may be a bit young for it. Perhaps in a year or two.
Another reviewer compared Moving Target to the DaVinci Code and I have to agree. It’s like DaVinci Code Light. Or Diet DaVinci Code. It’s a great introduction to kids who are into that kind of adventure story.
This is a fairly short book, so I personally could have done with some more character building, but I think for the target age there is just enough for them to get connected and engaged.
The action starts off with a bang - literally - when Cassie and her dad start running from she doesn’t even know what. When Cassie’s dad is shot, she’s on her own, left with only one cryptic clue from her father, which sends her down the rabbit hole and change her life forever.
I like that the author chose to use the Spear of Destiny as the object the kids are after. I like the lore she created for the Spear, that one person can control the destiny of the world. And I love that if Cassie gets her hands on it, the fate of the world will rest in the hands of an 8th grader. Yikes!
The action in this book was pretty much non-stop, only slowing down in the beginning once Cassie gets to the Monastery. I’m really not sure if there’s anything else that could have helped that though because that info needed to be given, the scenes had to happen.
It was cool to see a variation of languages in this book as well. Cassie's father is of Cuban descent so she and her father speak Spanish from time to time. The story takes place in Italy, so there is also some Italian sprinkled in. It makes me want to start using my DuoLingo app again because I recognized some of that Italian, but I couldn’t translate it in my head!
Some of the riddles/puzzles Cassie had to solve to complete her quest were too easy in my opinion. It baffled me that no adult character had figured it all out sooner. I had to keep reminding me that the target audience for this book would not have the same reasoning skills as an adult.
The characters also read a little young to me. I kept forgetting that the girls were 8th graders and Asher was 15. They just felt younger to me.
There was a twist at the end, but I saw it coming, which was sort of disappointing. Until the last twist happened that I did not see coming, so that was a real treat! I’m curious to read the second book just to see what comes next for Cassie.
Overall it was a quick read. It wasn’t a book I couldn't put down, but I also didn’t dread having to pick it up again. For me as an adult, it was average. But I’m not the target audience and I think middle grade kids will enjoy it.
So, should you read it?
I don’t think adult readers will get much out of this story, but I think middle grade kids would, especially those who like fast past books with puzzles and riddles. I considered having my 4th grader read it, but I think she may be a bit young for it. Perhaps in a year or two.
kaetlin's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting, very up and down.
I really liked Asher as a character but i found myself trusting no one else in the book.
Also I didn't understand half of the secret group of people thing and I was just really confused by the ending.
And half of it was really predictable, the other half wildly unexpected.
I really liked Asher as a character but i found myself trusting no one else in the book.
Also I didn't understand half of the secret group of people thing and I was just really confused by the ending.
And half of it was really predictable, the other half wildly unexpected.