The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
bookworm_baggins's review
4.0
Had to finish this one up tonight! Such a fun series: action and adventure mixed with not-too-distant future technology, conservation, teamwork, secret codes, and espionage. After I finished I spent the evening working out the coded message on page 134 with my daughter. Love those fantastic little details!
gbasta's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
noa_llea's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kailey_luminouslibro's review
5.0
Cruz is in Africa searching for the missing clues his mother left behind for him to find after her death. The explorers help a family of mountain gorillas in Uganda, and then follow the clues to a desert region of Africa. The evil Nebula organization is breathing down their necks, and Cruz is devastated when one of his friends is targeted.
I loved this plot! There is plenty of action and suspense. I never knew what was going to happen next! I really loved that Lani is finally part of the team! She is such an interesting character.
The exotic locations are amazing, and I loved learning about different conservation efforts in Uganda and Namibia and all the national parks. There is a lot of interesting information about poaching and wildlife conservation. It's so interesting to see the true history and real facts about actual places interwoven with the story, especially about how the local towns have learned to coexist with the animals, finding safe and humane ways to keep them away from crops without damaging the ecosystem.
The fictional technology is really cool. This book introduces a fancy camera that can transform to look like a local plant, and takes photos of wildlife when a motion detector goes off. Of course, Mell, the honeybee robot drone, is always by Cruz's side, ready to protect her master. I just love that cute little bee!
Once again, I loved Cruz's character development in this book. He grows and learns so much in every single book so far, and this book became a turning point for him. He has grown in confidence, and he is starting to have dreams and goals of his own. He is more confident in his personal relationships too. He's more willing to step back and let others shine, because he doesn't have to prove himself.
I really enjoyed the writing style, which has both some serious situations and some humor to keep things light. The pacing is excellent. The writing kept my attention and had me turning those pages.
The artwork is a cool mixture of illustrations overlaid on top of real photographs, and it adds a wonderful dimension and depth to the story. I loved seeing the characters brought to life in the artwork, as well as the beautiful locations they visit. It really makes a special addition to the story!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.
I loved this plot! There is plenty of action and suspense. I never knew what was going to happen next! I really loved that Lani is finally part of the team! She is such an interesting character.
The exotic locations are amazing, and I loved learning about different conservation efforts in Uganda and Namibia and all the national parks. There is a lot of interesting information about poaching and wildlife conservation. It's so interesting to see the true history and real facts about actual places interwoven with the story, especially about how the local towns have learned to coexist with the animals, finding safe and humane ways to keep them away from crops without damaging the ecosystem.
The fictional technology is really cool. This book introduces a fancy camera that can transform to look like a local plant, and takes photos of wildlife when a motion detector goes off. Of course, Mell, the honeybee robot drone, is always by Cruz's side, ready to protect her master. I just love that cute little bee!
Once again, I loved Cruz's character development in this book. He grows and learns so much in every single book so far, and this book became a turning point for him. He has grown in confidence, and he is starting to have dreams and goals of his own. He is more confident in his personal relationships too. He's more willing to step back and let others shine, because he doesn't have to prove himself.
I really enjoyed the writing style, which has both some serious situations and some humor to keep things light. The pacing is excellent. The writing kept my attention and had me turning those pages.
The artwork is a cool mixture of illustrations overlaid on top of real photographs, and it adds a wonderful dimension and depth to the story. I loved seeing the characters brought to life in the artwork, as well as the beautiful locations they visit. It really makes a special addition to the story!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.
aeculley's review against another edition
5.0
The Star Dunes is the fourth book in the Explorer Academy series by @truditrueit . Cruz and his friends continue to follow the clues left by his mother to find pieces of the puzzle. But a holographic reconstruction of his mother deepens the mystery. There are more questions than answers in this book, but I enjoyed reading it. I’m not sure when the next book is coming out, but I know I’ll be getting it!
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