WhipEye

Sam Green and the WhipEye Great Ones #1

by Geoffrey Saign

This is an alternate cover edition for isbn13: 9780990401308

WINNER INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS--CHILDREN'S FICTION, US Book News
WINNER OUTSTANDING CHILDREN'S FICTION,IAN Book of the Year Awards

Charlie, a thousand-year-old wise-cracking parrot, convinces animal nerd Samantha and her spunky side-kick Jake to save him and two worlds. The two children are hunted by magical Great Ones, and have twenty-four hours to decipher the supernatural staff, WhipEye, and find the courage to stop a traitorous guardian and his enslaved monstrous animals. ... a story about love, nature, wildlife, intuition, and trusting yourself ...

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Adventure, Animals

312 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

The Jack Steel series is now in development for a major motion picture.

Award-winning author Geoffrey Saign has spent many years studying kung fu and sailed all over the South Pacific and Caribbean. He uses that experience and sense of adventure to write the Jack Steel and Alex Sight thriller action series.

Geoff’s love of wildlife led him to write the award-winning fantasy series, Magical Beasts and Bubblegum Mike. He is also the author of Smile More Stress Less, a stress reduction book, and Green Essentials which won national recognition. Geoff has a degree in biology and has assisted in field research on hummingbirds and humpback whales. For decades he has taught challenged adults and children everything from sailing to self-awareness and novel writing.

Geoff loves to sail big boats, hike, and cook—and he infuses all his writing with his passion for nature. As a swimmer, he considers himself blessed to live in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota.

Reviews

[NickReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆☆☆☆4 FULLY STARS!☆☆☆☆

Another beautiful cover.Actually the cover is what dragged me to read this.I wasn't really interested on the plot before reading it,because I am not much of an animal fan.But this cover,this awesome color-matching cover made me read this.And I am so grateful for that.

WhipEye is a brilliant adventure fiction with a lot of suspense and thrilling moments.I have read this in 2 days and I was pretty caught up with it.It is a children,young adult fiction and the talking was a little immature to match the characters' age but I didn't mind it.

The characters are well developed,especially the main character,Sam.I didn't like her at first,but she proved me wrong and now I see her as one hell of a badass heroine.Also the evil Magnar is awesome.He is one of the few villains I really liked reading about.

I also enjoyed the way author described the scenes.The description is so rich and perfect,and there were moments I thought I was in the book,standing beside the characters.

The story is about a girl named Samantha who spends a lot of time in a pet store,talking with a parrot named Charlie who can actually talk.One day she and her friend,Jake free the parrot from the prison,and that's where everything changes.Now Sam and Jake need to keep the carrot away from the Magnar,or he will be the most powerful person in the whole world.

I recommend this book to every reader out there,especially the young readers.It's an awesome action pack adventure book,that you should not miss!

[Iryna *Book and Sword*]

Sadly for me this book is a dnf. Life is too short to read books you don't like, right?

I was 6 chapters into it (however I have been pushing myself to read it since chapter 2) when I decided that this book was not doing it for me. And I normally love books that are shooting for the middle-grade audience.

The whole setting of the book was so unrealistic it put me off right away. The main character, Sam, was not very likable, and she didn't feel like a real girl at all.
Things were happening way too fast (in the 6 chapters that I read the evil guy kept attacking, and attacking and attacking them, like what...just stop). I felt tired just by reading it!
And the adults in the book were not behaving as normal real life adults would. (I am talking about parent figures, not guardian characters, hat were also present in the book).

Maybe it was the writing style too, because it felt as somebody was retelling the story secondhand. It was jumpy, patchy and not very detailed, and it felt like it was not proof-read at all.
Quite disappointed as the blurb of the book sounded very good and it had a lot of good reviews.

This book was provided by StoryCartel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and the publisher for this opportunity.

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[Geoffrey Saign · Rating 5 out of 5]

WhipEye Awards
• WINNER 2015 International Book Award—Children’s Fiction, US Book News
• WINNER 2015 Outstanding Children’s Fiction—IAN Book of the Year Awards
• TOP CHOICE—LitPick.com the #1 rated site online for kids reviewing books
• BRONZE AWARD—eLit Awards.com
• NOTABLE INDIE—Best Indie Book, Shelf Unbound
5 STAR review By Rosie Malezer for Readers’ Favorite
From the very start, Geoffrey Saign’s well-written adventure had me hooked on every word. With a vast cocktail of emotions spread throughout, WhipEye was well-balanced with humor, action, adventure, tragedy and drama, forcing the lead character to lower the walls she had built since her mother had died, while also learning to believe in herself again. A brief moment of Samantha’s father snapping out of his melancholia in order to protect his daughter was a refreshing surprise, especially after he had barely interacted with her for so very long. While the story was quite busy, each scene blended seamlessly into the next, creating the perfect recipe for any great children’s book. All of the characters were fully explained, enabling younger readers to keep up at all times. I very much enjoyed WhipEye, which is easily one of the most imaginative tales I have read in a very long time. I recommend it to all readers who enjoy the theme of good versus evil in a majestically magical battle which trumps any fantasy tale I have ever read.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I sadly had to DNF this book. Despite its overall good reviews, this just isn’t for me. I know, I know. Theoretically, it has most everything I love in a story: fantasy, friendship, a reminder of the importance of nature, and adventure. But it didn’t quite agree with me. You see I need more than just these elements. I need to believe in the world, to be immersed in the story even if only a little. But in the 175 pages I read, that was impossible.

It all begins with the fact that the fantasy world itself doesn’t feel credible – and I don’t say that only because the book seems to promote and demote evolution all at once. Indeed, it says nature is “its own person”, and it claims mankind is horrid for enacting change. However, nature itself has always been about change. It’s not static like the book assumes it to be. Mankind had nothing to do with the appearance of amphibians for one. I get what the author wanted to do, but the execution left much to be desired. After all, when writing MG, one should be especially cautious with information. Children often learn more from fiction than schoolbooks, and there are enough misconceptions about nature and evolution as it is.

But no. It wasn’t just that. I just couldn’t buy the setting.

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[Bret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I start, let me first clear up that I am close to 40 years old. I read YA books so I can help my sister and brother-in-law keep my niece and nephews interested in reading. If I can talk to them about what they are read or have read, and engage them verbally, it brings us closer together and really makes them excited to read.

Let me start out by saying this is NOT what I expected when WhipEye was handed to me. Over the last several years, we have seen time and again authors trying to follow the successful format of the Harry Potter books. This happens with varying degrees of success. That's what I was expecting with this, just another YA book set in magical world designed around the concept put forth by Rowlings' efforts. Instead, I got something totally different.

The author has set forth, first and foremost, to write a good story. He very obviously wants to engage the reader, make them care about what happens to the characters. While every author hopes for this, in WhipEye, it is done with great success. The main character, a young, not tough, not popular, girl is immediately something special. But here's the crazy part about that. The author, writing from the point of view of the main character, doesn't tell you this. He shows you over the period of several paragraphs. You also learn quickly about her love for animals and nature. You learn about the huge heart Samantha has, the terrible pain she's been through, and the longing she has for what was or what could be. Then you are introduced to her compatriot through the story, a neighbor boy she doesn't care for at the start: athletic, popular... everything Samantha is not.

And then the book kicks it into high gear and never looks back.

This, is an adventure book, through and through. Yes it has magic, but that is more the setting then the genre. Like Firefly is a western set in space. I really enjoyed this book, and CAN'T WAIT to start talking to my Niece and Nephews about it. I am stunned at strong the characters and how deep the world is. I am not big on writing reviews, but for this book it had to be done.

Do yourself a favor, old or young, read this book. It is very good.

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary- Samantha knew nothing good would come of her stealing the Congo African Gray Parrot named Charlie from the Endless Pet Store. But the parrot ordered her to do it. Apparently, Charlie is a magical powered animal called a methuselah animal – an animal born every 1,000 years, lives for a thousand years, and it will then give its energy to the Earth when it dies – and Charlie’s 1,000th birthday is coming up. Magnar, an evil man who has found a way to trap the methuselahs’ energy and has been using it for nefarious reasons, has been holding Charlie captive for almost Charlie’s entire life. When Sam, and her neighbor, Jake, rescue Charlie from his prison at the Endless Pet Store, Magnar is fast on their tail! Will two kids, one ancient parrot, and one even ancient-er ;) magic staff be able to stop Magnar from being the most powerful man on Earth?

What I thought- This was amazing. When I started the book, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this story, but then it really sucked me in. I couldn’t put it down. I thought that Sam was a little stand-offish and hard to like, but her character develops through the story and she becomes a great character. She plays a great female hero! Magnar is an awesome villain! You despise him! Because he is at least 10,000 years old, Magnar is like Moriarty, just add a magical touch and evil shadow monsters (the trapped methuseleh energy). Charlie is very likeable, fun character. It was cool to have an animal character in a story that is a bird. :) He is a great friend to Sam. I like how Mr. Saign describes the setting. It is very realistic. I felt like I was actually there. This was a wonderful story for middle grade kids! Bonus points for a cool cover too! I am looking forward to the second book in this series.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Jonathan Vine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had every element a good story should have:
Attention to details best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There's an abundance of well illustrated scenes that actually make you feel like you are right there in the story -or at least wish you were - and that's something I really look for in a good book.

This captivating and praiseworthy effort had me immersed from the beginning. The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling. There are twists and turns in this fantasy tale that will take the reader on a thrilling and unique journey.

It's one of those rare books that come along that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I'm giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery! A highly recommended read and not just for middle graders, but also tweens and young adults!

[Big Otter Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun fantasy with a girl as the hero!! Then it turned dark & scary. NOT for the lower age range-very intense with monsters and evil people chasing the kids. The parrot is a fantastic idea and the message of the book to take care of the Earth is great. I liked the writing style and the characters are well-developed and very believable. For older kids and adults, this is a thrill ride into a mystical world of talking animals and kids rising to the occasion to save the world. Well done, just not a book for the younger kids. Also have to mention the cover-WOW, beautiful and perfect for the book. I received a copy of the book-the review is my own opinion.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

*WANT A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK* Visit Mother Daughter Book Reviews

After her mother passes away, twelve year-old Samantha finds solace in her regular visits to the Endless Pet Store where she talks to a Congo African Gray Parrot named Charlie. Her life forever changes when, to her surprise, Charlie talks back and asks her to bust him out of the pet store explaining that he is a methuselah – a thousand year old magical creature being held captive by the evil pet store owner, Magnar. When Sam stuffs Charlie in her jacket and walks out the store, she sets into motion a chain of events that leave the future of Earth and the mystical world of Kiraku, where animals and nature exist in peace, hanging in the balance.

With the evil Magnar giving chase using his army of “shadow monsters” (magical creatures he has captured in rings on his fingers), Sam joins forces with Jake, her next door neighbor, to protect the final methuselah’s (i.e., Charlie) life force from being imprisoned by Magnar, thus giving him complete power. Along the way, Sam inherits a magical staff named “WhipEye” which has the power to summon the “Great Ones”, powerful beings from the land of Kiraku who are the protectors of both Earth and Kiraku. But as the Great Ones perceive that humans on Earth do not care for the environment, animals, or nature, they no longer heed the call of WhipEye. It is up to Sam and Jake to demonstrate to the Great Ones, through survival, sacrifice and love, that Earth is worth saving.

This book sucked me in from the first page and had me tearing through to the ending until one in the morning! I could not put this book down! The last 75 pages in particular contain fast-paced, non-stop, edge-of-your seat action sequences that made it impossible for me to find an appropriate place to pause. One of the things I really loved about this book is that the “bad guy” was really bad. Magnar reeked of evil and he was relentless in pursuing the children and Charlie. He was a fantastic villain. The author wisely makes Charlie, a joke-cracking parrot who provides some of the comic relief necessary to release the tension built up from the action sequences and chase scenes.

Aside from this, what really raised the bar for me was that the plot was wholly unpredictable. There were things which happened that were completely unexpected. For example, I was genuinely surprised when the Great Ones did not heed the call of WhipEye. I also did not foresee the introduction of Kiraku, a peaceful parallel world nor the introduction of mysterious characters such as Lewella and Uncle Biggie who play key roles in the story. Additionally, for many of the characters, I could not guess if they were evil or good. This wonderful book was full of surprises and the world-building and character development was excellent. Of note, I felt that the way Sam’s grief was woven throughout the story was very well done.

A final word of caution… At times, I forgot that WhipEye is intended for a middle grade audience. Some of the action featuring the scary shadow monsters chasing the children and the fight scenes between the animals were quite intense and in some cases, quite brutal. Some sensitive children may be frightened by some of the more violent passages in the book.

My Bottom Line:

WhipEye features a sophisticated, multi-layered plot touching on many themes including grief, environmentalism, friendship, trust, and courage. The fast-paced non-stop action drew me in until I found myself staying up until one in the morning not being able to put the book down until I was finished. I highly recommend this middle grade fantasy adventure to children ages 10 and older (as well as adults).

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic good vs. evil story, WhipEye bursts out of the gate with wall-to-wall action and adventure, introducing characters and setting the stage along the way. Author Geoffrey Saign puts an original spin on the tried-and-true epic battle for the future of the planet genre; a storyline packed with a constellation of wild animals, mythical beings, and a smart-aleck parrot. Twelve-year-old protagonists Samantha and Jake, along with team-mate, mentor, and loquacious parrot Charlie put themselves, and those they love at risk as they struggle to save the Earth from arch-villain Magnar.
A superbly crafted and smoothly-flowing book, WhipEye opens with the introduction of lead character Samantha Green. Struggling with the awkward tween years, Sam has the added burden of coming to terms with her mother’s recent death, and the effect its had on her grief-stricken father. New neighbor Jake offers his friendship and Sam accepts. Together, they tumble at breakneck speed into a crusade against the evil Magnar, who in return pursues the two children with a vengence. Hanging in the balance is the future of millions of people, who Magnar hopes to eradicate in order to return the planet to its original, natural state for the sake of the world’s animal population.
The chase moves to the parallel world of KiraKu, where the children are introduced to marvelous, mythical beings, and healing water. Sam has been given the gift of a staff of elaborately carved wood, which holds otherworldly and magnificent power. Known as WhipEye, the staff protects the children and Charlie as they launch offense after offense at Magnar, trying in vain to extinguish the astounding power of the malevolent forces at his command.
WhipEye is a non-stop magical thrill-ride from beginning to end. An exciting journey, this book is great for middle-grade readers. Although the writing style is superior, there is little character development, which for me was just a shade disappointing. For most readers, however, it should not be a problem. A little distracting for me as well, was the lack of dialog and the almost overwhelming amount of chase and battle details. I also felt that the “save the animals” ideology became somewhat preachy at times, but only, I think, to a dusty and jaded old reader like me. Kids will love WhipEye, and further enjoy that this wonderful book is the first in a series. My kids love chronicle-style stories, and I know others will too!
I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Naznin Azeez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book’s cover is very attractive!. Even before reading the summary, I wanted to read this book. The magical staff called the WhipEye has many animals carved on to it and I quite liked that idea. It’s visualized beautifully on the cover.

Samantha a.k.a Sam, the protagonist of this story, is sad over her mother’s death and finds solace in the company of a talking parrot, Charlie, in a pet store. However, one day when the parrot asks her to help break him out of the store and thus from the holds of the evil pet store owner, Magnar, Sam’s life takes a different turn. She has no idea what’s in store for her!. Jake, her neighbour, noses his way into Sam’s home and she has no choice but to let him in on this secret too. Thus Jake becomes an important part of her journey, in rescuing the parrot from Magnar.

At first, I didn’t like Jake’s character. He seemed like a nuisance, getting on Sam’s (and mine!) nerves, talking nonstop. Also, even when he knew there was danger involved in helping Charlie, he seemed completely into saving him. I could understand why Sam wanted to help, since she been friends with Charlie for over an year, but not why Jake was taking the risk for helping either Sam or Charlie. He was pumped and so invested in this escape plan. I found that part unbelievable. However, later on when risks become too much, Jake becomes impatient and even irked that he came along. I am glad the author wrote such a scene. It made the situation believable.

The fantasy world they both travel to is beautifully described. The danger that Magnar and his shadow monsters pose for these two kids is beyond wild. There is danger lurking in every page of this book. It’s interesting. However, towards the middle of the book, the constant run from the monsters became a bit repetitive. It’s like getting exhausted reading about the constant chase. So, sometimes when I put down the book, I found that I wasn’t rushing back to it!. However, in the last quarter, the author amped up the game and threw in a lot of unexpected twists that had me on edge till the very last page.

This is surely a great start since WhipEye is book 1 of WhipEye Chronicles. I don’t quite like books that end in a cliffhanger, that makes me wait until the next book comes out. This book isn’t so. The author has ended the book in a positive note, with just enough of a situation that promises an interesting sequel!. The second book is titled Gorgon and it will be out in Spring 2015!

[Jemima Pett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This, in my view, is probably the most disappointing book I’ve read this year. I was really excited by the blurb, which is as well written as the book itself. It is extremely well written, full of colour, vivid description, a tortuous plot, and plenty of tension. But there is a section in it which I found disturbingly horrific.

We meet Sam, who is grieving for her mother, as is her father, and their relationship has basically broken down as they simply cannot talk to each other about their grief. Her father rehabilitates animals, and Sam has inherited the interest to the extent she doesn’t really have any friends, and she’s blocked out the ones she had by her grieving. She meets Jake, whose dad has left him and his Mom, and together they make a pretty good sort of team, full of misjudgements and unfulfilled trust and mistaken choices along the way. And as the blurb indicates, Charlie asks Sam to protect him and they get chased by monsters.

It’s such a fast pace that I was enthralled for the first 20% of the book, anxious for Sam in her fragile state of mind (and body, since she often needs to use her asthma inhaler) and the horrific danger from the amazing monsters conjured up by the author. It’s so fast paced I was exhausted. By 40% I was exhausted from the relentless chasing. It just didn’t pause for any breath, except when Sam looked over her shoulder AGAIN to see where the monster was and to reach for the inhaler. Again. Did I say relentless? I lost sympathy for Sam and Jake (but not Charlie, oddly). And on all sides you are bombarded with lists of animals and birds in the country in which they find themselves. Yes, there are clever reasons for that, but I found it too much.

Eventually, you get a breather. Not just a paragraph but a whole chapter. They aren’t very long chapters. Then the creepy stuff begins, escalating into a Frankensteinian piece of horror worthy of Lovecraft or Frank Herbert.

The book is suggested as a read for 8 – 18 year olds. In my view it’s unsuitable for many kids, and definitely not those as young as 8. I’d put a PG-13 rating on it. Maybe some things strike certain nerves more than others, but this twanged mine… and the blurb sounded so good. It also made me consider, yet again, the tolerance of what I consider strong violence in US entertainment. Maybe it’s cultural.

[Amy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes you on a great journey. Talking creatures, traveling to a different world, saving the world. Wow. Samantha goes to her local pet store on her birthday to talk to her favorite bird a Parrot by the name of Charlie who to her shock talks back today. On this day little did she know her life was going to change . Charlie ask for her help to escape the evil pet store owner, he is going to kill Charlie if she doesn't. Running as fast as she can with Magnar on her heels. When she gets home Magnar accuses her of stealing the parrot and uses his magic to have the evil snake to scare them. Later, Charlie advises them to go back to the lady Rose in the woods where she gives them Whipeye a powerful like staff and then tries to stall. The only choice they have is to go to where Charlie is from to outrun Magnar. There they encounter Originals and other creatures some good some bad. Making their way back home the discover that Magnar is up to no good again and has his father arrest for stealing a rare bird. Desperate to help Samantha's father the three of them go to a meeting place where they assume is a trap. The kids were chased and end up at another's place Tom he works at the pet shop too. The kids uncover that Magnar has a warehouse and is doing experiments on animals. Finally the kids have no choice to give up Charlie and WhipEye due to unforeseen incidents. Sam and Jake go home, but then soon decided not to give up and go after Charlie and WhipEye with the help of a new friend. Both worlds, animals, good and bad will collide to fight to win. If Magnar wins he will rule the world and bring upon evil so they must stop him at all cost.
I loved this story so much imagination going on in this story. Great characters with a very suspenseful plot with action at every turn! A great hit!

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

WhipEye is an imaginative and adventuresome tale about a young girl's quest to save the life of her best friend, a thousand year old parrot named Charlie, from an evil villain known as Magnar.

After the death of her mom last year, Sam has become withdrawn. Her father rarely speaks to her, she no longer has any friends, and spends most of her time in her room. Her only escape seems to be the animals in their rescue shelter and an enchanted parrot who lives in a pet store. Feeling down, she visits Charlie, but is shocked when he speaks to her and asks her to help him break out of the pet shop. He reveals that the store owner is a vicious man who wants to trap Charlie's great powers, therefore ending his life. Sam doesn't see any other option and takes Charlie home with her. It doesn't take long for Sam to discover that Mangar is extremely dangerous and will stop at nothing to get Charlie back. Things just keep getting weirder and soon Sam finds herself in possession of WhipEye, a mystical staff with extraordinary power. Armed with WhipEye, Sam enters the land of KiraKu where she must defeat Magnar's monsters and protect Charlie if she ever hopes to get home safely.

WhipEye is a fast paced, easy to read fantasy that will appeal to middle grade readers. I like that Sam is knowledgeable of various animal species and reveals facts throughout the story as she encounters different creatures. Sam's transformation is also significant as she tries to come to terms with her mother's death. Allowing Jake to become her friend is big step for her as well. She also realizes her dad is grieving in his own way and her vow to make things right with him is touching. The author has a gift for storytelling and his creativity shines through.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of WhipEye.

[Brittany Deacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

With two strong, well-rounded protagonists, a wise-cracking parrot, a magical staff and an apocalyptic threat, "WhipEye" is the best children's fantasy/adventure book this side of the Percy Jackson series.

WhipEye tells the story of Samantha, a 12 year old girl who helps her father take care of animals. One day, she visits her friend Charlie, a parrot, in a pet store only to discover that he is a thousand year old being charged with guarding the Earth. Vowing to protect Charlie from an ominous presence, Sam, and her neighbor Jake, embark on a 24 hour journey to save the world using a magical staff called WhipEye.

From the novel's opening pages, "WhipEye," is a fast-paced and compelling read that never lags or becomes predictable. I applaud Geoffrey Saign's writing. Both his descriptive and action passages are written in such a way that you feel as though you are present in the scene. While reading "WhipEye," I was reminded of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," series; another well written fantasy/adventure for children.

There's something for everyone to love in this book. Kids will thrill at the action and terrifying monsters and the adults who read "WhipEye" with their little ones will appreciate the story and character development.

With another novel, "Gorgon," on the way, the WhipEye Chronicles is poised to take up well earned space on your child's bookshelf.

[F. A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

WhipEye starts off at a very fast pace and keeps you going from beginning till end. Sam is a girl who is in love with animals. She is a walking animal thesaurus so to speak. She loves visiting Charlie a talking Parrot and rescues him from living in a cage for the rest of his life. Little did she know that by rescuing Charlie a whole mess of events bigger then the world we know would unravel. The Store owner Magnar is an evil man seeking power and wanting Charlie just for that purpose.

Jake is a boy that comes to Sam's house to hang out with her dad and see the animals they rescue. Sam does not want Jake around and has closed herself off to people since the loss of her mother. Jake understands loss since his father walked out on him and his mom and tries to get Sam to open up to him. For a middle grade book this book had so many layers. The fantasy element and world kicks off from the moment Charlie is taken. Sam is on the run and soon Jake finds himself along on the run. They have 24 hours to keep Charlie from Magnar.

Geoffrey C. Saign takes his knowledge of wildlife and infuses it in this captivating fantasy novel. I loved the fact that anyone who reads this not only is taken on a journey but they walk away knowing more then when they started. The world building was very detailed and kept you wanting more. I would definitely recommend this for middle grade student. I am giving this 4 out of 5 stars.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

WhipEye is a middle-grade adventure story about 12-year-old animal lover Samantha and the magical parrot she rescues from a pet store. Some people might call it stealing, as she absconds with the parrot without the pet store owner's permission, but since Charlie the parrot (who happens to be one thousand years old) specifically asked Samantha to help him escape, it's much more a rescue than a theft. The rest of the book details Samantha's efforts to keep Charlie safe with help from her neighbor Jake and assorted other characters (humans, not-really-humans, animals, and not-really-animals).

I have to admit that I liked the concept of the book better than the book itself. I never found myself really drawn into the story, and found a big chunk of the middle quite tedious, in fact. I did finish the story, but I found myself having to force myself to pick it back up each time, and I only did so because I'd committed to reviewing the story. It's not a bad book – just a bit monotonous for my tastes, with all the running and chasing. A middle school reader with a love of fantasy and/or animals could very well love this book, but it just wasn't for me.

I received an ecopy of this book for my honest review; all opinions are my own.

[Susan Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

WhipEye
Geoffrey Saign

This is a very interesting book. It begins harmlessly enough with a young girl, Sam, trying to sneak into a pet store to visit an African Grey parrot. His name is Charlie and for one year he has been a great listener and the keeper of her secrets. The shopkeeper doesn’t approve of Sam’s visit and seems a little bit too protective of the parrot. Pretty soon we discover that he is a very nasty piece of work and our young heroine is justifiably frightened of him.

Young Sam finds herself embroiled in a dark world of mystery. But what is Whipeye and how can the pet shop animals be saved?

I think many young readers will identify with Sam and her loneliness. They will also enjoy this magical, uplifting story. It is easy to read and the plot has enough twists and turns to keep a young reader’s imagination stimulated.

I’m happy to recommend this book to middle grade readers eight years and up. Grab a copy, you won’t be disappointed.

For a longer review about this book please go to my blog: http://www.susandayauthor.com

[Mary Hartshorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually read this genre, but wanted something more from the usual books I read which is urban fantasy/romance. Big difference I know but I wanted to try WhipEye anyways.

Mr. Saign does not disappoint you by embellishing a fast paced story only to have a disappointing ending. From the moment he introduces Sam, then Charlie and each consecutive character, the adventure gets more intense. Sam is a young girl reeling from her mother’s death a year later, while Jake is a lonely boy trying to make new friends. When Charlie first speaks to Sam, and then Jake as an intelligent being, I cannot help but think how I would react if this happened to me! Mr. Saign was able to draw me into the story as if it were my adventure instead of Sam’s. I felt her fear, anxiety, and joy throughout the story. WhipEye is story of new beginnings, strong friendships, an amazing world, unique characters, and most of all a great adventure. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!

[William Bentrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

WhipEye by Geoffrey Saign

Animal rights, loss, depression and adventure feed the plot of this story. WhipEye is a staff of power or is it merely a manifestation of a young girls power and love of animals. Sam mourns the loss of her mother and finds herself in a struggle that threatens the fabric of her world.

The author does a nice job on showing a coming of age of a couple of kids while helping Samantha learn how to cope with her loss and recognize the loss her father is also harboring.

The pantheon of characters but good and bad are highly imaginative. The author portrays continuations action with the characters learning from their harrowing experiences. Charlie's wise cracking adds some levity to the terror of facing Magnar.

This is a good story that may help kids who are struggling with loss or personal growth by examples in the book.

Web Site: http://www.geoffreysaign.net/

[Angela Meas · Rating 4 out of 5]

WhipEye is a fast pace adventure, unpredictable from start to finish, pulling us between worlds and their impending doom. From magical creatures to ancient evil, the young Sam and her friend Jake must battle alongside Charlie, the final methuselah, to prove the Earth realm is worth saving.

This middle grade fantasy touches on friendship, honesty, righteousness, and overcoming tragedy. A very relatable story for kids today, a young girl grieving over the loss of her mother and the severe change from two parents to one, a young boy seemingly lost without a father figure, facing the same challenges of growing up with only one adult at home. Saign has created very real characters coming to life in a very unreal adventure.

WhipEye's first person view gives us the insight of the main character Sam and helps the reader truly understand and experience her troubles. The book is filled with wonderfully depicted emotions giving the reader a roller coaster ride all the way to the end.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samanthhas been struggling ever since his mom died a year ago. Her, father who can barely speak to her now, can't help because he is to morose after her death. She seeks solice in Charlie a Parrot that mimics her words, until one day when he doesn't and asks her to free him for he is certainly to die the next day. This starts a whirlwind of adventure for Samatha that will last the next twenty-four hours and take her to places she never imagained. Filled with wonder and charm, this fast paced fantasy has everything you want in an adventure. Magic exists in every chapter, and there is something wonderful and sometimes scary around every turn in her path. Go along with her you will never forget that you did.

I recieved this wonderful novel straight from the author as a part of a contest won here on goodreads. I am sure glad I did.

[Helen Yeomans · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of an unhappy girl befriended by an unusual parrot, this first installment in the Whip Eye Chronicles moves at breakneck speed. Samantha Green and her neighbor Jake try to keep their friend Charlie out of the clutches of the villainous Magnar. Sam is still grieving the loss of her mother a year ago. Estranged from her father, she gradually comes to trust Jake as their adventures first strain then strengthen their friendship. This for me was the most satisfying aspect of the story. I also liked the part played by the various animals. I did find the back story hard to follow at times, especially the differences between the Great Ones, Originals and Lessers. But all in all, this is a book I think preteens and teens alike would enjoy.

[Jamii · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I hadn't really read this sort of book since I was younger so I wasn't sure how I was going to like the whole fantasy thing, turns out I love it! This book was really well written and had an action packed plot. There were so many emotional spots and parts. The characters were incredibly well written! It was just a fantastic little book. There's a few times when you don't know if a character is a good person or a bad person, which keeps your mind turning. The book also resolves beautifully after a climactic battle that keeps you on edge. You should absolutely read it!

[Oh My Bookness · Rating 4 out of 5]

WhipEye is a well rounded story that will keep you immersed until the end. A story that captivates the reader until the very end. Details that keep the readers attention, a flowing transition from one scene to the next with ease.


From the beginning its action packed adventure that leads into a wild journey to save two worlds. Without missing a beat the author is able to clearly define the individual characters and flesh out the details along the way. A wonderfully written fantasy novel that will reach across a wide range of audiences, without missing a beats with dimensional characters and fantastical animals there is enough there to keep you busy without thing twice about it.

[Rebecah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of action and the relationship between the characters is wonderful. I did have some issues with the heavy-handedness of the message. "Be nice to animals" is a wonderful thing to teach children, but I think it could have been a little less forceful and it would have still come across well.
The danger to the children was quite serious and the parents' concern for them was realistic. In many books where children go on adventures I feel like the parents don't seem very concerned about the fact that their kids are missing for long periods of time.

[Lenita Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you start reading Geoffrey Saign's book WhipEye don't put it down in favor of another book. It is well worth the read. One chapter toward the end was so emotionally charged it brought tears to my eyes. Geoffrey Saign really knows his animals and his love for them is imparted in this book. WhipEye is very well written and also quite creative and imaginative. The idea of a magical staff which has animals on it is unique. WhipEye is an excellent book suitable for middle grade through adults. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Meg Dendler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this 4 stars because it is well written and I imagine kid's would enjoy it -- not because I particularly did. The use of the present tense was very disconcerting to me, but that's just a personal preference. The whole book is basically one long chase scene with magical monsters and magical worlds breaking into our own. My guess would be that tweenage and YA boys would enjoy this very much.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have received a complimentary copy of this book.

Fantasy and magic at its finest. The author did an amazing job of creating a world and inserting interesting and fun characters. The kids enjoyed this one and can not wait to read more by Geoffrey. If you have a taste for adventure with a magical twist check this book out!

[Scatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well conceived YA book, and pleasurable for all ages for a light read. The characters are well thought out and the plotline keeps you engaged and always wondering what is going to happen next.