The Business in Bermuda

Myra and the Magic Motorcycle #1

by Amanda Greenslade, Glen Holman (Illustrator)

When Myra, an eight-year-old Australian girl, finds a yellow sports bike in the back shed, she doesn't expect it to actually work. It has strange buttons on the display and something like an eyebrow above the headlight. And there is a key in the ignition!

Join Myra and her pet bird, Diver, on an exciting adventure on the other side of the world. Hitch a ride on the Magic Motorcycle as it takes Myra on her very first mission.

Turn the key and rev the throttle. You are about to go on the adventure of a lifetime with Myra and the Magic Motorcycle.

Myra and the Magic Motorcycle is a series of illustrated children's books about an eight-year-old girl named Myra, who has a magic motorcycle that takes her all over the world. In every story the motorcycle brings Myra on a special mission to help someone. Each book teaches about a specific location in the world as well as having a social theme. The social themes include understanding human behavior, developing interpersonal skills, and social issues such as poverty, inequality, bullying, and the media.

Genres: Fantasy

48 pages, Paperback

First published August 19, 2015

About the author

Australian writer of adult fantasy and children’s books. She aims to make every book she writes entertaining and thought-provoking.

Amanda completed a Bachelor of Communication majoring in writing and screen production at Griffith University in 2003. The Managing Director of Australian eBook Publisher, a self-publishing service, Amanda is a multi-skilled communicator and designer. She has knowledge and experience in writing, editing, publishing, graphic design, book layout, web design and marketing.

She also uses her small business marketing expertise to assist other businesses and organisations through her business Greenslade Creations.

Reviews

[Jeanéva Christie]

Take a magic ride with Myra

This book is really great if you like motorcycles or mysteries. If you read this book it will be really mysterious and awesome. Myra moved to a new house and found a magic motorcycle. Her adventures started the moment she turned it on. First she pressed the Fusion Flight button and took a ride on a beam of light. Then she decided to check out the Globe Slide button. Whoosh, she travels through the earth to Bermuda. The Distress Detector takes her to a family that is poor and really needs her help. The story was magically awesome and we really loved the pictures. ~ Alyssa, age 10.

At the end of the book, the author poses the question of what the reader would suggest the use for six mysterious buttons would be. Alyssa’s thoughts for the mysterious buttons are: Invisibility, translator to talk with people and animals, a shape-shifting button to change the bike into something else like a submarine, a food and drink dispenser, rocket ship capabilities for outer space travel and a computer that can answer your questions.

What a wonderfully fun and enlightening book. We absolutely loved the illustrations. While totally out of this world and over the top when it comes to reality Myra’s story is just perfect for entertaining and engaging a child’s imagination. The story takes a serious bent when it introduces the idea of poverty, need and another culture. I love the way Ms. Greenslade presented a very serious subject in a fun-loving way that engages children and encourages them to take action themselves. Although a few words proved challenging and a couple needed defining Alyssa had no problem reading the story and getting totally wrapped up in it. It was also an experience in learning the difference in Australian terms and spelling versus American English. All in all, I would highly recommend this series and this book in particular. What a wonderfully magical read!
*****Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions*****

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books]

I think this is a great idea for a series of children’s books and all credit to the author, illustrator and publishers for producing such a delightful book! This is certainly a book and series I’d be advising primary teachers to check out.

This is the first story in the adventures of an eight year old Australian girl called Myra who has recently moved home. Whilst exploring the garden shed she discovers a bright yellow motorbike which is just the right size for her! This shiny machine has some weird controls and there’s a key in the ignition. She just has to give it a try. That’s the start of an amazing adventure that will take her and her pet kingfisher, Diver, all over the world. In this story she’ll be helping a family in Bermuda.

This is a bright, colourful, beautifully illustrated book which younger children will enjoy having read to them and more competent readers will really engage with. It is a great story, well written with characters children will readily engage and empathise. After the story the reader is encouraged to find out more about Bermuda, inside the earth and issues related to poverty. It could easily be used to promote discussions and awareness concerning geography (places and features of the world), interpersonal relationships and social integration. There are suggestions for parents and teachers at the end of the story and the delightful news that more adventures are being produced in this series. Highly recommend!

Thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGalley, too for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cassandra]

Thank you, Ms. Greenslade, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. As the title states, this story is about a young Australian girl named Myra who comes across a magical motorcycle. Not knowing exactly what the motorcycle can do or how to use it, Myra inadvertently travels to Bermuda. There she realizes that the motorcycle took her to Bermuda because her help is needed by a mother with small children. This book is intended for children ages 5-7. I agree with that ae group. As stated in the back of the book, Ms. Greenslade's intention is for this story to encourage kids to be helpful to others. Additionally, at the back of the book are two pages explaining the workings of the magical motorcycle. There is also educational information about other aspects of the book. I have read a few of Ms. Greenslade's books and I always appreciate the additional information she adds at the back of her books to help parents and teachers continue the fun and discussion of her stories after the story has been read. I give this a 3.5 star review rounded up to 4 stars.

[Carla]

This is a great idea for a children's series. When Myra and her pet kingfisher, Diver find a magic motorcycle in the shed of their new house, their adventures begin. Not knowing what the buttons on the dash will do, Myra starts pushing them and ends up flying. When she pushes another, she travels through the centre of the earth to Bermuda. While she is there the motorcycle, having a mind of its own, takes her on an adventure where she ends up helping a family. The end of the book encourages the reader to learn more about Bermuda, the inside of the earth as well as the social issues of the rich and poor. There is also a website where teacher's can get resources if they read the book to their class. A fun way to teach.

[Cathy Maldonado]

A cute and fun read for adults and children about an 8 year old girl, who has recently moved to a new house in Australia, and finds this amazing magical motorcycle in the shed of their new house. Her curiosity gets the best of her and she ends up ridding the motorcycle whit her pet kingfisher, Diver. Soon they find themselves on adventures and helping a family ease their bargains. A great story to read to your kids before bed time with beautiful illustrations. I think this series will make readers out of children.

[Anne Hamilton]

Such a fun book. Myra and her friend, the kingfisher Diver, go fusion flying, global gliding and zooming through the earth after finding a magic motorcycle in the back shed of their new house.

The motorcycle has a distress detector and, on arriving in the seahorse-shaped island of Bermuda, Myra finds herself helping a young family in difficulty.

The vibrant graphics are a real treat - but the contrast in colour between text and background could be enhanced.

[Suzanne]

Fast, fun and unforgettable, this is a book that will surely delight readers, both children and adults that may read to them. First in a series that will leave everyone eager for more. I received my copy from NetGalley.