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The Land of Roar
by
The new middle-grade fantasy that will make you believe in magic!
When Arthur and Rose were little, they were heroes in the Land of Roar, an imaginary world that they found by climbing through the folding bed in their grandad’s attic. Roar was filled with things they loved – dragons, mermaids, ninja wizards and adventure – as well as things that scared them (including a ve ...more
When Arthur and Rose were little, they were heroes in the Land of Roar, an imaginary world that they found by climbing through the folding bed in their grandad’s attic. Roar was filled with things they loved – dragons, mermaids, ninja wizards and adventure – as well as things that scared them (including a ve ...more
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This has to be one of the most imaginative children’s books I’ve read in a while, very reminiscent of Peter Pan, the Chronicles of Narnia and Jumanji.
I really enjoyed this, it was a super-fun portal fantasy adventure, with two eleven year old twins re-stumbling into their childhood imaginary kingdom of Roar to rescue their grandad who has been kidnapped by the evil villain Croky and taken prisoner there. The adventure is light and fun - nothing too dark - and the characters are well written, especially Win, Arthurs friend and sidekick- who was my favourite. Very funny. I think he's one of the best MG characters I have read in a while.
I really liked it!
Roar is what you would find if you climed through the back of the wardrobe, and found a mash up of Oz and Narnia, where Mr Tumnus is an inept wizard, and a half decent ninja, the wicked witch is a much scarier scarecrow, and there are more Dragons. I want live there.
A fabulous story about imagination.
Twins Rose and Arthur invented a game when they were younger about a place called Roar - to get there you have to climb through the folding Z-bed in Grandad's attic. It's a place where there are mermaids and dragons, and all manor of weird and wonderful creatures.
The twins are now 11 years old and are preparing to go to high school after the holidays, and Rose thinks she's too grown up for Roar... That is until Grandad disappears and Arthur crawls throug ...more
Twins Rose and Arthur invented a game when they were younger about a place called Roar - to get there you have to climb through the folding Z-bed in Grandad's attic. It's a place where there are mermaids and dragons, and all manor of weird and wonderful creatures.
The twins are now 11 years old and are preparing to go to high school after the holidays, and Rose thinks she's too grown up for Roar... That is until Grandad disappears and Arthur crawls throug ...more
Loved this! A perfect combination of fun and adventure that encourages imagination and family appreciation. (Oh and that artwork? So gorgeous!)
So cute and fun!
A fun adventure partly set in another world, about growing up but never letting go of the child within. Looking forward to the next in the series!
It was the goodest book that I have ever read! I can’t wait for Return To Roar. A written by my daughter G.
I thought this was a really great mix of the reality of starting a new school and anxieties about growing up along with the magic of childhood imaginations and friendships with siblings.
Roar really felt like a world that had been made up by a couple of kids, the childlike names and behavior of the inhabitants helped to keep you drawn into this world of make-believe.
The children having to simultaneously grow-up, save the day and their granddad but also remember their younger selves' imaginings, ...more
Roar really felt like a world that had been made up by a couple of kids, the childlike names and behavior of the inhabitants helped to keep you drawn into this world of make-believe.
The children having to simultaneously grow-up, save the day and their granddad but also remember their younger selves' imaginings, ...more
Oh, my goodness! I can’t stop smiling after finishing this wonderfully enchanting story. This is such a joyous treat of a book, a real celebration of the never-ending importance and power of the imagination … if only we can let ourselves believe!
Twins Rose and Arthur are growing apart as they get ready to start secondary school. Rose is too busy to play with Arthur as she becomes engrossed in the world of her phone, Youtube, make-up and fitting in with the popular girls. And Arthur is feel ...more
Twins Rose and Arthur are growing apart as they get ready to start secondary school. Rose is too busy to play with Arthur as she becomes engrossed in the world of her phone, Youtube, make-up and fitting in with the popular girls. And Arthur is feel ...more
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author and Amazon’s Vine Programme. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
I’ve read some fantastic children’s fantasy adventure stories recently, but The Land of Roar completely blew me away.
Jenny McLachlan takes some familiar tropes and imagery and infuses them with such imagination and enthusiasm that any children reading will be eagerly searching for their own Roar within seconds of putting the book d ...more
I’ve read some fantastic children’s fantasy adventure stories recently, but The Land of Roar completely blew me away.
Jenny McLachlan takes some familiar tropes and imagery and infuses them with such imagination and enthusiasm that any children reading will be eagerly searching for their own Roar within seconds of putting the book d ...more
you know a children's book is written in 2019 when it references the whip & nae nae, the floss, and loom bracelets ;)
imma be real with you guys... i picked this up solely because of the cover. if you think it's gorgeous through the screen, let me assure you that it's at least 10x better in its physical form. i. couldn't. stop. staring. and running my hands over the cover. and opening the cover flaps and staring even more. it would take me 5 minutes every time to start actually reading b ...more
imma be real with you guys... i picked this up solely because of the cover. if you think it's gorgeous through the screen, let me assure you that it's at least 10x better in its physical form. i. couldn't. stop. staring. and running my hands over the cover. and opening the cover flaps and staring even more. it would take me 5 minutes every time to start actually reading b ...more
I've seen this described as "Peter Pan meets Jumanji" an that's actually an incredibly good thumbnail description; add in a smidgen of Narnia, and a dash of Oz, and you have something completely original! Arthur and Rose Trout are twins who used to do everything together, including create the most fantastic imaginary worlds to play in. But now they're 11, and about to start secondary school, Rose seems determined to do everything she can to be fit and be "cool", including leaving the world of im
...more
Arthur and Rose are twins, and used to be very close. Now they are older, something has changed. No longer in the
same classrooms and with different interests, they have grown apart. Arthur misses how his sister used to be, but Rose just finds Arthur to be annoying, loud, embarrassing and tells him so frequently.
Whilst staying at their Grandad's, he offers his attic space as a den for the twins to design, paint and decorate, but first they must empty the contents of years of junk. So ...more
same classrooms and with different interests, they have grown apart. Arthur misses how his sister used to be, but Rose just finds Arthur to be annoying, loud, embarrassing and tells him so frequently.
Whilst staying at their Grandad's, he offers his attic space as a den for the twins to design, paint and decorate, but first they must empty the contents of years of junk. So ...more
The Land of Roar , Jenny McLachlan’s middle-grade novel, grabbed my attention with its cover (yes, I’m a sucker for anything with a dragon on it), and kept it with the initial paragraphs. The first three lines introduced both wizards and cell phones: this is solid fantasy in a contemporary setting.
And what a fantasy adventure it is! In a nutshell, Arthur misses the closeness he had with his twin Rose, now more interested in what’s on her phone than being with her brother. When the tw ...more
And what a fantasy adventure it is! In a nutshell, Arthur misses the closeness he had with his twin Rose, now more interested in what’s on her phone than being with her brother. When the tw ...more
ENTUR HEER FOR THE LANED OF ROAR!!!
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Fans of Narnia will love this book! This has everything: magic, friendship and a powerful message. #landofroar is for readers both young and old!
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I knew that I couldn't miss #landofroar when I first heard about it. Everything about this book grabbed my attention. I love the idea of an imaginary world, quirky characters and the promise of an adventure. Jenny McLahlan delivered all those. It was a compelling story and told i ...more
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Fans of Narnia will love this book! This has everything: magic, friendship and a powerful message. #landofroar is for readers both young and old!
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I knew that I couldn't miss #landofroar when I first heard about it. Everything about this book grabbed my attention. I love the idea of an imaginary world, quirky characters and the promise of an adventure. Jenny McLahlan delivered all those. It was a compelling story and told i ...more
I really wanted to like this book on so many levels, but it was a little bit of a let down for me. That's a lie, it was a lot of a let down for me. I felt as though the story was really rushed, and there were moments when I just wanted the plot to slow down and explain a little bit more about: the world, the characters and the way it works. It did do this, but there were moments where I wish it would have stopped and explained more rather than speed through important bits (or at least what I tho
...more
Another grandad & you all know I am partial to a mad grandad.
Twins Arthur and Rose Trout are not getting along, they are staying at their Grandad's during the summer before they go to secondary school. Whilst Arthur is anxious & worried, his twin sister seems nonchalant and bolshy, hanging out with the older girl next door.
Clearing out the attic, Arthur finds a map, he remembers a game they used to play... There I. The corner is a rocking horse & he remembers the tail & mane st ...more
Twins Arthur and Rose Trout are not getting along, they are staying at their Grandad's during the summer before they go to secondary school. Whilst Arthur is anxious & worried, his twin sister seems nonchalant and bolshy, hanging out with the older girl next door.
Clearing out the attic, Arthur finds a map, he remembers a game they used to play... There I. The corner is a rocking horse & he remembers the tail & mane st ...more
If you`ve been around for a while, you`ll know by now that I really like Jenny McLachlan`s teen fiction, so I was delighted when I heard she was turning her hand to some middle grade, and I was so happy when I thoroughly enjoyed her writing for this age group as well! It tells the story of somewhat estranged twins Arthur and Rose, as they discover the seemingly imaginary land they visited as children is real and that its villain has abducted their grandfather, meaning they must return and save h
...more
Getting traipsed inside this story is like reawakening an old favourite movie similar like Narnia or The Bridge To Terabithia. But this book has its own twist that one couldn't possibly expect it to go.
Honestly, reading this story about the twins, Arthur and Rose and their Land Of Roar makes me feel old. I couldn't even remember when was the last time I ever experienced this kind of game. When I was younger, obviously I have played pretend before but it was never to this extent. The details tha ...more
Honestly, reading this story about the twins, Arthur and Rose and their Land Of Roar makes me feel old. I couldn't even remember when was the last time I ever experienced this kind of game. When I was younger, obviously I have played pretend before but it was never to this extent. The details tha ...more
Arthur and Rose Trout are on the cusp - about to lose their special twin bond, off to secondary school in a few weeks, and nearly too old for imaginary games. But The Land Of Roar still has the power to lure them back...
This is a middle grade story about how stories and imagination help you grow up. It's full of exciting action sequences, cute word-play and fantastic creatures - furries and dragons and lost girls and scarecrows that give the 'scare' part of their name new meaning. Ye ...more
This is a middle grade story about how stories and imagination help you grow up. It's full of exciting action sequences, cute word-play and fantastic creatures - furries and dragons and lost girls and scarecrows that give the 'scare' part of their name new meaning. Ye ...more
This kids book was quite a pleasure to read and filled me with joy which I miss considering all the teen reads are stuffed with suffering and death.
I thought this story was quite interesting especially as it uses strange characters throughout, including Crowky a scarecrow cross bird. This book reminded me of the Wizard of Oz and Harry Potter. I think many kids will enjoy reading this book as it can really broaden their vocabulary and their imagination, with the immense amount of description I w ...more
I purchased this book while in the UK because it’s not available yet in the US. This was a sweet story about growing up and losing your innocence — but never giving up on believing in magic and the land of make-believe. While vastly different, I was reminded of the book “Orphan Island” — due to the book’s subject matter. It also has a bit of a Peter Pan feel.
I liked the characters, the story line flowed well, too. A little bit of adventure, danger and conflict — but overall not to sc ...more
I liked the characters, the story line flowed well, too. A little bit of adventure, danger and conflict — but overall not to sc ...more
An engaging, heart-warming and completely nostalgic adventure that makes you want to crawl through the camp bed into Roar yourself!
I adored this book, and would definitely recommend it for children that are set to start secondary school in September, as well as anyone who clings to their imagination (no matter their age).
It has Peter Pan vibes, yet breathes new life into the narrative. It seems to suggest that we no longer NEED to grow up, and that there's no harm in celebrating creativity ove ...more
I adored this book, and would definitely recommend it for children that are set to start secondary school in September, as well as anyone who clings to their imagination (no matter their age).
It has Peter Pan vibes, yet breathes new life into the narrative. It seems to suggest that we no longer NEED to grow up, and that there's no harm in celebrating creativity ove ...more
A ghoulishly terrifying scarecrow villain, ninja wizards, merwitches, a magnificent magical world - Arthur and Rose Trout invented it all. But playing pretend is for babies, right? Arthur knows that's what Rose thinks, but he can't forget their adventures together. Now Grandad is missing, and the Land of Roar is calling for its heroes to return...
Growing up sometimes means growing apart. You'll root for Arthur's unstoppable belief in nostalgia but the brilliance here is that you'll find yo ...more
Growing up sometimes means growing apart. You'll root for Arthur's unstoppable belief in nostalgia but the brilliance here is that you'll find yo ...more
Arthur and Rose grew up playing together inventing The Land Of Roar only now they're older, Rose and Arthur no longer play those games however when Arthur and his grandad discover Road is real and get into trouble while reuniting with old friends, Rose too ventures into the land and everything changes as they discover their world is real!
This book is for anyone who wishes the places they invented when they were kids existed and for a fantasy book it seemed to flow better ...more
This book is for anyone who wishes the places they invented when they were kids existed and for a fantasy book it seemed to flow better ...more
This was recommended to me by a member of staff at Waterstones, I really need to find and then her.
I've been slowly reading this to my kids at night and they have loved it. It's been a bit more brutal than some of the more recent books we've read but that just means that they've related more to the characters and the settings. Where not everything is always alright all the time, and where people do argue.
If you have kids (or even if you don't), pick it up and have a read, ...more
I've been slowly reading this to my kids at night and they have loved it. It's been a bit more brutal than some of the more recent books we've read but that just means that they've related more to the characters and the settings. Where not everything is always alright all the time, and where people do argue.
If you have kids (or even if you don't), pick it up and have a read, ...more
4,5 stars! Wauw! I really loved this! Roar is such a cool world! I disliked Rose so much in the beginning, but she did make up for it. I loved Arthur as a character, cause I could relate so much. It’s hard growing up and feeling like you’re too old for certain stuff. But now as a 30 year old woman (yes I’m old xD) I realise that you are NEVER EVER to old for ANYTHING! Do what makes you happy! 🥰💙✨ And reading this book made me very, very happy indeed! ❤
...more
When I picked this up in Waterstones, the two people on the tills raved about it and it made me excited to read the book. I was awed by the level of imagination in this book and how it brought to life an imaginary world that every child wishes were true. I knew I was reading something special but I didn't connect to it as much as I wanted to. I couldn't focus on the book and couldn't immerse myself fully into the world. It's a good read but not the best I've read.
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I have always loved reading and I studied English at university just so that I could read a bit more. Next I found my way into secondary teaching and discovered that I loved it too: I got to read more books, show off and hang out with very funny teenagers. What a great job!
Teaching English also encouraged me to write. Soon I had planned and started lots of different stories, but they w ...more
Teaching English also encouraged me to write. Soon I had planned and started lots of different stories, but they w ...more
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