Ka'Azula (Black Hole Radio, #3) in Review / Write / Read Club (Indie & Self-Published)

Dec 16, 2022 Sotto Voce rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Initially, I felt confounded because I didn't realize this was the third book. It mentioned events that happened previously that I knew very little about, and the relationships between friends are not fleshed out in this book. It makes sense when I found out.

Growing up, I loved to read Enid Blyton's book, which continued until I was an adult. It sent me places and carried me through adventures I didn't get in real life. Personally, I prefer realism, especially in children's story than trying to Initially, I felt confounded because I didn't realize this was the third book. It mentioned events that happened previously that I knew very little about, and the relationships between friends are not fleshed out in this book. It makes sense when I found out.

Growing up, I loved to read Enid Blyton's book, which continued until I was an adult. It sent me places and carried me through adventures I didn't get in real life. Personally, I prefer realism, especially in children's story than trying to imagine a group of kids going through life-threatening situations with skills that are quite a stretch for me to believe (not the 'gifted' ability—that works in the story—but things such as driving like Fast and Furious expert and shooting like John Wick).

The basketball, school, and ordinary life scenes felt detached from the other two-thirds of the book when they visited the other world. It would be great if there were more relationships between these two parts or some continuation when they return for a bit.

For the characters, it's quite hard to get their age and distinction. Sometimes they speak like adults, and sometimes like children. There are also fewer unique personalities to each of them, but I give it the benefit of the doubt that they are reflected in earlier books. There is excessive use of high-fives that they feel forced to remind the readers that they are kids instead of working it into consistent conversation styles or other ways.

I like the imagination of the world, the bluest blue, and the meaning that anyone can bring home. I can relate to not knowing that we are different if not for others who make a big deal out of it. The author makes it simple; everyone is open-minded. It's on the contrary in real life, but it works for children's books, and hey, actually, it should work in real-life too! I think it's an excellent message; it just feels a bit too preachy at the end. The earlier and subtle indication works much better, imho.

I round this up for the benefit of the doubt that many issues I have are addressed in the earlier book.

3.5 Random Alien Candies out of 5 Azulizard Sausages ...more

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Oct 16, 2022 Rik Ty rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Ka'Azula is a fun short novel written with grade schoolers in mind. It is the third installment of the Black Hole Radio series, which is made of short science fiction novels starring three friends who get pulled through the cosmos by a radio with strange capabilities. This particular adventure pulls the children to “Ka’Azula", a world where the dominant culture has concluded that blue people are worthy, and people of every other color are not. The book keeps a light tone but explores the subject Ka'Azula is a fun short novel written with grade schoolers in mind. It is the third installment of the Black Hole Radio series, which is made of short science fiction novels starring three friends who get pulled through the cosmos by a radio with strange capabilities. This particular adventure pulls the children to “Ka’Azula", a world where the dominant culture has concluded that blue people are worthy, and people of every other color are not. The book keeps a light tone but explores the subject of racism and its effects.
In the story, two of the three Earth friends are turned blue by the Ka’Azulians so that they can be interacted with comfortably, and the one child who isn’t, winds up in a holding cell of some kind where he meets a very young inhabitant of the planet who happens to be red. The red child and the Earth child sneak into the compartment where the two blue Earth children are, and the four young characters begin playing a video game that pulls them into cyber-space. The son of the Ka'Azula chieftain is sent into the game to retrieve them, and there are interesting results. That’s the story without giving too much away. The book makes points about racism that are easy to understand, and easy to empathize with.
While the book is short, and written in a simple style, the author, Ann Birdgenaw, does several interesting things - she sends 3 likable kids on an adventure to another world - she gives the kids a few super-abilities (esp communications, and mild telekinesis), and when it comes time to up the stakes, she tells the kids and the readers that the only way for the group to have a good outcome, is to get to the final level of the video game and win. I thought that was a great idea - I think it’s a way of raising the stakes that most kids will instantly be able to relate to. It also is interesting in that it adds a fantasy world to what is already a fantasy world. In the game, Birdgenaw also offers riddles that the children and the readers are invited to solve, and the final escape-room level of the video game offers more examinations of problem solving. These are great bonuses!
Another great bonus are the book’s very charming illustrations. These show great economy and are always fun to look over - they include kids entering a video game, a video-game car, and a pizza the size of an entire table - fun! One last thing I noticed, Ms. Birdgenaw sets each chapter up so that there is roughly the same amount of text before an illustration, and the same amount of text after. Once I noticed this pattern, it created a fun sense of anticipation. I found myself looking forward to the upcoming illustrations. I think this pattern would become reassuring to children who were reading the book (“I read this long, and then there is an illustration. Then I read this much more and I have finished a whole chapter.”) This could reenforce a sense of accomplishment and seems like a nice reward system for any children who may be reluctant, or under-confident readers.
All in all, a great job. Kids will be able to fly through these books, and happily add the Black Hole Radio books to the series that they follow. Nicely done!
...more

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May 27, 2022 Lynn Helton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: challenge-readers-unbound-2022, speculative-fiction, childrens

Written in first-person present tense, this imaginative sci-fi adventure begins shortly after the end of Black Hole Radio - Bilaluna, the previous book in the series. The book’s prologue recaps what has gone before, so a reader can jump right into this book.

The story takes Hawk, Matt, and Celeste on another wild adventure, meeting aliens and experiencing new, advanced technology - in this case an immersive alien video game. Throughout the story, the book imparts an important message about not de ...more

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Aug 16, 2022 Ann Birdgenaw rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Review by Feathered Quill Book Reviews
"Space explorers, and best friends, Hawk, Matt, and Celeste, are off on another adventure in book three of the Black Hole Radio series, Black Hole Radio: Ka'Azula, this time to the not-so-friendly planet of Ka'Azula.

The story gets off to a quick start, when on the very first line of the first page, Hawk is trying to outrun a bunch of bug aliens. Will he make it? Fortunately, Hawk (and the reader) learn that it's just a dream - Hawk is really safely at home, Review by Feathered Quill Book Reviews
"Space explorers, and best friends, Hawk, Matt, and Celeste, are off on another adventure in book three of the Black Hole Radio series, Black Hole Radio: Ka'Azula, this time to the not-so-friendly planet of Ka'Azula.

The story gets off to a quick start, when on the very first line of the first page, Hawk is trying to outrun a bunch of bug aliens. Will he make it? Fortunately, Hawk (and the reader) learn that it's just a dream - Hawk is really safely at home, in his bed. Ever since returning from Bilaluna (see the previous book in the series, Black Hole Radio: Bilaluna), Hawk has been dreaming about aliens coming after him. Hawk then catches the reader up on the adventures that he, Matt, and Celeste have been on, thanks to a rather unique radio.

Next the friends are off to school, and basketball takes center-stage for all the kids. Celeste, who has no real interest in playing basketball, soon discovers that the Queen of Bilaluna, who had promised a "gift" to one of them, gifted Celeste with the power of levitation. This special skill will come in handy during basketball practice, and during their coming adventure...

Speaking of adventures, the three friends soon find themselves transported, thanks to that pesky radio, to the planet of Ka'Azula. The aliens are definitely not friendly and the strange thing is that while these aliens are all blue, they insist that the visiting friends must become blue too. Hawk and Celeste are tricked into turning blue (never take candy from a stranger!), but Matt manages to avoid all the things that might turn him blue. Not understanding what is going on, Matt is separated from his friends and basically thrown into an alien version of a jail. Here he meets a little red alien, Teal. With Teal's help, Matt realizes that the inhabitants of Ka'Azula who are blue rule the planet and believe that anyone who is not blue is inferior. A video game that all three friends, plus Teal, must survive, will determine the fate of the whole planet...

Black Hole Radio: Ka'Azula, the third book in the Black Hole Radio series for pre-teens, offers another creative adventure full of fantastical creatures, interesting concepts, and a little science thrown in for fun (do you know how to remember all the planets in our solar system?). The author tackles racism in this story in a way that doesn't come across as preachy, and also shows just how hurtful and painful it can be. Rather than just being told how bad racism is, readers will see the results of it, and how it hurts a sweet character (Teal) and those around him. The "bad guy" in the story, TopMost, has some serious thinking to do as the story nears the end - will he see how wrong his thinking has been - and will our friends be able to return to Earth? And what about Teal?"

Quill says: Get ready for another fun, and educational, adventure with Celeste, Matt, and Hawk, as they explore the racist planet of Ka'Azula. Will they be able to help the planet's inhabitants see how wrong they are? ...more

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Jun 04, 2023 Patricia Bates rated it really liked it · review of another edition

While this isn't the first book in the series, the author did a fantastic job of ensuring I didn't feel as though I was missing a ton of information.
Ka'Azula is the story of Fifth-graders Hawk, Matt and Celeste - and their adventures on a planet where only blue skin is socially acceptable. Ann does an amazing job of weaving a story about acceptance and how there is more to people than their appearance while weaving in action, adventure, friendship, and some pretty cool aliens.
I would strongly ...more

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Jun 02, 2022 Soph rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Exciting continuation of the action/adventure scifi series, Black Hole Radio. Our heroes are transported to a planet of hostile blue aliens who cannot tolerate any other skin color. Hawk and Celeste are given the 'sameness' capsule and turn blue but Matt, who is biracial, avoids it and is segregated with a sweet red being called Teal. Matt & Teal must escape the dungeon, find their friends and outsmart the racist virtual video games and escape room in order to teach the aliens that it's what's o ...more

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Apr 22, 2023 Marco Santucci rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I was pleasantly surprised when reeled into the tale, being a child's book, I'd say for age 10-12.
It becomes highly action packed when a trio of friends find themselves on a hostile planet after they decide to transport through a wormhole, opened up by an old radio's beeping frequency belonging to Hawk's dead grandfather. The story will teach compassion, unconditional love, and equality for all, no matter what color, race, or even alien you are.
And Hawk's epilogue? The best! If you're old enou ...more

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Jun 02, 2022 James Joseph rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The third book in the Black Hole Radio series that follows the adventures of three preteens who transit through wormholes to far-off planets. This one is told mostly from Matt's perspective, as they visit a society with bird-like humanoid aliens that love the color blue. When that blue love extends to individuals in their society, it leads to issues of non-inclusiveness and discrimination that threaten and deeply disturb Matt. But the lessons are subtle in a story full of adventure, with new fri ...more

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Aug 08, 2022 Ed Morawski rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Aimed squarely at ten year olds - and hits the target quite well.

Admittedly this is not my usual reading fare, however I do happen to have three grandchildren ranging from eight to eleven so I know they would love this book and I recommended the series to their parents.

Speaking of the fact this is book three of a series, I didn't read the first two but had no trouble following the story. If the kids like this one they can always go back and read one and two.

The book is well written and being sho ...more

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Jul 23, 2022 Peter Boyde rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This series just keeps getting better. My son and I just finished this fun space adventure and we can't wait for the next one! Hawk, Matt and Celeste visit a racist planet that only tolerates blue skinned aliens even their own inhabitants. Lots for adventure as the trio along with an unfortunate red-skinned alien try to escape their captors in an exciting video game climax. My 8 year old son really liked this part. It gave us the opportunity to discuss racism and why it's hurtful and damaging to ...more

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Jun 07, 2022 Nancy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I was excited to read the third installment in the Black Hole Radio series and I was not disappointed. This is another action-packed adventure that is sure to draw in young readers. Hawk, Matt and Celeste are drawn back into another crazy adventure through the wormhole. The story starts out with our characters discovering their adventures have left Celeste with a bit more power than she had before. Before too long the beep, beep, beep of the black hole radio is drawing them back into another adv ...more

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Sep 09, 2024 Joseph Minart rated it it was amazing

An entertaining read for younger audiences, tackling real world problems.
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2023
I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review it. Ka'Azula (Black Hole Radio, #3) is a great story for younger audiences to learn how to accept each other for who they are, not to be judged by one's looks, and have the adventure to keep friends together. A group of kids named Matt, Hawk, and Celeste--some nerdy kids--are sent from Earth to meet aliens w ...more

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Jan 10, 2024 Amber Daulton rated it really liked it

This middle-grade story is about three best friends who live on Earth and have a trans-dimensional portal (in the shape of a radio) in the garage. Matt, Celeste, and Hawk have experienced some wild things and shown great bravery, but at heart, they’re still kids and want to live a normal life. They still have a lot of growing up to do, and when they’re transported to a planet that hates anyone who doesn’t have blue skin, they learn a well-needed lesson about prejudice and racism.
I love Ms. Birdg ...more

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Jan 12, 2025 P.J. Ashton rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed the writing. The use of present tense kept the action in your face and dynamic. The character relationships really work and on the whole, they make a great team of diverse children.

The scenes in the game were excellent with great action and riddles which I think younger kids would get a kick out of solving if someone reads the book to them. If you read it yourself, it becomes more difficult as you just want to read on, rather than stop yourself. This for me, shows the writing i ...more

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Sep 23, 2022 Soph rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Fun and action-packed! The third book in the series does not disappoint. After finding out that Celeste has the power of telekinesis, which accidentally makes them all basketball stars, the radio sucks them through to a planet that is racist against all but blue skin. Matt, a biracial character, realizes what his father's family has had to deal with on Earth and the power of being yourself. Themes for children to read about and learn about. Recommended. ...more

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Jul 25, 2023 Loralee rated it liked it

I have read and enjoyed the other books in this series, and enjoyed this one as well. Three friends, Hawk, Matt, and Celeste have been on trips through space before, via a radio in their clubhouse that creates wormholes for them to travel through, helping different alien species out of various predicaments. Along the way, the kids and audience learn important life lessons. In this one, they learn about the harm and foolishness of disliking someone just because of the color of the surface of his/ ...more

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Jul 13, 2022 Ann Swann marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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Oct 04, 2022 J.R. Gibson marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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