Books For Kids 9-12

Have a new rising star

We’ve gotten it all, from one-liners to 3-page essays and everything in between, thumbs up, thumbs down, a smiley face or the weirdest emoji ever. And we love every bit of feedback you shared with us! It means so much, not just because your opinion is important, but also because reviews are so helpful to know what we did right, what we did wrong, and whether the story is going in the right direction —if you’re excited about this new book series basically.

Is the imaginary world we created magical enough? Are the fantastic beasts roaming that world scary enough? Is this epic story we’re trying to tell fun enough? Reviews definitely answer a lot of the questions that haunt us all the time. They also tell us tons about a crucial element: which characters readers connect with the most.

From Amazon to Goodreads, many Archibald Finch fans have made the same wish: “I want to be Maven”, the golem nerd who knows everything about those magic stones used to fight the monsters of Lemurea. Some would rather be Faerydae, the no less brainy but super tough girl that many young witches from the Underworld see as their leader. Others prefer to imagine themselves as Hailee, Archibald’s older sister, who experiences through the streets of London the most thrilling coming of age story one could dream of. And of course some have tried to put themselves in Archibald’s shoes, probably because he is a reflection of many kids, far from perfect, full of doubts, paralyzed by many fears, reluctant to jump into any adventure, but with an untapped potential to accomplish something much bigger than himself…

Whether it’s Faerydae, Rhiannon, Oliver, Maven, Hailee or Lenora you identify with, it’s all good, you make your pick. We have no magic wand (yet) to turn any of you into any of them but… what we can do is continue to listen to you, and adjust the contours of this fantastic story according to your likes and emojis of your choosing. Here are some of your words:

Amazon & Goodreads Reviews

A new children’s classic – LOVED IT!

MildaBeast -Amazon

“There’s a little Sherlock Holmes in this story, with a mystery that unlocks itself through a series of clues distilled through two different narratives, unfolding in two different worlds. It’s captivating to travel from one to the other, all the while getting closer to unveiling the Finch family secret… But most of all, there’s some Harry Potter in Archibald Finch, not just because of the magical atmosphere, spells and humor throughout, but also the incredibly rich and complex universe that has been created here. This is a truly unique book which I believe will become a classic. My godson and goddaughter loved it. And so did I – we all read it in one weekend! Can’t wait for the next one!”

Brings Me Back To My Harry Potter Days. Magical!

Christine K – Amazon

“This is one of those few magical books all kids should read and people of all ages for that matter. I was lucky to grow up with Harry Potter and I wish this book had been around back then. It gave me the same kind of goosbumps and warm feelings. That manor at the beginning of the book is one spooky house but at the same time it’s the place you wish you can visit and explore. Same with the world that Archibald descends into. It’s dark and those Marodor monsters are pretty scary, but the whole time you wish you could be a part of the journey or be with those witches. Such a fantastic story.”

Great For All Ages!

Steven W – Website

“I read somewhere that this is a kids book for age 9-12, but in my opinion, Archibald Finch can definitely appeal to older teens as well, and even adults. I think this is particularly true for readers who’ve loved Harry Potter books. My younger sons had gone through that entire book series twice, so I was looking for a new magical adventure for their bedtime reading. From what they had told me, their favorite part in the Hogwarts saga was the mix of dark fantasy and fun, big scares and lighter moments basically, which is hard to come by. As it turns out though, Archibald Finch couldn’t be a more perfect fit. They certainly got their fill when it comes to the dark stuff, especially with those mythical monsters in the imaginary world of Lemurea. Not to mention the backstory, filled with ancient tales and legends from the Middle Ages. But at the same time, the dialogues and descriptions contain a lot of humor, making Archibald Finch a really fun read overall. I read the book with my 9-year-old sons, then they read it again on their own. What I didn’t expect though is for my 15-year-old daughter to pick it up. She literally became hooked to it.”

Fantastic Journey

Amazon Customer

“What an amazing story! Technically, it’s actually two stories and you navigate in between from one chapter to the next. It’s pretty smart. One takes place in London, often in mysterious and spooky places that offer the most magical backdrop for this adventure, like that old manor Archibald’s parents inherit, or the antique shops his sister explores while searching for him. It’s 2018 London but it feels like it could be 1818 or earlier. That’s pretty smart too because it makes it easy to move back and forth and dive into the other story, the other world, the one that is officially magical, with its fantastic beasts, its witches and its unfinished battle from the Middle Ages. Combine the two worlds and the whole thing reads like a puzzle that you put together little by little. It’s captivating.”

The Perfect Fantastical Coming Of Age Story

Cups And Thoughts – Goodreads

“This book is just made for the nostalgic, the daydreamers, and the adventurers. There’s lots of unique, magical elements going around in the book, while still keeping the family dynamic true to the story. It’s amazing to see that family plays a huge part in this book. Most Fantasy novels don’t really explore family elements in general , so it’s always nice to read about it whenever I get the chance to come across it in a book. The characters are so lovable and charismatic, and the story just sucks you right in! All this talk about antique stores, an old manor, a thousand year old secret, and witches just makes the book brim with so much atmosphere <3 So much Halloween/Autumnal vibes! It’s just perfect. October has made me become a major mood reader, and Archibald Finch topped my reading game this month with its immersive story and charming characters.

This book switches back and forth between two perspectives – one Hailee who lives in London, and the other of her brother who gets sucked into a world called Lemurea. The transition between both perspectives was done so well! Alongside the magical creatures and wars, we also get to venture around Central London. We get to see a world where witches fight and beasts dwell, but we also get to follow the perspective of a young girl experiencing real life problems. Hailee is lost and upset, but she’s also curious and strong. Archibald is brilliant and a tad ignorant, but he’s loving and sensitive. Both Hailee and Archibald grow as characters in different ways, which was an absolute delight to see. Although I did enjoy both perspectives, I was definitely more keen to read Hailee’s perspective. The setting and antagonist just appealed more to me. Whilst I did enjoy the world of Marodors, Lemurea still remains an unexplored world. It needs more depth and room for the characters to grow and the world to expand. But I know this is only the beginning of Archibald Finch! I can tell that the next book will have lots more in store for us readers!

Archibald Finch and The Lost Witches is the perfect fantastical coming of age story. It’s action-packed, enigmatic, and super charming. I’m not usually one for Middle-grade Fantasy books, but Archibald has my heart <3 I enjoyed every second of it! Please, please pick this book up if you haven’t thought of doing so already!”

A Book With A Strong Message

Lisa G – Instagram

“It’s become really hard to find the right fantasy book or adventure book today, especially with the endless flow of new titles published every month. One thing I’ve found really helpful to find the next gem is to check out the list of Amazon kids books bestsellers. That’s where I found Archibald Finch a coupe months ago, and once again, Amazon didn’t let me know. This is no less than one of the best kids books I’ve read. To me, it’s right up there with Percy Jackson books, Wings of Fire or the Lands of Stories series, among other amazon kids books bestsellers. The only difference here I would say is that beyond the magic, the monsters, the witches and the amazing world-building, Archibald Finch also has something to say, a pretty strong message I mean. Very few middle grade books or YA books contain so much meaning and depth. It probably has to do with the fact that Archibald Finch is based on true events, partially at least. It’s not quite historical fiction but the references to Da Vinci and the Middle Ages witch-hunt definitely give this book a different dimension.”

A Fun Tale, And A Meaningful Read!

Christine – Amazon

“Beyond the fantastic beasts populating the book, beyond the breathtaking adventure full of surprising twists, there is a basic human dimension to this story that I find deeply inspiring. By chapter two, once the premise established, right after Archibald’s big plunge into the unknown, you enter a world of frightening contrast, with those amazing young girls armed with the most magical weapons and the highest ideals, trying to live a seemingly normal life despite the extreme dangers surrounding them. The “daughters of nightfall”, as they were called following their ordeal, have their own funny language, funky hats, glowing stones, complex alphabet, they mix science with herbology, they use lanterns made out of fireflies, they are completely disconnected from Archibald’s reality, and yet you feel so close to them. As you learn more about them, you develop a deep connection with their amazing survival story, based on events that unfortunately took place…In the end, the real magic in Archibald Finch resides in the author’s ability to keep the characters’ lives and emotions on a human scale, in the midst of flying Marodors (the intriguing monsters roaming the underworld) and exploding golems (the young witches’ weapon of choice). Entertaining, fun, and compelling.”

Fun Fun Fun…!

Joel – Amazon

“It was so fun getting lost in the world of Lemurea, learning about it alongside Archibald, one enigma at a time. The universe created in this book is one of the most compelling I’ve ever seen for kids. From the firefly lamps to the northern lights rising from giant boulders around the witches’ colonies, the magic is in the details, big and small. The whole concept, starting with that mysterious antique globe is just fascinating. I was thrilled by the wink to Da Vinci and all the historical references. Really great plot as well, with a story rich of multiple layers, each coming to light in a very clever way. My son is so into this. I‘m really curious to see where this adventure goes next. Looking forward to book 2.”

Such An Epic Read!

Kevin – Instagram

“I’m in my 20s now but I have been a huge fan of middle-grade books for half my life, especially chapter books for kids, like the Goosebumps books, How to train your Dragon or the Fablehaven book series. A friend gifted this to me for Christmas, and wow, what an amazing surprise! Actually one thing that doesn’t surprise me is that it’s become an amazon bestseller. I don’t really know how to put it but Archibald Finch is just the next level when it comes to children fantasy books.

The monsters and creatures that the young witches (and Archibald) have to face in that scary underworld are just so different than anything I’ve seen in this kind of adventure fantasy books before. I thought I had seen it all in terms of dragons in books but the dragons in Archibald Finch are something else, still a big mystery actually that I can’t wait to learn more about in book 2.

Same thing with the witches themselves, totally unexpected. I really love the way their magical powers work, and where they get it from. It makes me feel like I can just go out into the woods and somehow nature will help me find all the right magic spells. Archibald Finch is such an epic read and a magic book!”

Magical

Gillian D – Amazon

“What I really enjoyed is that the magic in the book is not just something I can’t relate to, or the spells made up only to sound good. Of course it’s still magic, so not quite within reach, but I like that the author often goes to the source of that magic, mostly plants, animals, and nature in general. It’s definitely refreshing. In that sense, it reminds me of the way J.K Rowling introduced many magical elements to the Harry Potter saga. I’m hoping the whole Archibald Finch series will be as enchanting and inspiring. This is definitely a great start!”

Thank You For The Feedback!

The whole team behind Archibald Finch is so grateful for all the amazing reviews we’ve been getting since the book launch. Book bloggers have been so good to us in their praise and sharing of the story. It’s especially true for the Goodreads and Instagram book lovers’ family (AKA Bookstragram), which have contributed greatly to spreading the word, and advised readers to add Archibald Finch to their TBR.

We were surprised to see how many of them were so fond of kids fantasy books, adventure books, and more generally kids books for ages 9 12. As a result of all this buzz on social media, readers’ platforms and book bloggers’ sites, Archibald Finch has quickly become a number one Amazon bestseller, topping the charts regularly in several categories such as Children’s exploration fiction, Children’s medieval fiction books, Children’s dragon stories, and also Fairy tales, Folk tales and Myths. It has been a real honor to share the glory with amazing titles like How to Train your Dragon and the Girl who Drank the Moon. And beyond that, we are very humbled to see Archibald Finch being compared in many reviews to other middle grade heroes like Percy Jackson or Harry Potter…

It is quite overwhelming to see and feel the excitement surrounding the book and the universe we created, as shown in the countless messages and emails we’ve received, asking us what will happen next for Archibald and his friends (and the book villains of course!). Now that the main characters, background story and general narrative are pretty much set, book 2 will be able to build on the little that is known, and focus on the ocean of unknown. And so much is left to explore and discover in the imaginary world of Lemurea…