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Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire by [John August]

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John August

Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire Kindle Edition

by John August (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

279 ratings

Book 1 of 2: Arlo Finch

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Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire is the first book in a spellbinding fantasy adventure series by screenwriter John August.

Some trails lead to magic. Some lead to danger.

As Arlo looked around, the walls of his room began to vanish, revealing a moonlit forest. Only his bed remained, and the frame of his window, through which he saw the girl. The world on her side of the glass was sparkling with silver and gold, like a palace made of autumn leaves.
She looked off to her right. Someone was coming. Her words came in an urgent whisper: "If I can see you, they can see you . . . Be careful, Arlo Finch.”

Arlo Finch thought becoming a Ranger meant learning wilderness skills, like camping and knots. But upon arriving in the tiny town of Pine Mountain, Colorado, Arlo soon learns there's so much more. His new friends Indra and Wu teach him how to harness the wild magic seeping in from the mysterious Long Woods—a parallel realm of wonder and danger.

First he must master the basics, including snaplights, thunderclaps and identifying supernatural creatures. But Arlo Finch is no ordinary Ranger, and this is no ordinary time. A dark and ancient force is sending threats into the real world . . . our world.

Through perilous adventures and close calls, Arlo is awakened to his unique destiny—but the obstacles he faces will test the foundations of the Ranger's Vow: loyalty, bravery, kindness, and truth.

A Junior Library Guild selection

Reading age

8 - 12 years, from customers
Print length

326 pages
Language

English
Grade level

3 - 7
Lexile measure

670L
Publisher

Roaring Brook Press
Publication date

February 6, 2018
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ISBN-13

978-1626728141
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Books In This Series (2 Books)

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Arlo Finch

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1
Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire
John August

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Arlo Finch in the Lake of the Moon
John August

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–7—Arlo Finch's family has returned to his mother's hometown of Pine Mountain, CO, to try to regain some normalcy after a stressful few years. But nothing is normal in Pine Mountain. From the house they live in that comes complete with an eccentric taxidermist uncle to the magical creatures that have taken special notice of Arlo, adventure and mystery are everywhere. To make new friends, 12-year-old Arlo joins the Rangers, a scoutlike group, and finds that they don't just learn to build fires—they learn some magic craft and about creatures from other realms. As Arlo prepares for his first test to advance a rank, he has no idea he and his friends' lives will be at stake. Much like other popular series such as "Percy Jackson," magic and realism are woven together. The first novel is clearly laying the groundwork for future installments, and it is very fertile ground. Enough questions are answered to provide satisfaction, but unanswered questions and mysteries that remain. VERDICT An exciting fantasy novel grounded in reality with a strong emphasis on friendships and great characters. This new series will appeal to fans of mystery and adventure as well as reluctant readers.—Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Review

“Accomplished screenwriter August artfully thrusts readers into a whole new world, right alongside Arlo . . . This is just the first volume in a new series, so readers won’t have to wait long to plunge back into the mysterious Long Woods.” ―Booklist

“Much like other popular series such as 'Percy Jackson,' [this is] an exciting fantasy novel grounded in reality with a strong emphasis on friendships and great characters. This new series will appeal to fans of mystery and adventure as well as reluctant readers.” ―School Library Journal

“The mysteries―from what makes Arlo a target to why a girl who vanished years ago has reappeared to him and only him―become increasingly more compelling as more pieces are revealed . . . Readers will find Arlo relatable, especially if they’ve ever struggled to fit in themselves.” ―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“A thrilling adventure full of magic and wonder. John August is a master storyteller.” ―Ransom Riggs, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

“A fast, fun, and fearless tale. Arlo's adventures feel both completely real and entirely magical. I loved it!” ―Ally Condie, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Matched and Summerlost

“A masterful mix of mystery and adventure, set in a supernatural scouting troop. Reading this book made me wish I hadn't dropped out of Cub Scouts.” ―Geoff Rodkey, New York Times–bestselling author of the Tapper Twins series

--This text refers to the hardcover edition.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B073TSKP9J
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Roaring Brook Press (February 6, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 6, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4430 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #758,902 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,505 in Children's Sports & Outdoors Books (Kindle Store)
- #2,846 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Adventure
- #9,970 in Children's eBooks (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
279 ratings

About the author

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John August

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John August is the author of 2018’s Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire, the first of a three-book series. It’s his debut novel.

As a screenwriter, John’s credits include Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Frankenweenie, Corpse Bride and the two Charlie’s Angels films.

In 2014, John created Writer Emergency Pack, a tool for writers used in thousands of classrooms worldwide. Originally a record-setting Kickstarter, it’s now available on Amazon.

Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, John is an Eagle Scout. He's happy to show you any knot you need. He earned his journalism degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and his film degree from the University of Southern California. He now lives in Los Angeles with his family, including his dog, Lambert.

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Jim

Arlo Finch is the next great hero of youth lit.

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2018

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I picked up "Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire" because I'm a fan of John August. The "Scriptnotes" podcast he hosts with fellow screen-scribe Craig Mazin is a weekly masterclass for screenwriters. I also really enjoy his film catalogue.

So when he announced both this novel, as well as a quasi-spinoff podcast called "Launch" (which details the creation of the book from concept to printing, through to sales and reception), I was instantly hooked on that as well. And John's passion for spinning a superior yarn, as well as his endearing geekery over details of the process, were utterly infectious. I knew I had to read the book when it hit shelves. So I pre-ordered it.

And I'm glad I did. Arlo is thoroughly charming. He's possessed of just the right kind of wide-eyed, innocent curiosity he needs to be in order to serve as both protagonist and aspirational reader proxy, while still being starch-spined and fearless enough to brave the unknown. His friends, family, home, and the world full of Wonder (capital "W" intentional) in which they live are rich and fantastic, but still thoroughly plausible. As a reader, you really want to believe that there is just a little magic hidden in the shadows sometimes, and Arlo's world really delivers on that promise. I simply can't recommend this book highly enough.

Total disclosure: I'm a grown man, and this book is aimed at a YA audience (or, to be more accurate as John points out in his podcast, "mid-grade"). But a good story is a good story. And this? This is a REALLY good story. Perfect, as John hopes, for reading with a flashlight under the covers. So, no matter your age, any lover of lit will find a lot to love inside the covers of "Arlo Finch."

Even better - "Valley of Fire" is the first book in a planned trilogy. And I ALREADY can't wait to see what surprises are in store in the mysterious "Lake of the Moon"!

Bravo, John!

6 people found this helpful

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SchnauzerFaceTop Contributor: Pets

No exaggeration: this is the next Harry Potter and Percy Jackson

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2018

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I've been looking forward to Arlo Finch for months -- it seems like the positive buzz surrounding this book has been circulating since last summer. Needless to say, when I finally sat down with a copy two days ago, it was hard for me to approach Arlo Finch without high expectations. I am just delighted to say that it surpassed all of my hopes. I was expecting an exciting adventure story, but August delivered so much more. He has crafted perfect characters, pacing, conflict, dialogue, and, most unexpectedly, top-notch prose.

Yes, I'm 32, but I've got a real soft spot for middle-grade and YA fiction. I still proudly own the entire Goosebumps series that helped shaped my youth and my love for reading & writing. I am a huge nerd for Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Miss Peregrine, Artemis Fowl, Lemony Snicket, etc. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is the best first book out of any of those series.

If you do a little research on John August, you'll find that this first-time author has actually been writing professionally for decades. He's got his name on some of the biggest movies of the 2000s -- Charlie's Angels, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Frankenweenie, Big Fish, and several others. He also adapted Big Fish for Broadway! It's no surprise that August has a mastery of characterization, plot, character development, theme, and dialogue.

What did surprise me, though, is how lively, funny, and elegant August's prose can be (without straying outside the confines of a middle-grade vocabulary). Screenplays typically do not require that kind of artistry -- a simple "Steve crosses to the window" is a perfectly good action line in a script. However, August's 20+ years of writing in this style has not stunted or stifled his talent for the written word. You'd think August has been writing novels his entire life (who knows, maybe he has?).

I'm sure I'll get attacked for saying this, but it took Rowling a couple of books to hit her stride when it comes to writing vivid, beautiful prose. Let me be clear: I love, love, love HP & the Philosopher's Stone, but it's obvious that Rowling was still developing as a writer. Compare the prose in Philosopher's Stone to Half-Blood Prince and you'll see what I mean.

I'll go ahead and say it: August writes better than early Rowling, Riordan, Riggs, and so many others. I believe Arlo is meant to be a series of 3 books. I can't wait to see how August's prose matures and develops over the course of the next two books.

Another thing I love about Arlo struck me about halfway through the book: this kid is just ... a kid. He's not The Chosen One. He's not half-god. He's not a millionaire. He's not the "world's best" this or that. There are no prophecies that foretell Arlo's greatness. He's just an average kid who stumbles into a completely foreign world. He doesn't arrive in this world with fame or the expectation that he alone can defeat great evil. This trope is everywhere -- from Star Wars to Potter to Percy Jackson to Narnia and hundreds more. I'm so glad August didn't fall into this trap.

I think this makes Arlo Finch much, much more accessible to kids. Not that kids had trouble getting excited about Harry Potter, of course. But so, so many fans' favorite characters are Ron or Hermione or Neville or anyone but Harry. I think many young readers tend to identify with the average kid, the outcast, the underdog, etc., and not so much with the predestined Chosen One about whom prophecies are written.

Arlo, Indra, and Wu are all fully realized, complete characters who are loaded with personality, flaws, talents, and purpose. Again, as much as I love Harry Potter, I hate that Hermione casts such an enormous shadow over all other bright, strong girls in middle-grade fiction. People will strain to draw parallels between Hermione and Indra, but this is unfair. Of course, we all had 7 books and 8 movies to grow to love Hermione, so Indra won't unseat her in our hearts just yet. But I wouldn't be shocked to see Indra dominating the Halloween costume market in the coming years.

Finally, I love the diversity that August has spread throughout the book. Indra is Indian-American, Wu is Chinese-American, and I feel like we have a pretty even mix of boys and girls in the Rangers. I think this helps open Arlo up to an even bigger audience. This series deserves to be as huge as it's going to be.

August has written a terrific book -- it's filled with wry, witty humor, fully fleshed-out characters, and a brisk pace that's extremely tight and well plotted. I can't wait for books 2 & 3 (and, with a little luck, the movie version of Arlo Finch!)

30 people found this helpful

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TatumReads

Already Looking Forward to Book 2

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2018

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I stumbled across John August's Launch podcast and was immediately drawn in to the process of writing, publishing, marketing and selling a book. I am an aspiring screenwritier/author and found Launch to be inspiring and motivating. Although I am in my mid (or late) 30s, after following along with the process I proudly/secretly purchased this mid-grade novel for 8-12 year olds in hard cover. I also happen to be a HUGE Harry Potter fan, so when John "casually" mentioned that a publisher or someone else (I forget who) likened his book to J.K. Rowling's series - I think it was called the U.S. version of HP or something like that - I was like, "Take my money already!" By the way, great marketing technique, John :)

I was heading to Italy for a couple weeks and decided I would read it on the flight over. I didn't quite finish it by the time we landed; it took me a few days. Hey, I needed to catch up on my Netflix shows and podcasts as well. For his first novel, it was pretty damn good. Was it, in my opinion, the next HP or the U.S. iteration? No, not even close. But that doesn't make it a bad novel. After all it's not trying to be Harry Potter. It's forming it's own identity in a land where Harry Potter is king. I liked it. I didn't love it, but the series has some real potential.

I am already looking forward to reading the second book when it comes out and hope August takes what he learned through the process of writing his first novel and builds on it.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Pieta

Age appropriate adventure story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2018

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I have an 8 year old an a 6 year old. My eldest read the book to herself, I read aloud to my youngest. My daughter is a huge HP and Magnus Chase etc fan. She read this in an afternoon, we ordered the audio book for my son so that he could catch up (a chapter a night was not good enough). I think this has more sophisticated characterisation than Harry Potter and I appreciate the layers and levels. I sympathised for the mother and her story - my kids were oblivious. I’m hoping that the journey through the series doesn’t get too dark and we don’t have a repeat of the basilisk/ werewolf nightmares.

Claudia

Fab! So exciting!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2018

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I bought and read this after listening the great Launch podcast. I was so impressed. Love the world, love Arlo. Can't wait share this with my 6 yo nephew.

Donal

Not just for kids

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 6, 2018

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Very enjoyable, humorous and adventurous book which kept me turning the pages. Was worried that it wouldn’t suit old(er) readers but I had nothing to fear. Fits nicely between the magical and real worlds. Looking forward to spring 2019 :)

Simon

Arlo Finch book 1

Reviewed in Australia on June 26, 2018

Verified Purchase

I loved this amazing book. this book is a great read. Arlo is such a well thought character that was clearly put effort into. John August is an amazing author with lots of potential.

I recomend this to people who love their fantasy books. I am looking forward to Arlo Finch in the lake of moon!

Grant Sundin

Superlative adventure.

Reviewed in Australia on February 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

This was wonderful. Arlo Finch is a unique character, as kind as he is brave. By turns exciting, funny and occasionally heart-stopping this one may become a classic. A bit too good to be consigned to the halls of YA, ‘Arlo Finch’ will entertain any reader.

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