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Marie Curie’s Radiant Quest: Dr. K’s Portal Through Time
Marie Curie’s Radiant Quest is a creative blend of historical biography, time-travel adventure, and science primer for curious young readers. Through the eyes of siblings Jennifer and Daniel, who travel with Dr. K through her magical portal, we get to witness the life, struggles, and triumphs of Marie Curie. From her early days in Paris to the discovery of radium and polonium, her groundbreaking Nobel Prizes, and her wartime work with mobile X-ray units, the book manages to cover both the sweep of her achievements and the personal grit behind them.
What I enjoyed most was how the story balanced real history with an almost playful sense of wonder. Curie describes the grueling, years-long process of isolating radium from pitchblende. The children’s questions bring an immediacy to the narrative, transforming what might otherwise seem like abstract science into a vivid account of perseverance and conviction. When Curie explains that discovery is rarely linear but instead filled with challenges and unexpected turns, the insight resonates deeply. It is a lesson that holds equal weight for adults as it does for younger readers.
I also liked how the book made science approachable without dumbing it down. In Chapter One, when Dr. K explains radioactivity, she compares unstable atoms to restless kids who can’t sit still and then to bubbles that “pop” to release energy. I was struck by the moment when Daniel exclaimed, “Pop? Like popcorn?” The lighthearted exchange underscores how effectively the book employs humor to make complex scientific concepts more accessible. It’s clever, and it makes concepts that would usually be intimidating feel relatable. The writing is clear, warm, and often funny; it kept me turning the pages even in parts I already knew from history.
Another standout for me was the way the book handled Marie Curie’s resilience as a woman in science. The narrative doesn’t shy away from the difficulties she faced, whether it’s being shut out of higher education in Poland or the immense skepticism she encountered in France. The moment when she becomes the first female professor at the Sorbonne felt huge, and it was powerful to see Jennifer draw strength from that as a young girl dreaming of her own future in science.
Marie Curie’s Radiant Quest left me with a real sense of admiration, not just for Curie, but for how stories like this can inspire curiosity in kids. The mix of adventure, history, and hands-on science makes it a great pick for classrooms, families, or anyone who wants to introduce children to one of the most remarkable figures in science. If you’ve got a young reader who asks “why?” a lot or if you’re an adult who still remembers the magic of discovery, this book is for you.
Pages: 116 | ASIN : B0F6M4MVX4
Finding Friendship in Unlikely Places
Partners in Time follows two boys from London who use a secret underground tunnel to travel through time and have to fix the broken timeline before all of history is altered. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always loved time travel stories and time travel movies. And the idea of travelling back into the past and seeing some amazing historical events (and people from history!) unfold right before your eyes has been an idea that has thrilled me since I was a kid. So when I decided to write a middle-grade novel it was a no-brainer that it would feature two kids time travelling through history.
Harry and Jett become unlikely friends, and their bond deepens as they travel through time to repair the historical timeline. What was your inspiration for the characters and their relationship?
I’m not sure there is one inspiration for their relationship. Both those characters are very close to my heart and once I started to write them into scenes together, the friendship between them just evolved. Maybe having a best friend you could travel in time with would have been my dream when I was their age? I’m not sure…
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
To me the book is really about two boys, each with hardship in their lives (especially Harry) finding each other and becoming friends. The plot is what they are doing while becoming friends, but the story itself is about discovering friendship in unlikely (impossible) places. And the courage that having a true friend by your side gives you.
When will book two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
The post-credits scene at the end of Partners in Time gives a big hint as to where Book 2 will go. Suffice to say – time travel is never quite straight forward and it’s really important to close doors properly. The only other clue I can give is that the next book explores a part of history completely different from in Partners in Time. With luck I’ll have book 2 ready to launch mid way through 2024.
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Jett was just happy to make a new friend.
He honestly didn’t mind that Harry claimed to have time travelled via a secret underground tunnel from wartime London all the way to twenty-first century New Zealand.
Nothing wrong with a kid having a great imagination.
Except Harry wasn’t lying or making it up.
There really was a tunnel.
An impossible link between the past and the future.
But tampering with time travel, even by accident, has unintended consequences.
Now Harry and Jett have to race against time to mend what was broken or nothing in the past, the present or the future will ever be the same.
An unlikely adventure that will make… or break… history.
Partners in Time is a story of fixing history and making friends, a most unexpected (and sometimes smelly!) time travel tale.
With cheese toasties.
“If I wasn’t in this book, I’d definitely want to read it.” – Harry, aged 11. England
“Such a good story, I hope they make a movie, and I get to play me!” – Jett, aged 11, New Zealand
Emotional Mastery Is A Journey
Dyami and the Gobi Crystal follows a junior angel who discovers the people she has been sent to watch are in danger and must decide if she should help them. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My inspiration was the Book of Enoch with angels called “watchers.” I imagined the watchers would be the scribes for all records. Inspired by the Kabbalah (or Qabalah), I contrasted the angelic and earthly realms. The Dukán represented heaven on earth with no wars, illnesses, or hunger. Their perfect lives also varied little. The Naga was the destabilizing force which introduced dualism and growth.
Dyami’s story is a coming-of-age tale where she has to realize that choices have consequences. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Dyami approached the world from a naïve, angelic perspective. She gave and shared freely with others. She didn’t realize some weighed everything by how much it benefited them.
Dyami knew only gratitude, joy, and celebration before her assignment. She couldn’t remain in that blissful state with her heart bond, the corbatu. To properly document records, she needed to feel others’ fears and pain. She didn’t know how to separate their feelings from her own, and became overwhelmed.
She wanted to prove she could be successful. She was passed over for more active assignments. When she became a watcher, she thought it meant staying quiet and taking notes.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
A healthy culture values diversity and creativity. Everyone suffers if personal appearance, music or self-expression are condemned.
Emotional mastery is a journey. Heal, forgive, then integrate painful experiences to return to a peaceful center.
Some people are parasitic. The analogy of the sucker balls is a warning about those who intentionally drain others.
Life can feel lonely. Often, the way out of depression is asking others for help.
Exchanging rights for safety and necessities affect a race’s freedom. It’s analogous to the frog in a heated pot of water. Most Dukan aren’t aware what is happening, and most who know feel powerless to change it.
What is the next book in the Galactic Guardian series about, and when will it be available?
I am 75% complete with the first draft of Dyami and the Sigil of Power. It will be available mid-2024.
Dyami returns to the magical world of Assiya as she strives to become a powerful guardian. Armed with the sorcerer’s staff, Dyami must fight the menacing Samael before she graduates from the Guardian Academy. A hundred years have passed, and the king and queen have become much more controlling. Dyami helps four volunteers who must awaken from the forgetting fog and discover their life’s purpose. With the aid of a wise sorcerer, Dyami unknowingly summons the sigil of power. But will it be enough to protect the volunteers from the King and Queen’s insatiable thirst for power and defeat her greatest foe? The people’s fate is in her hands. This is a story about the many faces of power.
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Dyami is a junior angel, assigned to a planet as watcher where magical beings teach the gentle Dukán fantastic abilities. Like a reporter, she must document events onto her gobi crystal to save them for eternity. She wants to be the perfect watcher, which means not interfering in mortal lives. Her specialty is time travel, which is as easy as breathing.
Her mentor is a shape-shifting dragon. In her travels, she angers a grumpy sorcerer and makes friends with a quirky fairy.
She falls in love with the Dukán who can dance mid-air or grow ripe strawberries in seconds. However, their perfect lives are boring as every day is the same. A visiting king and queen promise them excitement and change if together they build a new domain. As Dyami feared, the royals soon make the Dukán slaves.
Dyami’s heart breaks seeing her new friends suffer, while foreign emotions like fear and anger overwhelm her. If she interferes, she risks being punished and banished from the angelic realm.
This fast-paced adventure uses allegory and fantasy to discuss duality, the Tree of Life, and viewing outside time. It’s perfect for those who enjoyed children’s classics like The Chronicles of Narnia or A Wrinkle in Time.
Dyami and the Gobi Crystal
Dyami and the Gobi Crystal by MM Hoshaw is a captivating tale infused with wonder and valuable life lessons. This delightful book introduces us to Dyami, a junior angel embarking on a significant assignment as a watcher. Armed with gobi crystals, these watchful beings meticulously document events in their assigned realms of the cosmos. Dyami’s entrusted duty is to observe and protect a society comprised of Dukan and Naga people. Within this enchanting setting, Dyami’s journey unfolds, revealing a story of love, longing, and the unforeseen perils that lie ahead when a royal couple arrives, promising excitement yet concealing a much darker reality. Will Dyami be able to rescue her friends from their impending fate without jeopardizing her sacred role as a watcher?
Author MM Hoshaw has developed a captivating story with thought-provoking prose. Dyami and the Gobi Crystal seamlessly weaves real-life themes and a compelling fantasy narrative, making it a truly remarkable work of middle-grade fiction. From exploring profound topics like diversity and purpose to the sheer joy it brings, this novel is brimming with wisdom, delighting readers on a heartfelt level.
The masterful world-building crafted by Hoshaw is reminiscent of timeless children’s fantasy classics. The author has expertly crafted a mesmerizing realm that will undoubtedly captivate the imaginations of its readers. One cannot help but yearn to explore this richly imagined universe, particularly after witnessing Dyami’s remarkable journey unfold. If you have cherished novels such as The Chronicles of Narnia, The Harry Potter Series, or Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, prepare to be enchanted by the mystical allure of Dyami and the Gobi Crystal by MM Hoshaw. The allure of this book extends beyond its spellbinding narrative. A closer examination reveals Hoshaw’s meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the naming of various characters within the story. Each name carries a profound spiritual and philosophical significance, inviting readers to embark on intriguing discussions and introspection while immersed in the pages of this literary gem.
Dyami and the Gobi Crystal is an enthralling read that is sure to resonate strongly with its intended audience of young readers. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I am confident that younger readers will find even greater joy within its pages. Whether you seek a book that explores important life topics or simply aims to captivate and entertain your child, Dyami, and the Gobi Crystal is a must-read. MM Hoshaw’s masterpiece is the perfect read to add to every middle-grade reader’s library.
Pages: 297 | ASIN : B0BYPHHTP2
LITERARY TITAN 