59:120 Hollow Earth: The Book of Beasts by John & Carole E. Barrowman

The conclusion to the Hollow Earth trilogy by John & Carole E. Barrowman.  Matt is stuck in the past with his father, Malcolm, who has gone insane during his time being bound and will stop at nothing to open Hollow Earth and let out all of the monsters confined there.  He has seen his sister and mother burned to death by his father and has no way back to his own time and any form of help until he stumbles onto Solon, an animare from that time's Abbey, and Carik, a girl left there by the Vikings who attacked a few days ago.  Somehow, they must try to stop his father or the entire history of the Earth will be changed and not for the better.

Meantime, back in present day, Emily and her mother are fine having actually escaped Malcolm and are trying to figure out a way to help Matt without endangering everyone and everything.  Jeannie goes back in time to do what she can as a descendant of Albion but no one is convinced it will be enough, especially not Emily once she has been contacted by Albion's ghost and given visions to draw.  Things get even more interesting when Malcolm's mother shows up and she will do whatever it takes to make sure her son is successful.

Other than the addition of Malcolm's mother, I felt like this did a great job of wrapping up the series in a fulfilling way with all the basic questions being answered and no gaping holes screaming out to be filled.  Malcolm's mother being added in this late in the game bothered me.  I felt like she didn't add much to the story besides a brief explanation into Malcolm's obsession with Hollow Earth and her scenes didn't really move things along but were more like filler.  I think if she had at least been in the background throughout the series it might have worked better but she felt shoehorned in and not for any particularly good reason plot wise.  In all, I found the series nicely imaginative and I hope John and Carole do more collaborations together in the future.

Page count: 321p/15,657p ytd/230,591p lifetime

57:120 Hollow Earth: Bone Quill by John Barrowman & Carole E. Barrowman

The second book in the Hollow Earth trilogy by John & Carole E. Barrowman.  Matt and Em are just learning more and more about their powers, their family history, their father, and Book of Beasts that was created to keep the most dangerous creatures of myth and legend away from the rest of the world.  At the same time, they are worried sick and trying to find any trace of where there mother has disappeared to.  Clues start to point that she has ended up in the past and by accident, the twins end up there as well.  The reunion ends with their realizing that there are things even further in the past that need to be settled to keep the world safe but in a misguided effort to make things right, Matt manages to unbind his father from the painting his mother and grandmother put him into when the twins were young.  Unfortunately, Matt does not understand just how dangerous and psychotic his father is until he is released from the painting in the past and starts doing absolutely anything to be able to open Hollow Earth....

Usually the second book takes a bit of a nosedive in a trilogy but this one kept up the same pace and moved the story along very nicely.  I'm really glad I already had the last book in the series in the wings waiting.

Page count: 287p/14,936p ytd/229,870p lifetime

106:120 Hollow Earth by John Barrowman & Carole E. Barrowman

The first book in the Hollow Earth series.  Emily and Matthew are not your ordinary, every day twins.  They aren't even your ordinary, run of the mill Animare (people who can control and animate what they draw and their imaginations) because not only was their mother an Animare but their father was the Guardian assigned to her which gives the twins Guardian powers as well to be more attuned to the feelings of those around them as well as other powers that they may not yet be aware of.  Unfortunately for them, their powers are developing sooner than anticipated and now those that control the Animares and Guardians are thinking it would be better for everyone if their powers were bound.  Not only that, but a secret society called "Hollow Earth" is looking to find them as well in the hopes that they can help unbind one of their leaders and help them find and unleash the monsters of the Hollow Earth.  Sandie, their mom, flees to their grandfather's estate where they should be safe while they are more properly trained but shortly after their arrival, the house is attacked and now grandfather is in the hospital and their mom is missing and there are people nosing around that don't seem to be what they appear.

So I admit, I was at first intrigued by this book because John Barrowman's name was on the cover as one of the authors (the other is his older sister) and I LOVED him as Captain Jack Harkness.  I bought it as a present for my then 12yr old (he's 13 now) and looking at the description, it looked like a good fit for him.  He read it over the summer and LOVED it so I made it a point to grab it to read as well.  The plot isn't anything new but it's well done and I loved the way it was the children's imagination powering things which shows just what a wonderful thing a powerful imagination can be which is something that I feel gets lost so often in today's society.  Yes, I'm aware of how often the word 'loved' came into play in this one paragraph but honestly, this was a lovely book with a great theme and well drawn characters.  I'm looking forward to reading the second and can't wait for the third to finally be released in the states.

Page count: 382p/29,468p ytd/210,506p lifetime