I have an ARC of the third book in the series, but I thought I should read at least the first book so that I could get a grip on what the series was about before digging in to that other book. And so I borrowed this book from a local library (I love my library – you should love yours too!).
Joshua Dread is a middle school student, which is awkward enough as it is, but life is a little tougher for Joshua because he has a huge secret that he keeps, even from his best friend, Milton. Joshua’s parents are the feared ‘Dread Duo’ – super-villains who threaten to destroy the world every now and then. Fortunately for Joshua, no one knows the truth about his parents.
While Joshua is on the bus to head home from school, the Dread Duo make a surprise attack, threatening world destruction if they aren’t given large sums of money. But their plan is thwarted by Captain Justice.
It’s not surprising to them that Captain Justice would ruin their plans, but it IS surprising how quickly he was able to be there.
At school, Joshua finds himself highly attracted to the new girl – Sophie. But if getting the courage to talk to the new girl wasn’t bad enough, Joshua is just starting to develop his own super powers – the power of spontaneous combustion.
Sophie discovers his secret (about his powers) and confesses that she, too, has powers, which isn’t surprising since her father is Captain Justice. Captain Justice is the Dread Duo’s mortal enemy! Can Joshua ever be friends with Sophie?
Joshua is brought to the Vile Fair – a convention for super-villains – but an unusual attack is made, stealing (or killing?) super-villains. Joshua is going to need all the help he can get to stop it – including from his non-powered friend Milton, and the daughter of his sworn enemy.
This book was a lot of fun and author Lee Bacon moves the story along very swiftly. This is perfect fare for the middle school student who wants all the fun and excitement of a Marvel superhero movie, but with characters a little more identifiable (like Harry Potter).
This is definitely recommended for the 10-15 year old adventure seekers!
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Joshua Dread
author: Lee Bacon
series: Joshua Dread #1
publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 0375990275
hardcover, 272 pages
The Dominion Key is the third book in Lee Bacon’s Joshua Dread series.
It is nearing the end of summer and the start of school just around the corner when Joshua and his friends Milton, Sophie, and Miranda are attacked in a local mall by some of Phineas Vex’s goons. The attack is troubling to Joshua’s and Sophie’s parents (the Dread Duo and Captain Justice, respectively) and it is decided that for their own safety, the kids will be sent to Alabaster Academy – a special school, located on a remote island, for Gyfted students. Although everyone there has super-power (except Milo), it only means that the school bullies take bullying to a whole new level.
Joshua and his friends, which now include Cassie, the principal’s daughter, discover that Phineas Vex is trying to collect all the various pieces to a device that could give him the power of world domination. The last missing piece to the collection is something called The Dominion Key. It so happens that the key was produced by a teacher at Alabaster Academy – one Dr. Fleming. Fleming lets them in on a little secret, and it’s not something any of them wanted to hear.
Like the first book, this book moves along quickly, easily holding the attention of the young reader.
It is pretty clear that there has been something significant that has happened between the first and this third book – all the characters mention and respond to it, but it is really explained, which I found frustrating. I’m glad to have at least read the first book or I’m not sure I’d really understand the relationships between these students.
This is a series that should really appeal to a lot of middle school students because it has all the right ingredients : superheroes, students with special abilities, and an adventure in which their very lives are on the line.
Looking fr a good book? Joshua Dread: The Dominion Key by Lee Bacon is the exciting third book in the Joshua Dread series and is entertaining reading for the middle school student, but they will want to read the series in order because the events in previous books are not explained well in the future volumes.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
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The Dominion Key
author: Lee Bacon
series: Joshua Dread #3
publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 0375991301
hardcover, 256 pages
Looking For a Good Book 