Galadria by Miguel Lopez de Leon

Galadria: Peter Huddleston and the Rites of Passage by Miguel Lopez de Leon turned out to be such a fun book! I'd never heard of it until a mom at my son's soccer class lent me a copy. In fact I was surprised that it was unknown to me since the author is Filipino and he recently just released his book last May in the United States. There hasn't been any mention of him at all in any of the book blogs I follow, local or otherwise. However, a quick google revealed some newspaper articles and a website. He even had several book launches in town just recently. I do suppose there is something lacking in the marketing of this novel and I wish it would get more buzz because it really is such a treat.

The book is for readers eight and up however if you're a child at heart then you will love this. It's been compared to Harry Potter although I think it's less scary. It's also light and funny and peopled with a cast of characters so charming and quirky that I can't quite forget them. Peter Huddleston leads a dull life in his hometown with his father and step-mother. His house is filled with bland beige furniture and his step-mother's cuisine can only be described as boring. When his long lost Aunt Gillian suddenly invites him to spend the summer at her 3000 room mansion, Peter can't help but be excited. There he meets a staff of loveable servants and learns from his aunt about his family legacy. To truly be the heir to the land of Galadria, Peter must pass four rites of passage.

I was hooked from page one. This is such an imaginative, fun and light-hearted novel filled with lots of adorable little details. For example, Peter has a box of chocolates called Creamers each with a different topping giving him a short-lived power to help him in his tasks. Will Peter be able to guess what each chocolate piece can give him? You'll just have to read the book to find out. The good news is this is only the first book in the series and the second one will be coming soon. I can't wait!