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Mike grew up in Brisbane, Australia, imagining he was
everything from a rogue pirate to an intergalactic traveller. His
desire to write began as a student at primary school when one of
his short stories won second prize in a local writing challenge.
University and teacher training – another childhood imagining –
beckoned following high school.
His career spanned nearly 40 years, during which he shared his
love of learning with students of all ages, from pre-schoolers to
adult learners.
Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
The Books of Neven by Mike Cooper is the first in a series of fantasy adventures aimed at a young audience. Archer and Mimi are twelve-year-old twins who spend much of their time living with their Nan, as their solo-parent mother works and frequently travels for her business. Archer is obsessed with the idea of discovering what happened to their grandfather who simply disappeared some thirty years ago. He is convinced the answer may lie hidden in Nan’s attic, a place the twins have never explored before. When he finally convinces Mimi to accompany him there, the pair discovers boxes of laboratory equipment and other strange devices, including a mysterious cube. Upon pushing some of the cube’s buttons, the twins are magically transported to the medieval-style world of Neven, where they encounter war-like clans and weird, dangerous creatures, such as Orcs and Zorses.
The Books of Neven has all the hallmarks of becoming a wonderfully, exciting and suspenseful series. Author Mike Cooper has created two lead characters in Archer and Mimi who are immediately compelling and identifiable to their target audience. As siblings and twins, they have a close and loving bond but, like all siblings, they have different personalities, skill sets, and temperaments which prove effective foils in this and their upcoming adventures. The author has created the backstory of their adventures and the world of the mythical Neven well. The language style and even the popular vernacular give the story a slightly humorous touch, especially for those of us well past the target age demographic. Street kid Toby’s constant peppering of his speech with the word “hashtag” springs to mind and still raises a chuckle. The author has set the scene for the pair’s next adventure and, although I’m not usually a fan of cliffhanger endings, this one is sure to have young readers clamoring for book two. I enjoyed this story and I know it will be fully appreciated by young readers. This is a fun, engaging tale that I highly recommend.
