In The Bookcase: Book Review: Ireland (Travels with Gannon and Wyatt)

IRELAND
from the Travels with Gannon and Wyatt series

written by Patti Wheeler & Keith Hemstreet

192 pages, middle grade fiction
published in 2015

My Review...

"We're on a quest for the kind of knowledge you can't get from a textbook," says Gannon and Wyatt, two twin brothers who have the opportunity to travel the world. You can join them in their fictional adventure series.

Since their parents have flexible jobs that often lead the whole family through foreign countries, these brothers are living the adventure of a lifetime. This time, in the newest volume (published April 2015) the twins are stopping in Ireland for a spell. Each book in the Travels with Gannon and Wyatt series features a trip to another special corner of the globe.

There many fun things to discover in the enchanted land of Gannon and Wyatt's Irish ancestors. In the midst of all the Medieval-age architecture (like the Blarney Stone), their vacation takes a turn as the boys get involved in a problem damaging the local community. While volunteering at a farm in the area, the two brothers have to keep up with their homeschool studies while working on the farm every day.

What I love about this book is that the young characters are excited to learn about the world they live in, how things work, and the history of everything about a place and its people. Together, they just want to take in the language and traditions of Ireland, do some sight-seeing, and participate with the folks who live there. They're truly interested in helping others and solving problems. Plus, it's all wrapped up in compelling fiction to keep middle graders entertained.

Additional notes: Just keep an open mind about the Irish fairytales and lore.

Of course, I was thrilled to learn that Gannon and Wyatt are homeschool students, since I was homeschooled myself.

Excellent tourist photos are included throughout, to provide the reader with real glimpses of the boys' trip. Plus, if you'd like to learn more about the places Gannon and Wyatt visit, be sure to visit their website and other links included at the back of the book.

Now that I've discovered this series, I'm pretty excited to continue traveling with Gannon and Wyatt on their worldwide jaunt.

Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for the free ebook.