The Jules Verne Prophesy is a fun middle-grade adventure story. I enjoyed how fast-paced it was, all the Jules Verne facts and the setting of Paris was spectacular. However the main character Owen was a bit chaotic and all over the place, and while as a kid I feel that this is true to his character, it did make it a bit hard for me to connect with him. However, I think if you're in the age range for this or just love this kind of middle-grade you'll definitely enjoy it.

I liked the adventure in the book. I liked the location, Paris. I didn't really enjoy the characters in the book though. It was a good book, but the children were just a bit winey at times. I wish the author had made the children more relatable. If your child is into adventure movies though I would definitely have them read this book!

An exciting adventure story that will grab the attention and imagination of even reluctant young readers!

"The Jules Verne Prophecy" by writing partners Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer is an exciting adventure story that will grab the attention and imagination of even reluctant young readers. The pace is brisk, and the action is non-stop as the three main characters – Owen Godrey, Rose Bordage, and Nasim Shirvani – work out the meanings behind the clues and travel around “The City of Lights.” Owen has a crush on Rose, and their initial meeting is laugh-out-loud funny. The three friends learn many things, including first impressions and assumptions are not always accurate.

Their race across Paris ahead of the bad guys is riveting and creative in its execution, and their discoveries live up to the reputation of Jules Verne. A couple of loose ends are left hanging when the story closes, providing a great jumping-off point for a sequel. I’ll be looking forward to more adventures with these characters with anticipation.

I recommend THE JULES VERNE PROPHECY to middle-grade readers and for reading aloud at school, after-school programs, and at home with the entire family.

The Jules Verne Prophecy is an action-packed middle grade book by Larry Schwartz and Iva-Marie Palmer. Middle grade readers are sure to be drawn in when a group of friends find a mysterious book in an old bookshop. Readers will be further intrigued as the group of friends embarks on a high-stakes treasure hunt while trying to avoid others that are seeking the same treasures.

National Treasure...but in Paris!

Do you love Jules Verne? I grew up reading tens of his books and The Jules Verne Prophecy made me want to re-read 20000 Leagues Under The Sea and Mysterious Island 💚 This book is non-stop adventure, found family, Paris treasure hunt...and it is FUNNY!!! I have a million quotes saved, but most of them would be spoilers 🙈 so here are some from the beginning:

"I flipped open the lid and saw a pizza. But not a normal pizza. Not even a Hawaiian pizza. It was a snail pizza. Snails in their shells, on a pizza.
Did Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea want to torment me by showing up on my pizza?"

" I kick off into the street, a Peugeot driver leans on his horn and screeches to a stop in front of me. I jump from my board and it rolls under his front tires as he yells something at me—I don’t speak great French yet, but I know it’s not good. I hop on the hood of his car and back down—landing right on my board. Then he flips me off. I definitely know what that means. But, how could he be mad? That was awesome!"

"Here was a long, narrow tunnel, lined with bones. Imagine all the bones you can and then multiple those bones by a thousand. That many bones. A lot of them were skulls, which somehow seemed worse than basic leg and arm bones because you knew they were human bones.
Nas groaned. “Doesn’t it feel like some of them are watching us?”
“With what eyes?” Rose joked.
“You’re not helping.”

The authors have created a lovely story with fun characters and twists & turns that will appeal to fans of mystery.
They're several great themes in the book, like having courage, the importance of teamwork, believing in yourself, overcoming self-doubt, and not taking people for granted. Enjoyed this book immensely.

Dive into this page-turner middle grade book. You won’t be able to put down The Jules Verne Prophecy.

Who doesn’t love an adventure? Well, this book has plenty of adventure to go around. I found myself furiously turning the pages to see what would happen next. I love treasure hunt style books, you can’t help but get sucked in and this is a good one. Lots of clues to solve to get to the next one and the added pressure of working against the bad guys to get there first. This book is nothing but fun from start to finish.

The Jules Verne theme made it extra fun and super nostalgic for those of us that have read any of his classic works. There are wonderful references to several of his books and the kids need to use their knowledge of Jules Verne to solve several clues. I also found myself learning a couple of things about Jules Verne in the process.

The story is told from Owen’s perspective with each chapter being marked with a date so we can follow along. I loved all the characters in this book. Owen, Nas and Rose are all great. Owen is the skateboarding new kid with a great sense of humour. Nas is the scaredy cat, sweet kid. Rose is the bold and brave rich kid. They may be an unlikely trio, but I liked how well they worked together and complemented each other. Bonus points for Nas’ family. I just loved his mom.

The authors have done a great job of capturing Paris. From the catacombs to le Musee des Arts et Metiers to Le Dome, each chapter gives us vivid descriptions of the places that make Paris one of the greatest cities in the world. You’ll be able to picture each location clearly, as if being there yourself.

If you have an adventure lover in your life, they’ll enjoy The Jules Verne Prophecy.

This is a summarised version of my post on the top five reasons to read The Jules Verne Prophecy I wrote for the blog tour: https://anitaloughrey.blog/2023/07/01/blog-tour-the-jules-verne-prophecy-by-larry-schwarz-and-iva-marie-palmer

This novel captures the atmosphere and the intrepid adventurers, Owen Godfrey, Nas Shirvani and Rose Bordage are propelled into a vast array of incredible iconic attractions that the reader is instantly able to visualise, even if they have never visited Paris before. I enjoyed discovering the historical significance to Jules Verne these landmarks have.
The title drew me to the book instantly. I was not disappointed. There are many instances where the characters discuss Jules Verne’s novels in relation to the next step of their adventure. I particularly liked the way little facts were weaved into the plot. Yet, at no point do you feel the authors are overloading you with scientific jargon or facts. The Jules Verne Prophecy is pitched perfectly to maintain the attentions of a middle grade reader.
It was great that there were actual proper clues to decipher, which the authors give time for the reader to try and solve for themselves rather than, as other books. We get to read the clue for ourselves and think about it and witness the step-by-step way our heroes solve the puzzle, thus challenging the reader to think and use their creativity to solve the mystery.
I also enjoyed the way each bit of treasure they found was significant in helping them to solve the next step of their treasure hunt. All the way through we want to discover the answers to our questions of what the treasure will be and how will it lead them to their next destination. The characters are constantly placed in situations where they have to work hard to solve each clue and their struggle increases in difficulty as the story progresses.
The Jules Verne Prophecy is plotted so the tension rises and falls but still gives sufficient time for the reader to breath during this roller-coaster of an adventure. But the thing that stood out most for me and why it has made my number one spot in my list of my five top reasons to read The Jules Verne Prophecy is the voice. This novel is filled with the voice of Owen Godfrey.
From the very first page the authors have captured Owen’s personality and American colloquialisms and this is maintained throughout the novel. I found him to be a relatable and dynamic protagonist with clear goals and flaws, who reacts to the situations he finds himself in organically. Every character in the story has their own voice so they are easily identifiable not only by what they say but also how they react.
I would recommend this book to middle-school history and sci-fi enthusiasts.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my e-ARC of The Jules Verne Prophecy!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🐙 loved A Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
🇫🇷 wish you could spend the summer in Paris
💭 know a bit of French
🍬 are obsessed with the red Starbursts

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Owen Godfrey is spending his summer in Paris studying science fiction writer Jules Verne, the brilliant mind behind Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days. When Owen and his new friends find what appears to be a dusty copy of Verne’s collected works in an old bookshop, they’re intrigued by the hidden codes written inside. As one clue leads to another, the trio gets swept up in an epic treasure hunt spanning the city—from the depths of the catacombs to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and by way of skateboard, boat, car, and even a hot air balloon!  But they quickly realize they’re not the only ones searching for the hidden riches, and that there are others who will stop at nothing to get to them first. This fast-paced larger-than-life adventure is filled with action, high stakes, and three friends who are dead set on cracking the Jules Verne mystery.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was a fun and fast paced read with short chapters, perfect for middle grade readers. If you’re interested in Paris or want to learn some French, this book has all of that and more! I enjoyed the mystery surrounding this unusual book Owen and his friends stumbled upon. I don’t know much about Jules Verne, but this book made me want to check out some of his work! My favorite part of the book was when they visited the Catacombs though, as I have always wanted to go there. Maybe someday! I can’t wait to see what happens next on Owen’s adventure!

The Jules Verne Prophecy by Larry Schwarz & Iva Marie Palmer is a wonderful adventure fiction. I have read about Jules Verne and, it was only because of him I chose to review the book. The story jumps from one to another and, you will feel glued to the book. For our young readers, the book is going to excite them. All the adventure and excitement takes a leap toward the climax and the book comes to an amazing end. The characters are lovable and young readers can easily relate with them.

Definitely 4 stars for the book. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to read and review the book.

Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer deliver a fun-for-all-ages adventure story with “The Jules Verne Prophecy.”

When Owen travels to Paris with his mother for the summer, she enrolls him in a special seminar about Jules Verne, an author way ahead of his time. When his backpack with his Verne book in it is stolen, Owen joins forces with his new friends Nas and Rose to find the kid who stole it. Without it, he can’t take his next exam and will probably fail the course.

What follows is an incredible adventure featuring a special Verne book bought to replace his stolen school book, kidnappings, chases, treasure hunts and near death experiences.

The authors have joined forces to creates a truly delightful story with fun characters and twists and turns that will appeal to fans of series like James Patterson’s Treasure Hunters, as well as adult series like Clive Cussler’s Fargo series.

They also fill “The Jules Verne Prophecy,” which is due out June 27, with several great themes, like the importance of teamwork; having courage even during the scariest moments; overcoming self-doubt; not taking true friendship for granted; and the power of inventing stories.

I’m looking forward to this dynamic trio’s next adventure!

Five stars out of five.

Christy Ottaviano Books provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

I love the concept of this book!

Everything looks like it will be darling for middle-graders.
Unfortunately, I couldn't download it to my computer to read it for review.
Thank you for the opportunity to try and read it. I will look forward to reading it after it is published since ARCs in Kindle or NetGalley shelf were not available for reviewers.

What a great middle grade adventure story with well researched Jules Verne facts! I felt like I was in Paris with these kids and I loved their unlikely friendship and the team they made. And the ending? Fantastic, cannot wait for the next already!

I never envisioned The Jules Verne Prophecy being a roller-coaster ride of a novel, but it sure is! It gives off National Treasure vibes, but it’s better than the movie.

Thirteen-year-old American Owen Godfrey finds himself in Paris for the summer and enrolled in a symposium to improve his French and his knowledge of Jules Verne. Through a series of misadventures, he and two new French friends — Nas Shirvani and Rose Bordage — find themselves in a race for treasure set in motion by the father of science fiction himself, Jules Verne. A wonderful, wonderful read for adventure lovers of any age. If you loved Jules Verne as a child, you’ll love this book. If you loathed Verne but love swift-paced heist novels, you’ll still adore this book. Highly, highly recommended.

Lastly, I didn’t see this coming, either: But, lucky us! This book is the first in a series, although I didn’t find that out until the very last page. Great work, Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer! One more twist at the very end.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Christy Ottaviano Books in exchange for an honest review.

A treasure hunt for kids revolving around a Jules Vernes book. Their hunt takes them all over Paris looking for clues. I didn't really connect with the narrator here, so it wasn't my favorite.