i am not a bookworm!: The Magnificent Glass Globe by N. R. Bergeson | Blog Tour and Giveaway

THE MAGNIFICENT GLASS GLOBE

N.R. Bergeson

Pub. Date: April 10, 2017

Publisher: TantrumBooks

Format: Paperback,eBook

Pages: 273

Eleven-year-old Mary Tucker dreams of visiting the Amazon. But if her father, a museum curator, has his way, she might be a grandmother before she ever gets the chance.

One day, while mischievously exploring the museum’s warehouse with her brother Ike and best friend Helen, Mary stumbles across an old travel trunk belonging to her grandfather.

Inside, they discover an nondescript glass globe. Curious about the simple object, Mary touches the globe, and is shocked when the room is suddenly consumed by the most amazing view of Earth.

The magnificent globe lets the friends zoom closer and closer toward the earth’s surface, eventually bringing them close enough to touch the trees. That's when the globe entirely disappears, and they find themselves falling.

Suddenly, they're far from home, in place that's either a paradise, or the place where they will die.

Sleep, water, and food become precious and scarce. A native tribe may hold the keys to their survival as well as clues to help them get back home. But it won’t be easy. The rain forest is a big place, and when others find out what the globe can do, Mary, Ike and Helen will need a plan, allies, and a little luck.

This is my first time to read a Nils Bergeson book. This has been an amazing adventure to the Amazon jungle. As real as it can get, I was transported to Columbia and got lost in the Amazon rain forest with the Mary, Ike and Helen without having to leave my room. The Magnificent Glass Globe is one magical way to travel anywhere in the world in just one touch. Now, I know of two ways to go on adventures around the world without having to go on planes and immigration checks.

Mary Tucker has an obsession with the rain forest and the Amazon. Well, more like everything green or with leaves. I think she has a soul that was born to fight for conservation of nature. A literal tree hugger. And she often fantasizes about going to the Amazon. Running carefree under the canopies, jumping over fallen logs and feeling the fallen leaves under her feet. It is Mary's greatest wish to travel to the Amazon and watch the Amazon river wind its way to the Pacific Ocean, but there are two problems. One, she is only 11 years old. Second, her father would not allow it. Maybe, when she is older and she can afford it herself but for now, she has to content herself with traveling and seeking adventures inside the museum where her father is the curator. Until one fine day... it all came true.

I love this book. The events were fast-paced and packed into one story yet not too long or too short. It surprisingly did not miss any significant detail. The chapters flowed smoothly from one to the next and still maintain the same amount of excitement and anticipation. It felt like I was right there with the three kids with all the vivid and clear descriptions of the surroundings. The narrative has a way of including me into the adventure and experiencing it for myself. I love to travel but I honestly did not ever envision myself going to the Amazon. The Iguazu Falls, the Maya pyramids and Machu Pichu maybe, but not the Amazon, itself. But after reading this book, it made me want to experience the jungle and see the famous river for myself, not even considering and worrying about the dangers of such expedition.

One thing that struck me about the story was the fact about pink dolphins in the Amazon River. I have seen pink dolphins in Underwater World Singapore in Sentosa Island way back in 2008. I was so mesmerized by this creatures that I bought myself a stuffed toy as a souvenir of that wonderful experience. But I never imagined that these dolphins are swimming in the Amazon too. It was a surprising and amazing fact. It's one great testament to how great this river is and what other unique and exotic creatures live in its depth. According to the biologist in Underwater World Singapore, pink dolphins are actually adult dolphins. They shed their skin as they grow old but when they were younger they have the same color as the other dolphins. But not all dolphins shed their skin and become pink. Pink dolphins are one of a kind as they are only found in fresh water rivers.

This story has amplified and magnified my love to travel either by being physically there in the location or by traveling through books that take me to exotic locales that are way beyond my reach, budget and logistics. I have not been able to do a lot of out-of-town and out of country trips this past year due to my lack of funds. This story has just reminded me that my first love would always be to explore and experience something new. I will never grow tired or grow old of it. This just made me want to fiercely and crave more to go out of my comfort zone and embrace the world. For now, I will just have to content myself with staying put and let my mind and imagination do the traveling for me. But I know it won't be long, my feet will soon touch on those sacred grounds and follow on the footsteps of those great culture and civilization that came before me. Real soon.

I give this book 5/5 pink dolphins. I never thought that this story would lure me to want to explore and be dazzled by the magic of the Amazon. The obsession of Mary has rubbed off on me, not that I too am obsessed with the urge to get there very soon but the hint of unimaginable possibilities of being in its embrace has captivated me. Yes, after this book, I will add traveling to the Amazon to one of my bucket list. I am looking forward to the next adventures of the Tuckers and Washington Explorers. Where could their next adventure lead? I definitely can't miss it!

Congratulatuons N. R. Bergeson! This is one amazing story and adventures kids of all ages would love. I am hoping to have more adventures with the characters that would take me out of my comfort zone.

Life is always better when seeking adventures.

- N. R. Bergeson, The Magnificent Glass Globe -

Thank you, Rock Star Book Tour for the review copy.

N. R. (Nils) Bergeson is the author of the “Magnificent Glass Globe” series. Nils was born in California but spent his childhood at the foot of the beautiful mountains of northern Utah. From an early age, he was fascinated with the wider world, prompting him to earn a degree in international studies from Utah State University, followed by a Master’s degree in Public Administration/International Management from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. He knew early on that his interests were as wide as the world itself, and that he’d find real joy living overseas. Since 2002, Nils has only spent four years living in the United States. He was a missionary in Siberia, spent time in Romania as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, and has worked for several years in Colombia, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and now Indonesia as a U.S. diplomat/international development worker. He’s traveled to more than 60 countries with his wife, Emily, and their three young children. Nils’ love for writing, which began in the second grade, complements his globetrotting ways well. He hopes his writing will instill a desire in his readers to take advantage of modern opportunities to see the world, learn new languages, and expand their cultural experiences. We live in a wonderful world, and it’s just waiting for us to see it.