Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo

by Obert Skye

Book Overview

WELCOME TO FOO. Fourteen-year-old Leven Thumps (a.k.a. Lev) lives a wretched life in Burnt Culvert, Oklahoma. But his life is about to change and his destiny be fulfilled as he learns about a secret... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590383699
• ISBN13: 9781590383698
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Shadow Mountain
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

A good story, but dustcover was missing

This book was such a fun adventurous read! The plot was developed well with so many characters.

Book received not as advertised

I received this book in good condition. However, the dust cover is not part of the book. What happens? Very Dispointed especially if the books have many in the series. This is very poorly done. You must remember when all books is combined. It look incomplete. (If do not have cover. Please said so).

Can't Wait To Explore Foo

These days I find it easier and easier to sink into a fantasy novel written for juvenile readers. I don't know if it's the worlds I enjoy, or if it's the break from "adult" problems and issues. After giving the matter considerable attention, I've decided that part of what draws me to fiction for 9-12 year olds is that sense of wonder and fun that is lacking in many of the adult books. They just take themselves too seriously. Or maybe I want to take myself less so. Whichever is the case, I sat down with LEVEN THUMPS AND THE GATEWAY TO FOO and found myself whizzing right along in no time because the book offers tons of wonder and fun. Admittedly, I stumbled over the first chapter or two because they are a little dense and weird. But the story straightens itself right out and pounds to the finish line - which is really only the start of a series that currently includes three novels. When I first saw the character's name, Leven Thumps, I have to say that I wasn't interested in reading the book at all. It was just too strange, and the back cover copy didn't promise me enough to make me purchase the book. But I'm glad I read it. Where else are you going to find a book chock full of action and adventure, and with candy that will - temporarily - rearrange your body parts? Particularly your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. When Leven ate some of the candy that Clover, his sycophant - magical protector -- gave him, he ended up with his nose between his toes. The book takes place in Oklahoma, which is where I'm from. However, other than a few superficial details, it doesn't really feel like Oklahoma. Granted, the book isn't about Oklahoma, so that shouldn't matter. Leven has a hard life (it seems like all the kids heroes these days do) and isn't loved by anyone (another common problem), but is destined to do great things because he's an offing. Although it takes a while to get to the part where Leven gets his powers, waiting is worth it. His powers are cool and kids will love them. Heck, even I would like to be able to see into the future and control weather. However, I'd really like to have Winter's power to turn everything to ice too. Winter is a young girl whose own life has been horrible. She was raised by her mean mother. In reality, though, Winter is a nit, a citizen of Foo who came to our world to help Leven find the Gateway, find out what his real identity is, and keep safe from Sabine, the villain that has escaped from Foo and means to kill Leven. One of the funniest bits in the book is what happens to Geth. He was the king of Foo and ended up getting trapped in a tree seed that's planted on earth. He grows into a huge tree that can move independently, till the day he decides it's time to find Leven and get to Foo. Then he causes problems, gets chopped into firewood, and eventually ends up as a toothpick throughout the rest of the book. I ended up chuckling out loud at his antics and my wife had to ask me what was so funny.

So much fun

All I can say is thank you Dad. My dad bought this book for me and I loved it. It was so much fun to read. I can't wait for book two. I loved Clover and how he interacted with Leven and Winter and Geth. I think the journey across the world had a lot of interesting twists. I still think about how Geth destroyed Leven's house. What a cool idea. I'm not a big fan of Sabine and the shadows. I have to admit he creeped me out a bit, but the way he was dealt with made me laugh. I hope there's a lot more books in this series. I just had such a good time reading it. Long live Leven.

Our family loved Leven Thumps!

Leven Thumps is kid-tested and kid-approved! In fact, our entire family loved it. My mother and my nine-year old son and everyone in between thought it was extremely entertaining. It was adventurous and very creative. And we loved the teaching moments the book has to offer. Have courage. Don't let fear stop you. Dare to dream the impossible. Believe in yourself. Believe that you can make a difference. We were very excited when our kid's school chose Leven Thumps as a recommended book for their summer reading program. We are very anxious for Obert Skye to finish book two. We can't wait to find out what happens to Leven, Winter, Clover, and Geth. Great heroes with great messages for my kids!

This book is VERY cool!

Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo is a page turner. This book is very exiciting and has adventure and it does not go to far and make the story seem predictable. I also thought that they made Leven real in the life issues he has. It is possible for what happened to him in his life BEFORE the whole magic thing was introduced to him. He was an average student leading a awful life. This book also went into detail and did not go overboard on it. It also ended to where it made you want to get the second book to the series and it did not rush the story, it made the book sound more natural and made it feel like you were there going through the trama that occured. They were also feeling real emotions and had a real personality and they were definitly not stereotyped. I gave this book 5 stars.

The Gateway Between Dream and Reality

An unwanted half nephew, an uncaredfor daughter, a mysterious lifelong companion, and a transformed ruler are the main characters in this book where the World of Dreams and and our view of Reality meet. These four are brought together, quite literally by fate, to complete a task that only they can manage. Leven Thumps, 14, is the last member in his family and only he can close the gateway between the Dream World, Foo, and Reality that his grandfather created decades earlier. If he doesn't manage to do so, Foo is doomed to distruction and Reality is fated to be a world of monotony; without dreams, imagination, and creativity. His companions are: Winter, a thirteen-year-old visitor from Foo sent to help Lev in his plight, has the ability to freeze anything she wants just by thinking; Clover, a 12 inch creature from Foo who has watched over Lev since he was born; and Geth, the rightful King of Foo transformed into a seed (at least to start). This book was fun to read and hard to put down. Parts are so funny I find myself laughing out-loud, disturbing the others around me. It has a truly full story with a distinguishable beginning, middle, and end. Even though it is the first in a series you still feel satisfied at the end that you've come to some kind of resting place while waiting, impatiently, for its sequal. Appropriate for just about any age 9-99. Parents, check the chapter titles for humorous plays on classic songs, idioms, and book titles, plus note the inclusion of a scene right out of the movie Tremors.