Donna Galanti's Series
- Vanessa Bettencourt
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
Last time I reviewed A Human Element (perfect for dark thriller readers - adult), and while you are meeting these three unforgettable characters, your little ones are meeting other fantastic ones with the Andrews McMeel trilogy Epic: Unicorn Island Trilogy.
If you don't know, Loon Cove Summer is an amazing Summer Camp read, and the characters will capture adults and young readers. Not only is the main character dealing with grief and the loss of a parent, but she will do all in her power to protect nature and the endangered species of LOON birds. Although this is a standalone, the author writes very episodic volumes, so it's possible we can return to this Camp.
Trailer here.
This weekend, I binged the first two volumes of Joshua's adventures.
Book 1
Action fast-paced adventure, high stakes. The group grows slowly, unveiling goals. The main one is to save Joshua's friend, Finn, then return to Earth. Multiple worlds with root/inspiration in Olympic Gods and Greek Gods lore.
There is a need for a chosen one, but sometimes a chosen one is just someone doing the right thing and saving more than just one friend.
In volume one, Hekate is the main villain trying to take all power from these worlds filled by the stolen kids who fuel them.
It's exciting, inspiring, uplifting and motivating. I binged the first two volumes.
BOOK 2
There is no: I liked book 1 or 2 more. The story continues, adding more, yay, and at the same time, it's episodic. In book one, Joshua and his friends help Sam to find his rightful place, Hekate is a vicious villain, and the adventure unveils a lot of past stories revealing Joshua and other characters' origins and goals.
Then we jump right into action again, just like book one, with a call for help, and Joshua's friends won't let him go alone to a new world.
Joshua is a loyal, credulous friend who easily gives others a chance to be loyal. There are lots of plot twists, betrayals, and some betrayals are the result of a deception. It's quite emotional at the end. This volume brings back villains, allies, and certainties of a chosen one's path.
Both volumes are strong, but the second introduces Ash, a fantastic character.
The world-building is cool. Zeus disbands his Gods and each one becomes the ruler of a world, but not all (or their descendants) rule right.
The end gives us a hint that there are more secrets to unveil and a final boss fight ahead.
NEWS: Releasing Next 03/02/2026
From the author's Instagram:
"In the book, three kids with visible autoimmune issues help each other become known for more than their conditions. This book is so personal to me as I have 5 autoimmune diseases (some visible too) and was just diagnosed with a new one—Sjogren's Syndrome.
Here's more about what THE SECRET WINNERS CLUB is all about ...
1st Rule of The Secret Winners Club: Do whatever it takes.
Thirteen-year-old Sunny Whitlock has alopecia, an autoimmune condition that’s made her lose her hair—and she’s desperate to be seen as more than just the bald kid. But how? By setting an epic goal: win her school’s junkbot club competition. And if she’s #1, then other kids will have to see beyond her disease … and she’ll finally fit in.
Sunny’s immune-deficient best friends are also tired of looking different and achieving second place in their school competitions. With a bold plan, Sunny bands with them to create The Secret Winners Club, a club devised to win—at any cost—and push them outside their comfort zones.
They promise to trust no one else. It’s all classified! And in total secrecy they aim to help one another become #1 before this middle school year is over. But as they start to succeed, they quickly discover that crossing the line and hurting others can make them even more visible and even more an outsider.
Donna Galanti's Links
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