Alby is a cat. He enjoys his belly rubs, a bowl full of food, and ear scratches given by his owner, the eccentric Professor Wizoom. However, when Wizoom constructs a portal to another world and does not return after stepping into it one fateful day, Alby is left with no choice but to follow him through the portal. Thus starts a wild adventure for Alby. He enters the world of Jumbalot which is full of bizarre creatures. But even before he can absorb the shock of seeing such creatures, he learns that both Wizoom and Jumbalot are in danger. Can this common house cat save them in time? Read Journey to Jumbalot by Ryan Wakefield to find out the answer.

Wakefield has crafted a perfect fantasy book for the middle-grade audience. Jumbalot is full of magic and adventure. I had a blast of a time reading about the numerous creatures inhabiting Jumbalot. A few examples are froguar (a mixture of a frog and jaguar) and a pandowl (guess what it can be). Wakefield's fertile imagination is reflected throughout the book. Moreover, Journey to Jumbalot imparts many important lessons such as being brave, overcoming self-doubt, and not underestimating anyone, to name a few. This is another reason why the book will appeal powerfully to kids. Further, the book is vividly descriptive. The war scenes were spectacularly rendered which reflects the author's graphic designer background. Additionally, the illustrations of different animals at the beginning of every chapter elevate the book to a new level. Overall, I enjoyed reading Journey to Jumbalot by Ryan Wakefield and would recommend it to readers aged 11-14.

Journey to Jumbalot by Ryan Wakefield is an enthralling fantasy well-crafted for middle graders, a tale of adventure packed with action and multiple surprises. Alby, a cat with black-and-white fur, is a loyal house pet and Professor Wizoom is fond of him. In the afternoon, Alby hears a loud sound coming from the professor’s laboratory. Curiosity leads him to the door and, amidst the strange lights, a voice coming through the door entices him. Alby decides to move closer as he hears, “Please help them,” and “Find your courage.” Stepping through the door, Alby is transported to a strange new world, where he meets and befriends a little froguar called Fremmy. Fremmy tells Alby that he is in the world of Jumbalot. Fremmy will help Alby find the missing professor. Thus begins an adventure in a world inhabited by strange and dangerous creatures. Can Alby and Fremmy survive the challenges, outwit the villains, and find and bring the professor home?

Ryan Wakefield’s writing is atmospheric, and the entire story is imaginative. The author invents a unique fantasy world inhabited by intelligent hybrid animals called jumbos—pandowls, mantaravens, wolvaraptors, and tigeroons are just a few of them. There are exciting moments like riding Troonix’s fast-moving wind wagon, Rozer’s ship with its monstrous Ironside, and many more. The humor is plentiful, and the quirkiness of some of the characters augments the excitement that readers experience as they follow this adventure. Journey to Jumbalot is a fascinating tale that makes great material for a fantasy movie for children. It is fast-paced and filled with surprises. I savored every bit of the story.