Freckles the Dark Wizard by Jerry Harwood | Children’s Book Review (Ages 6-13) | Giveaway & Excerpt
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
Freckles: The Dark Wizard by Jerry Harwood Published by Independent on September 21, 2021
Genres: Fiction, Children's, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Middle-Grade, Sword & Sorcery
Format: Audiobook, eBook, Paperback
Pages: 197
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions, Kindle Unlimited, Received from the author or publisher for review.At Flame Rock Middle School, you show off your big biceps, post your dimples on InstaWitch, grow a cheetah tail, or use your fairy wings to fly down the hall.
For Simon, wearing his peers' opinions can be a literal event. Especially since Simon has the visible mark of a weak wizard... freckles.
What will happen when Simon learns he has dark magic and can conjure a dragon? Will he become one of the bullies he hated or choose a different path?
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Excerpt from Freckles the Dark Wizard
At least at school, Simon was visible. Dean Abacus stood at the front door. He didn’t tolerate middle school foolishness, or at least not whenever he could stop it. As students approached he would welcome them. He would also clear his throat if anyone was out of dress code, had misshapen features, or was trying to pass as some humanoid animal combination.
Dean Abacus harrumphed as one boy walked in. He had tried to hide a pair of eagle wings with a large coat. The coat shrank two sizes as the wings avaporated. Evaporated is when something turns from a liquid into a vapor. Avaporated is when a wizard turns from his or her projected form to the person’s natural form. A person would also avaporate if a local wizard’s or group of wizards’ projection was stronger than the person. Adult wizards seldom had such issues, but young wizards in middle school often found their imagecast informed by others.
Adults, such as Dean Abacus, were powerful enough to avaporate any form they thought to be too silly whether it was by the students’ doing or someone else’s. They also tried to keep students from avaporating into anything too dangerous. The dean, while stern, also had a soft side. Dean Abacus tilted his glasses down to the edge of his nose and looked at Simon’s sister.
“Tabitha? Purple hair?”
“Dean, it isn’t against dress code. I mean, what if this was my natural color?”
Dean Abacus smiled and then looked to Simon. “Oh, Simon, how are you this morning!”
“Just glad to be off the bus,” Simon mumbled.
“I didn’t even see you get off the bus. But come on in. You will need to return your color to normal.”
Dean Abacus harrumphed again and Simon watched his faded skin return to its normal, pasty white. As color returned, so did the freckles along his arm. “And those torn jeans will not do.”
The dean pointed his finger and Simon’s jeans mended where the goat had gnawed a hole.
“You boys and your weird fashions,” Dean Abacus said, largely to himself.
Entering the hallway, Simon saw Danzig, and his stomach churned. Simon could see Danzig’s lips curling in preparation to call him names. Simon changed direction and walked over to the corner where the lost and found table was. He shuffled through smelly t-shirts, single socks, and twelve vacuum-packed frogs. He tried to look like he was genuinely looking for something. Danzig, with his buddies Krull and Cedrick, finally made their way down the hall. Simon waited another minute before heading toward his homeroom, just in case the three boys were waiting on him.
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for Freckles the Dark Wizard
Amazon – OneLink for every country
Freckles: The Dark WizardShop on Amazon 
Freckles: The Dark WizardShop on Amazon 
Freckles: The Dark WizardShop on Amazon
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My thoughts on Freckles the Dark Wizard
Freckles The Dark Wizard is a fabulous story for ages 6ish and up. For younger kids, it makes an excellent read-along with parents. It’s well-suited for any child with middle-grade reading skills and it’s pretty entertaining for older folks as well.
Simon must learn to deal with middle school bullies, accept himself as he is, and so much more.
Jerry Harwood understands middle-graders! He knows exactly how they think and behave. He portrays this age to perfection. Whether kids are challenging authority, problem-solving, or dealing with bullies, they have a unique perspective.
The bits of humor keep you on your toes. Every chapter is filled with laughs, lessons, and life. Kids will relate to this tale. The goat tries very hard to steal the show in this one!
The story flows well and there are no noticeable errors or typos. It was an absolute pleasure to read. Grab your copy of Freckles the Dark Wizard today. You can even pretend it’s for the kids. lol
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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About Jerry Harwood
Jerry Harwood was born in Ooltewah, TN. His mother was an elementary school teacher and he spent his afternoons reading books in her classroom or the nearby library.
He has experimented with other occupations: camp director, program director at a counseling center, college professor and middle school teacher.
Jerry has backpacked Europe, taught in a Ukrainian University, worked in Rwanda after the genocide, is a first responder, sort-of remodeled a VW Thing, and has a love for Cherry Coke Zero that is only surpassed by his love for his wife, six children, and grandson.
Jerry attended college at UT Chattanooga where he was in university honors and majored in Latin and classical literature. He has two master’s degrees, nearing completion on a third. He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he is an active member of the Chattanooga Writer’s Guild, the Atlanta Writer’s Club, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
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Easy Amazon Info Link
Amazon – OneLink for every country
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Giveaway!
Jerry Harwood will be awarding two autographed print copies of the book, (U.S. only), to two randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Freckles the Dark Wizard
Full Tour Schedule:
June 22: Kit ‘N Kabookle
June 22: The Reading Addict
June 29: Fabulous and Brunette
June 29: Gina Rae Mitchell
July 13: Westveil Publishing
July 13: Gimme The Scoop Reviews
July 20: Our Town Book Reviews
July 20: The Faerie Review
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Thanks for hosting my little work. I appreciate it more than I could ever relate. And thank you for the kind review.
You are most welcome, Jerry. I jumped at the chance to review this one because I enjoyed reviewing Jam Sessions a while back.
I read, reviewed and enjoyed one of his other books for MG readers. This one also sounds good.
Carla – Thank you!! How awesome to have a repeat reader. Perhaps it is the writer’s greatest praise that someone would pick up his/her stuff again.
I love everything about this book – genre title and cover.
Sherry – Thank you. I am a middle school teacher. One of my students actually helped with the cover. He would always doodle in his notes and is such a talented artist.
Thanks for hosting!