T'Aragam (The Max Ransome Chronicles) [Paperback]

Jack W. Regan (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Max Ransome Chronicles | Publication Date: April 16, 2009

Young Max Ransome watched his father die, killed by marauding phantors as they swept through T'Aragam at the bidding of the evil wizard Zadok. Barely escaping with his own life, Max is thrust into a whirlwind journey as he races against time to save T'Aragam, the world he loves, from a dark dominion. Can Max overcome the horror of his father's death and save T'Aragam from the grasping talons of its enemies? Woven with a charming mix of zany humor and genuine danger, "T'Aragam" immerses the reader in a world of original characters and tightly-woven plot. Young Max leads the cast and is ably supported by, among others, a faithful medgekin friend named Gramkin, two monster brothers named Doom and Gloom, and an equuraptor named Dresden. Coupled with quirky supporting characters, such as mercenary Captain Baggywrinkle, Lord Stench, and a perpetually hungry sea serpent named Bob, this cast of characters steps from the pages and pulls the reader into the story. Intended for readers 10+

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jack W. Regan has writing in his blood. His mother being a writer and English teacher, it wasn't long before Jack was trying his own hand at creative writing. At sixteen he won 2nd place in a national essay contest and was editor of his high school newsletter. At college he served on staff at the campus newspaper and, the next year, was promoted to editor-in-chief. Once out of college he continued his love affair with words and in 2004 began a popular online book review service. In 2007 he withdrew from reviewing to focus all his attention on writing. The next year he published "Duke Dookums, Frontier Hero," a zany western for young boys, and contracted out for some non-fiction works. Regan is also an annual judge in Baker Trittin Press's Tweener Time International Chapter Book Competition. "T'Aragam" is Regan's first juvenile fantasy novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (April 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1442114592
• ISBN-13: 978-1442114593
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,026,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Adventure Which Leaves You Laughing, December 13, 2009

By 

LK Gardner-Griffie "Happy Reading!" - See all my reviews

This review is from: T'Aragam (The Max Ransome Chronicles) (Paperback)

Jack Regan captured me from the get go with his young adult fantasy T'Aragam, which is aimed at the tween age group (9-13). What was it that captured me and made me want to keep turning the pages? A cheese obsessed medgekin, named Gramkin Truly. I am a cheese lover, and couldn't resist phrases such as: "I have a high cheese requirement." and "In the name of Gouda."

T'Aragam opens with the medgekin, Gramkin, running through the woods toward Ransome Hall on an important mission to obtain cheese to supply for the annual medgekin games. It is the first time he has been in charge of supplying the cheese, and because of the aforementioned cheese requirement, Gramkin had eaten the medgekin supply. He was hoping to acquire some cheese from Ransome Hall as the medgekin games had been played for a millennium with no lack of cheese and he would be disgraced should he fail to provide. While he is running through the woods, and being laughed at by chucklebugs when he falls, he becomes alarmed as it appears that someone is following him. On the verge of panicking, Gramkin runs in to Zohar, a great wizard, who is also on the way to Ransome Hall to deliver news of disaster which approaches T'Aragam.

T'Aragam takes the reader on a fast paced adventure beginning with Ransome Hall being attacked by phantors. During the attack, thirteen-year-old Max Ransome, watches his father, Lord Ransome, die because Max disobeyed his father's instructions to stay in the armory. Orphaned and a pawn in a game whose stakes he did not fully understand, Max has to save T'Aragam from destruction. Assisted by the wizard, Zohar, and the medgekin, Gramkin, Max travels beyond the confines of Ransome Hall for the first time in his life. He finds himself in battle against Zohar's evil wizard brother, Zadok, who was behind the phantor attack on Ransome Hall. Zadok is determined not to stop until the kingdom and all it contains is his.

Regan pens an adventuresome tale sure to capture a reader's imagination. I laughed out loud through much of the book, as the action is interspersed with humor. What tween could resist such names as Lord Stench from Dankwater, or the pirate Captain Baggywrinkle? Or how about monsters named Gloom and Doom? We also meet the viscious equuraptor named, Dresden, and the sea monster named, Bob. In fact, the humor in the piece is taken to such a degree that I would classify this book as a fantasy parody or spoof. A prime example of this is the following, which takes place at the Luscious Lemur:

Leading the way inside, Zohar shut the door behind them and bolted it. A hat rack stood left of the door and the wizard leaned his staff against it. To Max's surprise, he then removed his beard and also hung it on the hat rack.
"I don't really have a flowing, white beard," he explained, seeing their curious faces, "but it seems most people expect wizards to have them and without it people refuse to take me seriously. So I put it on whenever there's a chance I may need to perform wizardly deeds."

Regan's main goal is to Get Kids Hooked On Reading by making books exciting and attractive. He believes that a "fluency in reading" is vital to a young person's development and success, while "a love of books is one of the most valuable gifts anyone could give a child." With T'Aragam, the first book in the Max Ransome Chronicles series, Jack W. Regan achieves his goal. A delightful, fast paced read, with enough humor to entice the most reluctant of readers, T'Aragam hits the mark.

Reviewed for the LL Book Review

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Start To The Max Ransome Chronicles!, July 30, 2009

By 

Melissa B. Owens "of www.melissas-bookshelf.com" (Canton, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: T'Aragam (The Max Ransome Chronicles) (Paperback)

Normally most of the books I read are for the Young Adult set and older, but when Jack W. Regan contacted me about reading and reviewing his book I couldn't pass it up since I enjoy fantasy so much. And let me tell you, this book was great fun, and I wish it had been around when I was the target audience/age for it.

As you can see from the synopsis, there are some great characters with funny names, but even more importantly, T'aragam is a well-written story that grabs you from the beginning. Regan has done an excellent job weaving an adventurous tale infused with quirky humor that had me laughing out loud many times. Young Max Ransome is thrown into danger early on, escaping an attack on the Ransome Castle only to land in greater danger as he flees. After learning plans that the evil wizard Zadok has, he returns home to do what he can to disrupt Zadok's schemes. Just when you think the story is winding down, Regan throws in a twist to keep you on your toes.

T'aragam is the first book in the Max Ransome Chronicles, and while it's certainly an easy read for me, I am will be likely pick up the next book (when it is available) so I can see how the story continues. Any young reader will likely enjoy this book, and it wouldn't surprise me if this story causes some readers to become hooked on fantasy books in general. It would certainly be a great introduction into the world of fantasy for the younger readers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library fantasy collections for young readers, August 21, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: T'Aragam (The Max Ransome Chronicles) (Paperback)

Young Max Ransom's father was murdered by marauding phantors who swept through T'Aragam spreading death, destruction, and terror. Under the command of the evil wizard Zadok and narrowly escaping with his life, thirteen-year-old Max is propelled into an adventure wrought with danger, memorable characters, unexpected plot twists, and a riveting action/adventure fantasy of the first order. In "T'Aragam", author Jack W. Regan demonstrates the skills and imaginative originality of a true master storyteller. Highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library fantasy collections for young readers.