ALEXANDER DAVIDSON
Purple Dragonfly Book Awards
1st Place: Science Fiction/Fantasy/Paranormal
2nd Place: Young Adult Fiction
“Winning any place in the Purple Dragonfly Contest is a huge honor because in order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score is required before a First or Second place or Honorable Mention will be awarded to the entrant – even if it is the sole entry in a category,” explains Linda F. Radke, president of Five Star Publications, the sponsor of the Dragonfly Book Awards. “Competition is steep, too, because there is no publication date limit as long as the book is still in print.”
Find the whole list of 2015 award recipients here
Mom's Choice Award
The Visitor's Choice: A Search to Make Things Right is a recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award. The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) evaluates products and services created for parents and educators and is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. Using a rigorous evaluation process, entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost. Around the world, parents, educators, retailers and members of the media trust the MCA Honoring Excellence seal when selecting quality products and services for families and children.
Find in the "Shop for Winners" section
Kirkus Reviews
"A boy is transported to new worlds in this fantastic middle-grade novel...Davidson...is such a gifted writer: Aside from his technical prowess, Davidson's imagination and page-turning pacing help make this book stand out. David is a relatable character for adventurous young readers who might find it difficult to dive into school and reading, and the work obviously champions books as vehicles...into other worlds. With well-rounded characters and plenty of drama, this fun read will even appeal to read-along parents...An imaginative example of fantasy done right."
Read the whole review here
Reader's Favorite
FIVE STARS! "The Visitor's Choice really champions books...and convincingly shows young people the true value of imagination and adventure...The adventure itself is fun and well-written, with vivid characters who each have their own interesting back-stories and teach David some useful lessons during his journey. The collision of David's real-world problems and the land of Ethelrod makes for exciting reading...Alexander Davidson has created a clever moral message at the centre of a highly enjoyable story."
Read the whole review here
Other Praise
PARENTS
Debbie Bellovich, mother of three
"Finally, a book that reaches out to boys who need a nudge in the reading department. In David, Alex Davidson has created a character that appeals to all youth, especially boys who aren't the biggest fans of reading. Through a book, his character magically finds adventure, knowledge and the courage to save the day with the help of his friends."
Geoffrey Sale, father of 3 (2 sons and a daughter)
"A fun story to read, where the characters and events come alive in your mind with clarity and depth. This richly-written story hits the mark with middle school-aged boys, and their families will enjoy it too."
TEACHERS
Lydia Sawchuk, middle school Language Arts teacher
"The main character, David, tells Azreal, the treasure-seeking dragon that "As a reader, you have a chance to go on adventures you never might have even imagined before." I am going to invite all my students to join me in reading this book and see what a treasure a book can be! Ethelrod, here we come!"
Daniel Spilker - Director, Perdo Arrupe Learning Center – University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy
“The Visitor's Choice: A Search to Make Things Right is an engaging story that is exciting while encouraging thought at the same time. It is sure to hit its mark and encourage young readers to begin a lifetime of literacy!”
STUDENTS
Lindsay W., Age 16
"I think this would be a great book for my friends and me because it is full of adventure and creativity. It emphasizes the importance of books and how we truly can be transported into different worlds just from reading. I think this will remind everyone how special it is to be immersed in books and the interesting stories they tell."
Peter L., 13
"I have enjoyed this book greatly. When I put it down I couldn’t wait for the next chance that I had to read it again. I think kids will love this book because of all of the adventure and action. When I thought the story was going one way it just completely changed on me so I always found a new surprise. This book was very good."
Casey S., Age 14
"Kids my age should read this book because they can relate to it. David plays lacrosse, and doesn’t like to read for school, like many people in school today. It gives the readers a fun idea that reading can take you to different places and it gives them different adventures every time. Just like Mr. Linden said,” It only ends when you close the book”, which tells the reader that’s true for all books, including this one."
Conor E., Age 17
""The Visitor's Choice" is the kind of book you want to read over and over again. It put a some much needed magic back into my reading and reminded me of how books can take you to new and amazing places."
Kyler C., Age 14
"This book is fast paced and easy to follow allowing for most readers to comprehend. Interesting at every twist and turn of the plot, leaving readers unable to put down. It's great for me and my friends because the characters are relatable and deep, keeping our interest in understanding them and the plot."
