Maylie and the Maze (Tales of a Travel Girl #1)
by M.L. Tarpley , Monica Bruenjes 

3 out of 5 stars
Maylie is finding it difficult to write a story, any story. She has plenty of ideas, but keeps second-guessing herself when she starts to write. Hoping to find inspiration, she goes on a trip to London with her aunt, her grandmother, and her twin brother, Camden.

Maylie is a great character. I liked being inside her head and seeing all her fears and anxieties, and how she manages to overcome those things. I liked Aunt Layla because she is always encouraging and inspiring. Camden got on my nerves (just like he is supposed to) as the annoying brother character, but I could also see hidden depths in his personality reminding me that he is more than just an immature class clown. There is some good character development for both Maylie and Camden.

The writing is okay, but not amazing. The plot and pacing are fine, but there are a few boring scenes before it gets into some better action. A young reader would probably not notice any problems with the writing or pacing. This would be good for ages 7-12. The illustrations aren’t that great. They don’t look professional, but they are okay. Again, a child probably wouldn’t notice anything amiss.

I loved learning about London and Leeds Castle and the interesting maze! The setting is really well described, and you can tell that the author has visited those places. It puts the reader right into the scene with the characters.

Overall, an interesting and fun book for young readers!

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.