Saban and the Ancient: Book One of the Transformation

by Dante Amodeo

Each of these well-priced board books introduces readers to a new, fun location and identifies objects they might find there. These books will build children's vocabulary as they follow Curious George... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977729087
• ISBN13: 9780977729081
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: High-Pitched Hum Publishing
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

SABAN AND THE ANCIENT is the first story in THE TRANSFORMATION series by Dante Amodeo. Saban Smith is a quiet, bit geeky freshman at a small college. He's become sort of friends with Margo Weissmann, an athletic and outgoing sophomore. The two of them are in a study group together with a third pal, Mikey. The story starts off after their philosophy midterm. They were on their way across campus to go to a party when Saban notices people in blue dropping from the sky with parachutes. This isn't supposed to be happening like this. Saban and Margo sense something is wrong and begin a mad dash across the campus. Their friend Mikey gets shot, and the two try to scramble to his aid in the trees. Mikey is shot, but it's not a bullet, more of a non-lethal pellet of some sort. There, Margo and Saban encounter a different group of people, these in camouflage. They escape, but Margo is pulled into a net of intrigue that she never suspected. Saban greets the group in blue. Much to Margo's surprise, it seems that Saban is actually the leader of this mysterious group. She's pulled along with the momentum, and the group searches for a mysterious crystal that is buried somewhere on campus. After the eventful night, Margo wakes up in her bed; her previously filthy clothes seem to have miraculously washed themselves. Everything feels like a dream to her, except for the wad of tobacco that is left in her ear. She recalls being spit upon by one of the camouflage team. As Saban and his team try to plan their next steps in their mission, Margo is slowly going insane. She can't remember anything prior to her starting school at the beginning of the term. She has worked out how Saban's team completed their tasks, and terms of espionage roll easily off her tongue. But she can't come up with members of her family, or where she is from. SABAN AND THE ANCIENT is a fast-paced spy thriller that should please everyone. Not normally a fan of this genre, I was able to easily follow the action and story line, keeping track of who was who and which agency was doing what. The ANCIENT is a secret organization that every spy network in the world is trying to discover. Saban Smith is only one small part of the organization, and the members are all on a need-to-know basis. The leader of the organization, John Smith, seems to have a secret agenda that even Saban is not able to figure out. There is so much more going on with the story, but I leave it a mystery for other readers to discover. After clarifying with the author, a sequel is in the works, with the hopes of it being a five-part series. So Saban and the Alpha crew are expected to be back for more. I know I will be waiting! Reviewed by: Jaglvr

An excellent read

Saban and The Ancient was a great read. It was a very intriguing novel that was entertaining as well. There were a lot of unsuspected events in the story and it kept me glued to the book until I was finished reading it. I can't wait for book two because I really want to find out what happens with Saban, Margo and the rest of Alpha Team. What is really going on in the Ancient organization?

A terrifically fun read

I was more than a bit surprised at the quality of the dialogue and the backstory that the author is creating. As an earlier reviewer mentioned, the characters are eminently likeable and engaging. I could't agree more. There is action aplenty, but not at the expense of plot and character development. It reads a bit like a cross between a graphic novel (for the thematic elements) and an espionage novella. The characters' motivations and personalities are consistent, given the setting. The snarky, Whedon-esk dialogue is damned funny at times, without seeming forced. That is not easy to achieve. Bravo, Dante. I am anxious to read many future installments in the series, and getting to know Saban, Margo, John and the rest as the ride continues.

An intriguing spy novel

Reviewed by Ian McCurley (age 13) for Reader Views (4/07) Saban Smith is just a regular college student who is practically unnoticeable, or so they think. That is until one day when he and his friend Margo Weissmann are outside the library and agents in blue start falling from the sky. The agents carry guns that fire mercy bullets. Mercy bullets are glass bullets that shatter upon impact and contain chemicals that leave you unconscious. Saban and Margo are fleeing when they see their other friend, Mikey, face down in the bushes. As they check his vital signs, they are attacked by two men in camo who are also carrying mercy guns. When Saban defeats the two agents using the advanced martial arts, Margo wonders how such an unremarkable person can be so remarkable. Saban learns from Ford, camo guy #1, that there are 10 other camo-dressed agents and that they are up against the Ancient, a group of agents who have never been exposed and very little is known about them. As Saban and Margo continue their escape, they come to the wall of the campus. The campus wall is 14-feet high, and Margo, in a standing jump, nearly clears the top. Saban wonders how she did that. Failing in the wall jump, they move towards one of the three exits when they are confronted by a blue-clad agent code-named Franklin. When Saban gives a password and the blue-clad agent stands down, they are joined by other members of the Ancient. The group they are in is the Alpha, one of the Ancient's teams of agents. While Margo is wondering how Saban knew the password, they are being led beneath the headmaster's house to a bunker where they must find one of the five U-crystals. The purpose of these crystals is unknown, but it is discovered that everyone in the Alpha is a Talent. A Talent is someone with enhanced capabilities is strength, speed or other less-obvious skills. Who is Saban? Is he a Talent? And for that matter, who is Margo? Is she a sleeper left behind during a failed mission? This book is for readers ages 13 and up who enjoy novels about spies and secret organizations. Dante Amodeo really shines in this book. "Saban and the Ancient" is creative, intriguing and a real page-turner. I'm looking forward to the next book in the Transformation series, "Saban and the Betrayer."

Great Book -- Smart and Funny

I was pleasantly surprised that such an action packed book also explored the relationships between friends and more-than-friends (and wasn't too sappy). The characters were also very likeable. The dialogue sounded the way young adults actually talk, which a lot of writers screw up, and a lot of it was really funny. I also liked that it wasn't full of sex and profanity. Anybody that likes sci-fi, and especially sci-fi for young people, would like this book. It was really good, and I will definitely read the next one in the series!