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And The Children Shall Lead (The Lance Chronicles) Paperback – September 22, 2014

by Michael J. Bowler (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 11 ratings
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The campaign to save California’s children was only the beginning. Now Lance and Ricky target America’s most sacred document – The Constitution. Native American teens Kai and Dakota—harboring secrets of their own—join the crusade and swear undying loyalty to Lance. They carry the hope of their people that the movement will better the lives of Indian children, who are inexcusably neglected by government. This new campaign will take the young people to The White House, the halls of Congress, and beyond in their quest to change the prevailing opinion that children are property, rather than human beings in their own right.But an unseen nemesis stalks Lance and ratchets up the attacks on New Camelot, promising to destroy all that Arthur has put in place. “You were right, little boy, death is coming for you, but slowly, and only after it takes out the people you love.” These chilling words haunt Lance, but also strengthen his resolve to protect the people he loves. Or die trying.The Lance Chronicles continue…Second EditionThe Lance Chronicles:Children of the Knight (The Lance Chronicles Book 1)Running Through A Dark Place (The Lance Chronicles Book 2)There Is No Fear (The Lance Chronicles Book 3)And The Children Shall Lead (The Lance Chronicles Book 4)Once Upon A Time In America (The Lance Chronicles Book 5)Warrior Kids (standalone set within The Lance Chronicles universe)
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Previous page
  1. Book 4 of 5
    The Lance Chronicles
  2. Print length
    323 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    September 22, 2014
  5. Grade level
    4 - 7
  6. Reading age
    13 - 18 years
  7. Dimensions
    6 x 0.73 x 9 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    0990306364
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0990306368
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"There's something to be said about a continuing series with a revolving cast of characters. It never gets old. It always stays fresh. That's what makes Michael J. Bowler's THE KNIGHT CYCLE--an anthology of five, full length, YA novels--something truly special...[Bowler's] not a fan of labels but he broadens the scope of his story by branching out to all different races and nationalities, encompassing everybody as the story goes on. All ethnic groups, ages and genders are represented from Latinos (Lance, Ricky and Esteban) to Native Americans (Dakota and Kai) to African Americans (Justin and Brooks) to Asians (Techie) to Caucasians (Chris) to women (Reyna and Jenny) to middle age and older (Arthur and Merlin). Bowler leaves no one out. Anyone who picks up this series will be able to relate to one or more of the characters. They're all human, and they all make mistakes, but they do so together, as a unit, as a family, and that's what makes Bowler's take on adolescent angst stand out from all the rest--it's inclusive. Everyone's welcome at the Round Table."
- Examiner.com

"I recommend this series to those who like a coming of age story that is intense and fast moving. I can't put these books down. I have read three within a week and I am about to start the last in this series."
- Neil in Morgan Hill on Amazon

"This superb continuation of Lance's story had me riveted as more than a few hours of sleep were lost as I had to continue reading to figure out what happens next. Wonderful writing, amazing characters who are distinct, unique individuals, well-laid out settings, heart-pounding action that makes sense, and a call out to society to stop fu**ing up in how children are "handled"....this book has it all!"
- Only God Writes Trees

"And The Children Shall Lead is as wild a ride as its series predecessors. Included are plenty of action, mystery, adventure, and even some US History, but I tune in most to the romance, because, as I said love is what I see. I highly recommend And the Children Shall Lead to all romance readers, as well as to those who enjoy witnessing the thrill of the chase, human rights activism at work, and skillfully devised, witty slang-packed repartee amid courtly formality."
- Mia Kerick, author of the One Voice series

"I encourage anyone who had children, who cares about kids, who THINKS about the youth of America to read this book - to read this series! You CANNOT walk away unaffected!"
- J.g. Murphy

About the Author

Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. He majored in English/Theatre at Santa Clara University, earned a master's in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and a master's in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. Michael taught high school in Hawthorne, California for twenty-five years, both in general education and to students with disabilities. When Michael is not writing you can find him volunteering as a youth mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and volunteering within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California, and hopes his books can show young people they are not alone in their struggles.

You can find Michael at michaeljbowler.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Michael Bowler; 2nd ed. edition (September 22, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 323 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0990306364
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0990306368
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 18 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.73 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 11 ratings

About the author

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Michael J. Bowler

Michael J. Bowler

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Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. He majored in English/Theatre at Santa Clara University, earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and a master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. Michael taught high school in Hawthorne, California, both in general education and to students with disabilities. When Michael is not writing, he serves as a youth mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles, but mostly he takes care of his recently adopted son. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California and hopes that his books can show young people they are not alone in their struggles.

You can find Michael at:

Website: www.michaeljbowler.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/michaeljbowlerauthor

Twitter: twitter.com/MichaelJBowler

tumblr: michaeljbowler.tumblr.com

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/michaelbowler

Instagram: www.instagram.com/michaeljbowler/

Goodreads:www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938109.Michael_J_Bowler

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2NXCPry4DDgJZOVDUxVtMw

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
11 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Neil in Morgan Hill
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Story - Exciting Premise - Timely Message - Thought Provocating - Call to Action!
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2014
Verified Purchase
A 5-Star rating for Michael Bowler's And the Children Shall Lead and the Children of the Knight series.

I recommend this series to those who like a coming of age story that is intense and fast moving. I can't put these books down. I have read three within a week and I am about to start the last in this series.

It is crucial readers start with the first book in the series as it follows a timeline and builds upon previous events.

This series looks at the social and political issues that face young people growing up in today's society. It is a mess! This hopeful fantasy demonstrates what leadership, love and mutual respect can achieve. It is a fantasy I would love to see become fact.

Like Michael Bowler, I am an optimist. The government and adults are not going to fix this world. It is up to the younger direction to either follow in the futile footsteps of their parents or to break free and form a better way. There are powerful minds among societies children and we can't afford to throw any of them away into prisons, failing school systems and corrupt communities were drugs and gangs entrap youth.

Thank you Michael Bowler for writing such a timely series that is entertaining and carries a powerful message. I can 't wait to read the last book of the series. I will be sad to reach the end.
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LitPick Book Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Another great addition to The Lance Chronicles series
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2019
With the people’s votes in and the fate of their proposition decided, Arthur and his knights return for book four of The Lance Chronicles: And the Children Shall Lead. After concluding the first major phase of their plan to gain the children of America more rights, the knights are proud of what they have accomplished thus far. Despite this, they are far from finished with their end goal. The heroes are ready to step things up a notch, and what method could be better and more effective than amending the United States constitution? Lance and Ricky had announced their audacious plan to amend the United States constitution at the close of the last book, and now the reader joins them as they plot to put that plan in motion.

The children work furiously, putting the finishing touches on their “Children’s Bill of Rights.” Finally, they are ready, and the pair present their bill to the public. As expected, the reactions to their document are mixed, with some deciding that their proposal is outright ridiculous and others believing that these amendments are indeed necessary. In spite of the relatively minimal acceptance of their document, the kids have gotten people talking and are ready to return home in triumph.

As they walk back to the car, a massive speaker starts to fall over right in Lance’s path. If Ricky did not pull Lance out of its way, he surely would have been killed. Even though the suspect in the previous attempts on Lance’s life died, no one believes this was simply an accident. The group races home, but suddenly Lance receives a text from a blocked number. The anonymous person claims responsibility for the speaker’s fall and promises to finish the job and kill him, Ricky, and the Round Table’s entire crusade. With this new threat facing Lance and the rest of New Camelot, how can they possibly convince the public about the importance of their Children’s Bill of Rights, while at the same time staying safe? Will this new attacker succeed in his threats against Lance?

And the Children Shall Lead was another great addition to The Lance Chronicles series. Even so, it did seem to start off much slower than the previous three installments and took a while to get off its feet. Luckily, once it did take off, its plot didn’t stop running and had some amazingly emotion-filled action scenes. These scenes, in addition to others, made it easy to identify with each of the characters. It is remarkable how Michael J. Bowler is able to bring out the humanity in each of his characters, making them that much more believable.

Beyond the book’s slow start, I do hold a few more qualms about it. First, I thought the resolution to book three’s epilogue was rather boring, and I think that it could have been resolved in a much more exciting fashion; I think this was one of the main contributors to the book’s slow beginning. The other problem I had was that it didn’t seem like some of the children’s proposals were thought out as well as they could have been. Although at first glance they sounded great, at least one of them seemed as if it would have quite a few repercussions (beyond what the book appeared to acknowledge). This fact was relatively easy to overlook, though.

Other than some minor logistic issues and the somewhat sluggish start, The Lance Chronicles remains a tremendously exciting and thoroughly thought-provoking series for teens and adults alike. I’m eager to read the fifth and final book in the series to see how everything gets resolved.
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AA Pearce
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Continuation
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2014
Lance goes from "The Boy Who Came Back" to "The Boy Who Came Out." His public declaration of his love for Ricky, sets him up to face a whole new set of challenges as the teenage knights of the Round Table grapple with the idea that their leader is gay. Some are afraid of being cast in the same light. Others think it'll make them look weak. They fear the public backlash from Lance's announcement.

But Lance is finally okay with who he is. For a boy who was sexually abused at the age of six, he has finally found the one person he was meant to give his heart to. It's been a long, hard road for him to travel. His self-acceptance was a painful process, a battle that wasn't easily won, and the repercussions of that seem far easier to have to cope with than the inner hatred he had been dealing with for so long. Now, he's going to embrace his new relationship with Ricky, and to hell with what anyone else thinks.

Now seventeen, the time is drawing near for Lance to take up the mantle and assume the throne. Merlin warns him that King Arthur will not be with them for too much longer, and that Lance will need to step up and keep the crusade going. Lance hates to hear Merlin talk that way, so he pushes the thought aside, refusing to accept the truth behind his dire prediction.

Because Lance doesn't think he'll make it to eighteen. The mysterious stranger with the phone number 000-000-0000 is back, upping the ante with his death threats. First, Lance and his friends are fired upon with rubber bullets, then a window washing platform nearly crushes him. His assailant is playing a cat and mouse game, threatening to take out Arthur and Ricky first, before coming for him, in order to make him suffer. Things escalate when a horde of motorcycle assassins chase him through the streets of downtown Washington DC and into Arlington National Cemetery where a helicopter almost separates Lance and Ricky forever.

Lance feels like he is a character in one of the FINAL DESTINATION movies, knowing that he cheated death once and it's only a matter of time before death comes for him again. He's gets all "emo" about what is going to happen to him, not wanting the ones he loves to fall in harm's way. While everyone is out to label him as "homo" or "gay," he knows his identity reaches far deeper than that. All he wants to be known as is "human." That's it. Because after staring down death time and time again, he knows what's really important in life.

The only thing that can define him is love.
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