My BuddyPack
by John Hicks
Reviewed by
Jackie Houchin

John Hicks is a San Fernando Valley firefighter who writes books in his “spare time.” My Buddypack, his second book for children, is a wonderful high-tech adventure story that middle grade kids will devour.  It opens with a frantic chase scene between secret agents and unknown villains, and continues on into the world of danger and intrigue, where hero Billy Talbert, must risk everything to save the most powerful man in the free world.  And it all starts for Billy when he finds a discarded backpack and takes it home.
My Buddypack is a great Christmas “stocking-stuffer” gift for the kids on your list. They’ll enjoy reading it when all the glitz of their action toys wears off, and after the holidays, they’ll take it to school in their own backpacks and share it with their friends.
John Hicks will be our speaker at the January meeting of California Writers Club.  You’ll be able to buy books then, but why not contact him now for a signed copy (and free shipping - www.quietmanpublishing.com).  You can view his other books at that site too, and perhaps do some more holiday shopping.

Jackie Houchin is a freelance reporter for The Foothills Paper in San Fernando Valley, California.  She belongs to Sisters In Crime and Mystery Writers of America and the California Writers Club.  Jackie reviews for Mystery Scene Magazine, Crime Spree Magazine and The Strand magazine.  She is a regular contributor to Valleynews.com as a book, theater and film reviewer.  Jackie  contributes to The Valley Scribe and have a few things in the CWC 2005-2006 anthology.  She is a photographer, and have "shot" countless plays and musicals in community theaters for 18 years.