Darlene Foster’s exciting Amanda Travels series features spunky 12 year-old Amanda Ross who loves to travel to unique places. Readers from seven to seventy plus enjoy travelling with Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another.
I just learned that today is Darlene’s birthday! Happy Birthday, Darlene!
Amanda in Alberta
Amanda Ross shows her best friend Leah from England around her own area–Alberta, Canada. They visit familiar tourist destinations, including the Calgary Stampede and the World’s Tallest Teepee, they are part of a cattle drive, watch mutton busting, and enjoy a huge family reunion. Early in the story, someone drops an interesting stone which Amanda picks up. Interesting because of a marking on it, but also when a dangerous mystery forms around several people wanting to get their hands on that very stone. A wonderful way for a middle schooler to learn about a new area while involved in a mystery. Amanda rocks!
Amanda in Arabia
A camel-crazy girl, Amana Ross, visiting her aunt and uncle the UAE unwittingly becomes the connection between a perfume flash and saving a princess from an unwanted marriage. During the adventure, readers learn a few facts about the UAE, the desert, and camels.
Amanda in Holland
Amanda from Canada meets her friend Leah from England in Amsterdam, where Leah’s father is conducting business. So the girls take tours (a canal tour boat, a working windmill, the Ann Frank House), meet interesting people, and learn about the Canada 150 tulip, how wooden shoes are made, and visit a WWII cemetery where many Canadians are buried. A stray puppy becomes part of the story as well as a mystery. There are delightful and satisfying twists at the end and well as discussion questions.
Amanda in Ireland
What a delightful middle-grade travel mystery. Canadian preteen, Amanda Jane Ross, is invited to be in the wedding of a cousin–in Ireland. The wedding party encounters a complicated abduction, which Amanda would like to help solve, but she keeps getting distracted by Irish castles and romantic legends and coincidences. When my own granddaughter is old enough to enjoy the Amada books, this one will entertain her with a mystery while she learns some Irish history and lore.
Amanda in Malta
Amanda gets a mysterious note from her BFF Leah Anderson from Malta where she is with her aunt. Amanda has a chance to visit with a friend and his parents, but it turns into a scary mystery, with a missing ancient artifact. During the action they visit Blue Grotto caves, learn about protected storks and falcons, an island where the apostle Paul was shipwrecked, and Popeye Village, where the 1980 movie was filmed. An exciting visit to a new place.
Darlene Foster
Growing up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing, traveling the world, and meeting interesting people. She also believed in making her dreams come true. It’s no surprise she’s now the award-winning author of Amanda Travels, a children’s adventure series featuring a spunky twelve-year-old who loves to travel to unique places. Readers of all ages enjoy following Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another. So far there are eleven of these delightful stories.
When not traveling herself, Darlene divides her time between the west coast of Canada and the Costa Blanca, Spain with her husband and entertaining rescue dogs, Dot and Lia.
Her website: http://www.darlenefoster.ca Please visit Darlene’s Amazon Author Page.
What a fabulous birthday surprise. Thank you so much, Joy. I am over the moon that you enjoyed these books and took the time to review them. I love that you think that “Amanda rocks!”
Birthday? Oh, what fun! I’m thankful I could add “fabulous” to your delightful day, Darlene!
Hi Joy, this is a lovely post. I’ve read a number of Darlene’s books.
Thank you, Robbie. They’re such fun, and our granddaughter is nearing the age to enjoy them!
Thanks for your continued support, Robbie.
Happy birthday, Darlene. I can’t wait to see where Amanda is going next.
Thanks, Pete! (I enjoyed your contribution to This is How We Eat!)
Thank you, Joy.
Thanks, Pete. The grass doesn’t grow under Amanda’s feet.
Congratulations and Happy Birthday to Darlene. Well done, Joy.
Thanks, John!
Thanks so much, John.
Joy! Thank you for this sweet post about Darlene’s “Amanda” books. I love them, too. (And a happy belated birthday to you, Darlene!) 💝😊💝
I didn’t know it was Darlene’s birthday, but she was the first response! Thank you, Vicki.
Thanks so much, Vicky!!
My pleasure! 🥰❤️🥰
Amanda is quite the adventurer! (A good message for girls her age!!)
Thanks, Liz. My wish is that my books will encourage young people to travel and see the world!
You’re welcome, Darlene. I’m sure they do!
It’s great to learn about Darlene’s fascinating books through your wonderful reviews, Joy!
Thanks, Tim. They were fun to read!
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Thanks, Tim. Joy is very kind to feature my books.
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I enjoyed “Amanda in Ireland” very much.
Thanks, Dawn. So pleased you enjoyed the adventure in Ireland!
What a lovely post, Joy! This is a great nod to Darlene and her wonderful Amanda books. I recently read “Amanda in Ireland” and loved it. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much, Jan!
Thanks, Jan. I was so excited to see all these wonderful reviews of my books. xo
Joy, a terrific review and congratulations to Darlene! The Amanda series is superb and always exciting to see where she will go next!
Thank you, Annika! (And my granddaughter is nearly old enough to enjoy them.)
Wonderful review!!! Belated “Happy Birthday” to Darlene!
Our local book store finally restocked this series. I plan to get a set for my granddaughter for her birthday next month. She loves mysteries! Happy belated birthday, Darlene! Thanks, Joy, for reviewing the Amanda series. 🙂
What fun! Thank you, Nancy. How old is your granddaughter. Our Kate will be 9 next week. She’s getting copies of both of Susan Andrews’s Hank the Rescue Dog books and a copy of Dawn Pisturino’s Mystery of the Pink Poodle!
My oldest granddaughter’s eighth birthday is April 15th. Thank you for the additional book suggestions! I’ll be on the hunt for books for holidays and birthdays, and knowing some good titles is a tremendous help and time saver. I like to support our local book store, so I’ll order through them if they don’t have it. 😁👍
Hurrah for supporting your local book store!
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