This page lists all professional book reviews and relevant articles. If you know of any that are not yet listed, please contact the author. The only ones excluded are those with strong evidence that the reviewer did not read the book, or does not read and write the English language.

For reviews by readers, please see the Comments page.

September 2011

Mayara Arend, reviewing Book Two: Journay and Book Three: Selection

After your read Nebador Book One: The Test, you are left with a sense that it may be grand, but you're not quite sure. ... Everything changes on The Journey. Suddenly, we understand them. We follow them around their country, their realm, and see them interacting with the several experiences in life – from different people to different ideas, from customs to dangers, from trusting people unconditionally to weighing your options.
...
I thought the book was great, it was exciting and everything could happen – because they were free. They were off to an exciting and dangerous world and they were friends. Even if they had their diferences, if they had any issues, they'd work it out or work around them. Some of them weren't fit for ship crew, but that doesn't mean they aren't spectacular human beings.

I just now, looking for links and images for this post, found the "Deep Learning Notes". I love them. They make me think but don't give answers and they would've been very interesting to read while I read the book (at each chapter, for example). If you are interested in learning (and, if you liked the Nebador Series I am sure you do), I strongly advise you to use them.
...
I loved watching them learning to be good to the world - and when they could or couldn't help, as humans. I loved watching them lean to deal with the ship - that was pretty cool - and how to deal with societies and what they could or couldn't do as crew members.

And then I felt the book was just too short. It wasn't, really, short. I just wanted to read more, I wanted to follow them and see more of them. ...

I'm very curious to see the rest of the series - I heard there will be over 10 books, and I believe it, there is so much to tell, so much to explore! The universe and beyond!

    Links to the full reviews:    Book Two    Book Three

18 July 2011

Fort Kent, Maine
Author features local artists' work by Andrew Birden

PICTURES ARE WORTH WORDS - Nancy Fournier (right) and Mariah Babin (left) show off their artwork. Author J.Z. Colby is featuring their work, along with the art of Kendra Theriault and Elizabeth Green on the author's website. Babin took a first place and Theriault took second place.
Photograph by Andrew Birden, Fiddlehead Focus

FORT KENT - An author of a science fiction trilogy is featuring the artwork of local high school students ...

    Link to the full newspaper article at Fiddlehead Focus

June 2011

Theresa K. Stowell, independent reviewer for TeensReadToo.com
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Rating: 5 Stars

Science fiction fans of all ages will enjoy THE TEST, the first in a six-book series, NEBADOR, by J.Z. Colby.

In this book, readers are introduced to Ilika, a young man who has trained for almost half of his life to take a test that will allow him to advance in his chosen career. The first part of his test requires him to choose five companions, and he must seek them in a place unlike anywhere he has been before.

He encounters prejudice, fear, poverty, and friendship in his quest and must learn to accept, overcome, and learn through his experiences. He will teach his companions to challenge the world they know and open themselves to new worlds beyond their imaginations.

Ilika's test challenges the ways that both the characters and readers consider moral, social, and psychological issues. Colby skillfully combines story with critical thinking puzzles and deeper questions about not only Ilika's fictional world but the real world that surrounds his readers.

In a supplement to the novels, Colby has also created a volume of "Deep Learning Notes" to go along with the books. The set would be a useful addition to any advanced middle school or high school classroom's science fiction unit.

    Link to the review on TeensReadToo.com

April 2011

Brigitte Morse, 9-12 Resource Room Teacher
Community High School, Fort Kent, Maine

J.Z. Colby's Nebador: Book 1 -- The Test is a teen science fiction novel that appeals to students from all walks of life by including teens with varied backgrounds as the main characters of the story.

When my students saw the book on my desk that first day, they were all picking it up, asking if we were going to be able to read it next and what was it about! How exciting to see teens getting excited about a book! Because it was also available as a Kindle book, I was able to help my students purchase it in that manner and expose them to a whole new way of reading! And the audio book version totally enhances the reading experience!

Reading the book myself, I enjoyed watching the students, though of different intelligences and strengths, bond together, using their strengths and supporting each other during times of weakness or struggle, working as one unit, one team. This is a concept that we try to constantly reinforce in our classroom. What I enjoyed the most, as a teacher looking to share this book with my students, was the authors descriptions of how Ilika taught his students math and reading! These are many of the same techniques that we use with the students in our classroom, making the book more real for my students because of what and how it is being taught.

This is the kind of book that when you get to the end, you can't wait to pick up the next volume to find out what happens next! Bravo!

May 2011: How exciting it is to see the kids eat up the book and want to learn more everyday! I have a student who has almost finished the first book on her own and has requested the second book. It has really lit a fire under my students, having some of them now putting money away to buy more books!

July 2011: Thank you for writing books that interested my students enough so they wanted to read the next book in the series! It is great to see them enjoy reading something and WANTING to read more on their own! I don't typically see that in special education -- particularly at the high school level!

October 2010

Debbie Smith, middle school teacher

... I am constantly reading books (an average of 2 to 3 books a week) aimed at the Young Adult market. I am especially focused on finding books for reluctant readers. When I recieved the news that I was awarded one of the available copies of "The Test" by J.Z. Colby through GoodReads, I was psyched because I hoped that my first impressions would be validated as I read it. Good Science Fiction that is also acceptable to put on my shelves at school is kind of hard to come by so I really hoped that this book would fit the parameters. I felt the book started well and hooked the reader quickly with the air of mystery that surrounds Ilika, the central character. As the story unfolded and he began learning about the society he was interacting with and then started to choose his students I was sold. This book combined so many wonderful elements that reluctant readers like such as action, adventure, a little mystery and likeable but sometimes troubled characters their own age. I also appreciated the educational tidbits that were entwined in the story and the life lessons that were taught subltly throughout the novel. After finishing this book I found I would really like to read the next books in the series to find out what happens to these characters. I would recommend this book to most young adult AND adult readers, even if they think they don't like science fiction, because after reading "The Test" they just might change their minds.

    Link to the review on GoodReads.com

September 2010

Hopkins, independent reviewer for FlamingNet.com
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 9
Flamingnet TOP CHOICE

The Test is a series of adventures that change the lives of ten young adults. These people have to learn to trust in an untrustworthy and unpromising world. Through many changes and narrow escapes from the undermining officials to the king, these young students and there bright-minded teacher make it out alive. But will that great luck continue? Or will the law-breaking, no good, selfish, so called Religious Orders get there way. Placed in the middle of a strange town, with even stranger people, this book is sure to keep you busy reading.

I liked the Test for many good reasons, some of witch I will share and others you will have to read the book to find out. I think the Test is good for the ages 12- 15. I for one liked the maps provided throughout the book. It gave me a better idea of where they lived and what it was like there. The author painted good pictures with his words. Throughout all the adventures I could clearly see (if that is the right word) the place they where in. To find out all the rest of why I liked it, well, just read the book.

    Link to the review on Flamingnet.com

August 2010

Samantha Spaulding, independent reviewer for BookReview.com
Rating: Must Read!

... In "NEBADOR Book One: The Test", author J.Z. Colby takes us on a journey with Ilika Imni Zalara Sim through the streets of Nebador. Ilika, a young ship's captain, is looking for a crew of five able-bodied persons (men and women alike) to travel farther than they could have ever dreamed. Danger is imminent, and this fact is laid out on the table without any sugar-coating. Most of the book is focused on finding the recruits, which proves to be a difficult task in a town where intellect is discouraged. The phrase "Red sky in morning, sailors warning" is a perfect way to describe the ending, which leaves you with an overwhelming feeling of impending peril.

The visual details give you a perfect image allowing you to play the scenes out in your head until the very end. The author is a master of subtlety, revealing just enough information to leave an "Aha!" exclamation at the tip of your tongue. If I am fortunate enough to review the next book in this series, I have a feeling that I will either be "woohooing" all of my correct observations, or enjoying another slice of pie due to my poor attempt at reading between the lines. Either way, I am thoroughly looking forward to it.

    Link to the full review on BookReview.com

August 2010

Beth Adams, independent reviewer for Pacific Book Review

What fun! Reading J. Z. Colby's book, Nebador: Book One: The Test, is as cute as seeing a youngster wearing a Spock outfit at a Star Trek convention. How do people become sci-fi enthusiasts? They start young, and this book is the ideal fertilizer for their young, developing minds.

J. Z. Colby no doubt has a grand plan for developing this as a series, as Nebador: Book One: The Test is the first of many books planned to carry the story forward. The story revolves around a visitor to a kingdom that becomes threatened by a high-priest and forced into exile with 5 student followers. The survival of the group depends on their ability to gain personal power, to stand on their own two feet, with a smile on their face, in the middle of a universe that contains a million ways to crush you - a slogan of the Nebador Transport Service.
. . .
This book, along with the series when released, would be a thoughtful gift for a youngster with a propensity to read and has an open mind for the fantasy of science fiction and adventure. The book is also a wonderful addition to any home library, or to give to a child embarking on a trip or to camp. As the series will become available over the next year or two, we hope the reading level of the other books parallel the development of those fans that begin with Nebador: Book one: The Test.

    Full review in Adobe PDF

    Link to the full review on PacificBookReview.com

June 2010

Ben Weldon, independent reviewer for ReaderViewsKids.com

"Nebador Book One: The Test" by J. Z. Colby is the story of a young man named Ilika who must find a crew for a mysterious ship that doesn't float on water. Coming from a more advanced civilization and arriving in a bustling city during the Middle Ages, he is astonished by some of the horrible acts of cruelty by slave owners. After a thorough search of all the religious orders and colleges, he tries the slave market. He finds several brilliant kids that were forced into slavery for one reason or another. However, the religious orders grow suspicious of Ilika and his pending crew. Can Ilika gather his crew and escape the city before it is too late and they are all forced into slavery?
. . .
I would recommend this book to people who like action, adventure, and science fiction. This book would probably be most appreciated by kids eleven and up. It is the first book in a series of six. "Nebador Book One: The Test" was a good book and I can't wait to read the next one.

    Full review in Adobe PDF

    Link to the full review on ReaderViewsKids.com

April 2010

Sidney Oster (the voice of Sata in the audiobook), age 10, interviews J. Z. Colby:

    Audio MP3 - 2:10 - 64Kbps - 1MB

Book One:
The Test
Spring 2010