Book Review: Middleworld by J&P Voelkel

Fourteen-year-old Max’s archaeologist parents have abandoned him yet again in favor of a Maya excavation. But his lazy summer gets cut short when he gets a mysterious ticket to join his parents in the Maya jungles of San Xavier. This city boy soon finds himself caught up in a fantastical world of artifact smugglers, ancient magic, and grand adventure accompanied by a headstrong Maya girl named Lola and her two howler monkeys. Can Max save his parents and the end of the world?

Authors Jon and Pamela Voelkel have created an action-packed adventure story filled with Maya history and culture. With the 2012 phenomenon, interest in the Maya is sure to be high and the book includes an informative glossary and explanation of the Maya calendar. While it’s not a groundbreaking work of children’s literature, the story is compelling, the characters are fun, and it sets the groundwork for an eventual trilogy. The history and magic make this a good choice for kids graduating from the Magic Tree House books, but it will also appeal to many young readers in the 8-12 age range.

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Reviewed from an ARC received from the book’s publicist

July 3rd, 2010  ♥  Books, Reviews  ♥  No Comments »