Chasing the Jaguar

CHASING THE JAGUAR by Michele Dominguez Greene
Category: Mystery/Thriller
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 6/1/06
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce
Rating: 5 Stars

Martika Galvez is just a normal teenage girl. That is, until she turns fifteen and learns that her ancestors were Mayan
curanderas and she's following in their footsteps! Her strange dreams apparently mean that she has psychic powers, passed
down from her father's side of the family, that her parents have tried to ignore for fifteen years.

Now, though, Martika has to deal with learning about her powers from another curandera, Tia Tellin. She's learning about her
ancestors, her powers, and how to use them. Martika is also dealing with the typical problems that come with being fifteen:
friends, guys, and schoolwork! If that wouldn't be difficult enough, Martika is also involved in a mystery! Her mother has been
working for a man whose teenage daughter is kidnapped--and Martika's powers could be the key to finding her before
anything bad happens to Jennifer.

CHASING THE JAGUAR is a fast-paced, enjoyable book full of interesting bits of Spanish and stories about Martika's
Mayan ancestors. Martika is just one of a cast of believable, likable characters in the story. This is a quick and entertaining
read, written by an excellent new author. Michele Dominguez Greene's writing is great, and I certainly hope she's planning
more books about Martika!