The Jaguar Stones Bk. 1:
Middleworld
by J&P Voelkel
Middleworld
by J&P Voelkel
MIDDLEWORLD by J&P Voelkel
Category: Action-Adventure
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 9/07
Publisher: Smith & Sons
Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
Rating: 5 Stars
Husband and wife team Jon and Pamela Voelkel have created a tale set in the Central American rain forest. The story
focuses on the Maya culture and traditions as the characters battle to prevent the evil forces of an ancient empire from
destroying today's world.
In MIDDLEWORLD readers meet Max Murphy. His parents are archaeologists. He is sick of the old pottery and ancient
artifacts that are forever causing his parents to head off to foreign countries. Max is always left in Boston to fend for himself
with the help of Zia, their housekeeper. Max would like a little adventure -- as long as it involves pizza and video games.
Adventure begins for Max when Zia informs him that plans have changed this time. Instead of heading off to a wilderness
camp in Maine, Max is being sent to San Xavier to join his parents.
Max arrives in San Xavier only to find that Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have disappeared. Uncle Ted becomes Max's instant
guardian, and the search for his parents begins. At the time of their disappearance, they were exploring an ancient Maya
pyramid deep in the rain forest. All that's left is Mr. Murphy's jacket and Mrs. Murphy's earring. Max soon finds himself
lost in the rain forest that may be responsible for his parents' death.
As the story unfolds, readers will learn quite a bit of Maya history. Hidden pyramids and ruins are scattered throughout the
rain forest, and each holds mysterious treasures and secrets of the ancients and how they may still have powers in the
modern world. The adventure is filled with crazy characters, secret passageways and hidden chambers, Maya traditions
and superstitions, talking monkeys, and blood-thirsty warriors. The mysterious Jaguar Stones hold the power to change the
world. The danger comes if all five are brought together. The good guys have some and the bad guys have some, and both
are out to get their hands on them all.
Recommended for ages 12 and up, this is not for the faint-hearted reader. At nearly 400 pages, with additional pages
devoted to information about Maya symbols and terminology, readers will be challenged as well as entertained. I predict
this trilogy will be popular with fans of Anthony Horowitz, Roland Smith, and even Harry Potter fans, once they have
finished book seven. Plenty of action and humor will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Category: Action-Adventure
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 9/07
Publisher: Smith & Sons
Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
Rating: 5 Stars
Husband and wife team Jon and Pamela Voelkel have created a tale set in the Central American rain forest. The story
focuses on the Maya culture and traditions as the characters battle to prevent the evil forces of an ancient empire from
destroying today's world.
In MIDDLEWORLD readers meet Max Murphy. His parents are archaeologists. He is sick of the old pottery and ancient
artifacts that are forever causing his parents to head off to foreign countries. Max is always left in Boston to fend for himself
with the help of Zia, their housekeeper. Max would like a little adventure -- as long as it involves pizza and video games.
Adventure begins for Max when Zia informs him that plans have changed this time. Instead of heading off to a wilderness
camp in Maine, Max is being sent to San Xavier to join his parents.
Max arrives in San Xavier only to find that Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have disappeared. Uncle Ted becomes Max's instant
guardian, and the search for his parents begins. At the time of their disappearance, they were exploring an ancient Maya
pyramid deep in the rain forest. All that's left is Mr. Murphy's jacket and Mrs. Murphy's earring. Max soon finds himself
lost in the rain forest that may be responsible for his parents' death.
As the story unfolds, readers will learn quite a bit of Maya history. Hidden pyramids and ruins are scattered throughout the
rain forest, and each holds mysterious treasures and secrets of the ancients and how they may still have powers in the
modern world. The adventure is filled with crazy characters, secret passageways and hidden chambers, Maya traditions
and superstitions, talking monkeys, and blood-thirsty warriors. The mysterious Jaguar Stones hold the power to change the
world. The danger comes if all five are brought together. The good guys have some and the bad guys have some, and both
are out to get their hands on them all.
Recommended for ages 12 and up, this is not for the faint-hearted reader. At nearly 400 pages, with additional pages
devoted to information about Maya symbols and terminology, readers will be challenged as well as entertained. I predict
this trilogy will be popular with fans of Anthony Horowitz, Roland Smith, and even Harry Potter fans, once they have
finished book seven. Plenty of action and humor will keep readers on the edge of their seats.