In this action-packed thriller, twelve-year-old Max Mead is headed to Cairo, but there’ll be no time for fun. His grandfather, a famous antiquities expert, has gone missing. When Max is given the key to his grandfather’s cabinet of curiosities, he hopes to locate clues to his grandfather’s disappearance. Instead, he unlocks an old and powerful family secret and encounters people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. Themes: adventure; time travel, ancient magic, trust; loyalty; family; friendship
Assessment:
Plot: This endearing adventure dazzles young readers with family intrigue, coveted ancient artifacts, stirring action, and a far-flung destination.
Prose: Huijgens authentically captures the voice of a 12-year-old outsider learning of his unusual family legacy. The storytelling is engaging and smooth, with a successful balance between exposition, dialogue, and character introspection.
Originality: While the author relies on certain conventions of middle grade adventure stories—notably, that of long concealed family secrets come to light—the story has crackling energy and brushes of originality, particularly in the machinations lying behind the story’s central mysteries.
Character/Execution: Max is an immediately relatable character whose fantastical circumstances are offset by conventional pre-teen concerns. Eccentric adult characters are nicely played and provide additional depth and intrigue to the adventure.
Date Submitted: August 30, 2020
