Middleworld by J&P Voelkel

Middleworld by J&P Voelkel
Publication Date: April 27, 2010
Publisher: Egmont USA
Versions: hardcover, paperback, kindle, audio
Received from: publisher


Summary (from barnesandnoble.com):
In the ancient city of Itzamna, Lord Six-Rabbit wakes up screaming. A great warrior king of the mighty Maya, he has dreamed he was a lowly, flea-bitten monkey. How could this be? Was this some sorcery sent by his half-brother, Tzelok, the evil priest?


1200 years later, in Boston, Massachusetts, a 14-old Max Murphy is looking forward to a family vacation. But his parents, both archaelogosts and Maya experts, announce a change in plan. They must leave immediately for a dig in San Xavier, the tiny Central American country where his father grew up. Max will go to summer camp. Max is furious. He's always suspected that his parents cared more about the Ancient Maya than about him and this proves it. When he's mysteriously summoned to San Xavier, he thinks they've had a change of heart. But he's met at the airport by one of their colleagues, who explains that his parents have gone missing at the remote Maya temple of Ix Chel. He also tells Max the legend of The Jaguar Stones, the five sacred stones of Middleworld (the Maya name for the world of men) which enabled Ancient Maya kings to wield the powers of living gods.


And so begins Max Murphy's wild adventure in the tropical rain forests of San Xavier. During his journey, he will unlock ancient secrets and meet strangers who are connected to him in ways he could never have imagined. For fate has delivered a challenge of epic proportions to this papered teenager. Can Max rescue his parents from the Maya Underworld and save the world from the Lords of Death, who now control the power of the Jaguar Stones in their villainous hands? The scene is set for a rollar-coaster ride of suspense and terror, as the good guys and the bad guys face off against a background of haunted temples, zombie armies and human sacrifice.


Even though this story is weaved with crazy names and fun adventure, I loved the plot line and the freshness from the younger feeling of the novel. It starts out with Max, who loves video games, and is looking forward to vacation with his parents. But when they come home, they have some bad news for him. They are leaving on a dig, which leaves Max all by himself. He is very mad but then the next day he finds an airplane ticket for him, which he thinks is from his parents. After the plane lands, his adventure starts.


Every few pages there are pictures which really helped me understand what they were explaining. I loved the writing in the book which is intended for younger audiences and since I don't read a lot of books for younger kids, I really enjoyed the story. I defiantly recommend this series for anyone looking for a great adventure and loves to read something new.


Will I reread it?
I don't know, but I really enjoyed the book, the language the author uses, and the pictures that are thrown into some of the pages. I was pleasantly surprised.

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review and no compensation