Reviewed by Theresa L. Stowell for TeensReadToo.com
Massimo Francis Sylvanus Murphy hates to be called by his whole name. Its much too formal, like his parents who are famous archaeologists and Harvard professors. He much prefers Max. Max is much more fitting for a fourteen-year-old who loves video games, pizza, and the drums.
Max has his summer vacation planned out; he and his parents are going to Italy to visit his grandmother. Unfortunately, his parents come home early one night and ruin his plans they are going on a dig, Max is staying home with Zia, the weird maid, and Italy is out of the question.
A week after his parents leave, however, Max finds a plane ticket next to his breakfast cereal. Zia tells him that they have told her that Max is special and she is sending him to San Xavier to meet his parents as a result. Max never does find out who they are, but hes on his way within hours.
Strangely enough though, his uncle (with whom his parents are supposed to be staying) isnt all that welcoming. He wants Max to stay out of the way while he deals with mysterious business associates and disappears into a strangely empty office for hours at a time. Uncle Ted doesnt count on the fact that Max isnt the type to avoid a challenge, and Max discovers a hidden treasure room that contains Mayan treasures. One of the treasures is the Red Jaguar of Chahk, a fabulous jewel carved into the shape of a jaguars head.
When Max spies two monkeys stealing the Red Jaguar, he sets off on an adventure to find his parents, who is turns out are missing, and the other three jaguar stones. Along the way he joins up with Lola, a Mayan girl, who has more than just a passing interest in his quest. The story takes the two on an exciting adventure through the San Xavier jungle as they seek the answers to the mysteries of the jaguar stones, Maxs parents, and the dangerous villain Count Antonio de Landa.
This is a great story for both boys and girls who enjoy a hero journey tale. Not only are the characters engaging, and the quest hair-raising, but subtle history lessons about the ancient Mayan civilization provide an extra layer of depth.
Massimo Francis Sylvanus Murphy hates to be called by his whole name. Its much too formal, like his parents who are famous archaeologists and Harvard professors. He much prefers Max. Max is much more fitting for a fourteen-year-old who loves video games, pizza, and the drums.
Max has his summer vacation planned out; he and his parents are going to Italy to visit his grandmother. Unfortunately, his parents come home early one night and ruin his plans they are going on a dig, Max is staying home with Zia, the weird maid, and Italy is out of the question.
A week after his parents leave, however, Max finds a plane ticket next to his breakfast cereal. Zia tells him that they have told her that Max is special and she is sending him to San Xavier to meet his parents as a result. Max never does find out who they are, but hes on his way within hours.
Strangely enough though, his uncle (with whom his parents are supposed to be staying) isnt all that welcoming. He wants Max to stay out of the way while he deals with mysterious business associates and disappears into a strangely empty office for hours at a time. Uncle Ted doesnt count on the fact that Max isnt the type to avoid a challenge, and Max discovers a hidden treasure room that contains Mayan treasures. One of the treasures is the Red Jaguar of Chahk, a fabulous jewel carved into the shape of a jaguars head.
When Max spies two monkeys stealing the Red Jaguar, he sets off on an adventure to find his parents, who is turns out are missing, and the other three jaguar stones. Along the way he joins up with Lola, a Mayan girl, who has more than just a passing interest in his quest. The story takes the two on an exciting adventure through the San Xavier jungle as they seek the answers to the mysteries of the jaguar stones, Maxs parents, and the dangerous villain Count Antonio de Landa.
This is a great story for both boys and girls who enjoy a hero journey tale. Not only are the characters engaging, and the quest hair-raising, but subtle history lessons about the ancient Mayan civilization provide an extra layer of depth.
