Bones of the Sun God

Gr 4–6—Sam Force barely escaped from Egypt after a failed search for his missing archaeologist parents in the first installment of the series. After a few months of boring safety at a Boston boarding school, he is ready to continue the search among the Mayan pyramids of Central America. With a little manipulation (and a lot of deception) from his partner in adventure, Mary Verulam, Sam makes it to Belize. Nonstop action ensues as Sam and Mary follow clues from Mayan mythology and the Knights Templar, hoping the secrets of the ancients will lead to his parents. Bad guys abound (a few good ones show up, too), as do crocodiles, bombs, diabolical technological devices, chases of all kinds, and enough blood to satisfy even the thirstiest of youthful adventurers. This works admirably as a sequel, though it could be read alone in a pinch. As with the first volume, flamboyant action trumps character development, but the plot does thicken nicely here as Sam uncovers the surprising purpose of the pyramid network, and faces potential betrayal from his best friend. The writing is crisp and descriptive, with the added bonus of engaging readers in first Egyptian and then Mayan mythology, as well as the legends of the Ark of the Covenant and the Knights Templar.