El valle de la inspiración. (The Valley of Inspiration)

Nailah is suffering from depression and severe writer's block when a retired Egyptologist friend suggests that she visit the Valley of Inspiration, a place alluded to among the artifacts at a newly discovered archaeological site. Nailah sallies forth and, assisted by amulets and helpers, overcomes obstacles and enters the spiritual plane. At great risk, she must pass the requisite three trials to prove her worthiness prior to entering the unearthly Valley. Through her shamanic quest, she learns to value her uniqueness and creativity. While the pacing is fast and the details are vivid, odd bits of dialog grate, as with the repetitive assertions of Nailah's purity, or veer off course, as when the god Seth states, in language unbecoming a deity, "Not my problem." YA readers interested in mythology might enjoy the page-turning adventure, and New Age devotees of the spirituality of Ancient Egypt might enjoy the shamanic journey. However, shockingly frequent errors in grammar and punctuation (many missing accent marks) render this title inappropriate for most collections.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA