Secrets of Tamarind

Gr 5—8—In this quick-paced follow-up to The Lost Island of Tamarind (Feiwel & Friends, 2008), readers are again drawn into a magical world. After rescuing their parents on Tamarind four years earlier, the Nelson children have led a safe, if boring, day-to-day stationary life in Bermuda. Simon, especially, mourns their previous life at sea. When mysterious events hint that there may be danger on Tamarind, Maya, Simon, Penny, and their friend, Helix, an island native, set out to see if they can help. Upon arriving, the siblings are distressed to find that though the civil wars have ended, miners are removing so much ophalla (a native and magical mineral) that the island's entire ecosystem is disintegrating. A series of clues leads the children on a chase to find the mythical Faustina's Gate. If the well can be closed, the island will be saved. Lush descriptions of jungle life, mysterious creatures, and tropical cities easily enchant. As Simon wends his way through the clues to discover the location of Faustina's Gate, readers will be amazed and excited right alongside him. This is a great adventure that sets the stage for a third book in the series.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT