The Expeditioners: And the Treasure of Drowned Man's Canyon

Gr 4–7—With their father presumed dead, all of his maps and papers taken, and their food supply eliminated, Zander, Kit, and M. K. West have lost all trust in the government, particularly the repressive Bureau of Newly Discovered Lands (BNDL). Their father, a once-famous Explorer and mapmaker (planet Earth has more continents and land formations than previously thought), was suddenly labeled a traitor and the BNDL seems up to no good in its search of a mythical cache of gold. But now the siblings-the Expeditioners, so named by their father-discover that they are in possession of one map that the government missed. With agents on their tail and no money, the three youngsters and their steel-clawed talking parrot set off to follow the hidden trail of clues left by their father. With the help of a glider pilot, they reach the Grand Canyon and follow the map in an attempt to find Drowned Man's Canyon and the elusive gold mine. A wonderful example of steampunk done well, this thoroughly satisfying adventure contains enough danger and suspense to keep even reluctant readers turning the pages.—Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA