<i>Invisible City</i> (review)
2010; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 63; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.0.1940
ISSN1558-6766
Autores ResumoReviewed by: Invisible City April Spisak Harris, M. G. . Invisible City. Walker, 2010. [384p]. (The Joshua Files) Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-8027-2095-5 $16.99 Paper ed. ISBN 978-0-8027-2084-9 $8.99 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 6-8. In this British import, thirteen-year-old Josh is certain that there is much more to the story about his father's death than than simple murder at the hands of a jealous husband. Josh's mother is too caught up in her own grief to help him uncover the truth, but Josh has the blessing of two good friends (and a remarkable amount of freedom) on a journey from England to the jungles of Mexico to investigate the mystery behind his father's disappearance. Hidden societies, conspiracy theories involving aliens and the relevance of the year 2012, and a number of folks who all want the kids dead await the trio, as does a shock about the actual identity of the woman with whom Josh's father was involved. The hidden society, created out of a rich mix of Mayan lore and fantasy, is intriguing and well developed. Unfortunately, the quantity of bad guys, plot twists, and shock revelations overshadow the nifty historical elements. In addition, Josh is a bit too confident to generate much [End Page 483] reader sympathy, as he soldiers though deaths, danger, and a crush with seemingly equal aplomb. Nonetheless, readers seeking a flashy, movie-ready plot with a lightning pace will enjoy this breezy action tale. A pronunciation guide, simple map, and fact vs. fiction checklist all add a bit of context to the unusual location and background legend. Copyright © 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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