School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Little did Tom Trelawney know that after accidentally burning down his family's shed he would embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Tom's parents are about to leave on a long-awaited vacation and send Tom to stay with Uncle Harvey. When Tom arrives, he discovers that Harvey is planning to leave him alone for the week while he journeys to Peru in search of a buried treasure, the clue to which was discovered on an old piece of paper in junk shop. Determined not to miss out on the adventure, Tom convinces his uncle to take him along. As soon as they land, they are confronted by an evil foe of Harvey's and forced to flee for their lives. This action-packed, danger-filled, Indiana Jones-like tale continues across the Peru, from the high Andes to the coastal islands, as Tom and his uncle try to find the treasure and keep one step ahead of the bad guys. Josh Lacey's story (Houghton Mifflin, 2012) is a bit disjointed at times, and the danger element is not for the faint of heart. However, Toby Longworth's excellent narration, especially the accents he employs for the various characters, is enough to make up for the deficits of the story and keep even the most reluctant listeners on the edge of their seats.-Michaela Schied, Indian River Middle School, Philadelphia, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
What kid doesn't dream of swashbuckling adventures in faraway places, freed from the strictures of parents, school, siblings and caregivers? Tom Trelawney gets to experience a real adventure in this rollicking tale, but it may just be more than he bargained for. It all starts when Tom nearly ruins his parents' vacation by accidentally burning down the shed in his backyard. He didn't mean to cause problems; he was just bored. When no one will take care of him as a result, his father is desperate enough to call on Uncle Harvey to "babysit" for a week. Harvey welcomes Tom into his New York City apartment, but as soon as Tom's parents leave, he starts packing for Peru, intending to leave Tom on his own. When he tells Tom it's because he has an opportunity to hunt for pirate treasure, Tom blackmails his uncle into taking him along as an assistant. He's looking forward to a treasure hunt, but he is totally unprepared when met at the airport by Peru's most dangerous and notorious gangster. Uncle Harvey hasn't been exactly honest with Tom (or, apparently, with anyone else) and now must face the consequences. And this is just the beginning. Tom's voice carries a little bit of his British father's inflection, and it moves the story along capably, taking readers from adventure to adventure with aplomb. An enjoyable escapade, delivered with wit, wisdom and just a bit of history thrown in for good measure. (Adventure. 9-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* In this fast-paced, action-packed adventure novel, Tom travels to Peru in search of lost treasure with his affable but not quite upstanding uncle Harvey. Unfortunately for Tom, Harvey double-crossed a Peruvian crime lord on his last trip to Lima. As soon as they step into the country, thugs kidnap the two, unleashing a series of escapes, car chases, and a search for the lost journal pages of Sir Francis Drake's voyage around the world. What sets the book far above similar adventure novels is its apparent effortlessness. The snappy comebacks are not overly clever; Tom is an average, likable kid; and the situations flying bullets, cliff scaling, and searching for treasure on a heavily guarded island stay just within the bounds of believability. The most unlikely event of the book is the nonchalance with which his parents react to news of his antics. The hidden treasure is based on what could have happened to John Drake, Francis Drake's young cousin, and an ending historical note briefly relays what is known about John Drake and his journal. A perfect summer read; hand this to fans of the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz.--Harold, Suzanne Copyright 2010 Booklist
