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The Jaguar Stones #1
Middleworld
Harry Potter meets Indiana Jones meets Clash of the Titans! Fasten your seat belts for a heart-stopping ride of suspense and terror, set against a background of haunted temples, family secrets, ritual sacrifice, and adolescent angst, as a pampered, pizza-eating Boston teenager fights to survive in the teeming jungle and save the modern world from the Ancient Maya Lords of Death. It transports the reader to a world in which the Maya deities still have power and influence, where time and space are in flux, but where even a fourteen-year-old from the outside can become aware, and find wisdom and love, if he can but open his eyes to the magic around him.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 5, 2007
50 people are currently reading
1516 people want to read
About the author
Jon Voelkel
10 books50 followersJon and Pamela Voelkel (collectively known as "J&P") are the author-illustrators of the Jaguar Stones series; Pamela does most of the writing and Jon does most of the illustrating. The Voelkels met in London, where they both worked at the same advertising agency, and now live in Vermont.
To research the Jaguar Stones, they and their three adventure-loving children have explored over forty Maya sites in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico; canoed down underground rivers; tracked howler monkeys in the jungle; and learned to make tortillas on an open fire. Jon's most frightening experience was being lost in a pitch-black labyrinth under a Maya pyramid.
To research the Jaguar Stones, they and their three adventure-loving children have explored over forty Maya sites in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico; canoed down underground rivers; tracked howler monkeys in the jungle; and learned to make tortillas on an open fire. Jon's most frightening experience was being lost in a pitch-black labyrinth under a Maya pyramid.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
August 29, 2022
We have a kid, Max, who is quite self-centered and bratty. He ends up following his missing archeologist parents to the fictional country of San Xavier. He just jumps from person to person, each taking him in with few questions. He just gets put on a plane and sent to his uncle in South America. His uncle is pretty shady, and so he ends up with some modern Mayans.
Then he has a ton of adventures involving ancient Mayan mythology, though it’s mostly made up for the story, with a lot of supernatural elements.
Max’s journey to becoming a better person feels kind of jerky, uneven. In fact, it was very obvious what plot structure the authors were using. The transitions between major points was uneven. But it’s still a decent book, and I surprisingly picked up a lot of Mayan culture knowledge without realizing it. It just needs a little more polishing.
Language: Some fart jokes
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Gunfire, death threats, human sacrifice, fights with blunt objects
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
Then he has a ton of adventures involving ancient Mayan mythology, though it’s mostly made up for the story, with a lot of supernatural elements.
Max’s journey to becoming a better person feels kind of jerky, uneven. In fact, it was very obvious what plot structure the authors were using. The transitions between major points was uneven. But it’s still a decent book, and I surprisingly picked up a lot of Mayan culture knowledge without realizing it. It just needs a little more polishing.
Language: Some fart jokes
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Gunfire, death threats, human sacrifice, fights with blunt objects
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
November 29, 2011
I know that children's books have to be simpler in scope and insight than adult books -- well, actually, I'm not at all sure about that. I do think we don't give children appropriate credit for their ability to recognize good characterizations, to react appropriately to the author's intended message, or to handle complex ideas.
After reading "The Chosen One," a very, very good but very depressing book, I needed something light and fluffy. So I hit the children's section at the library. In my experience, books that aren't very well-written don't usually make it into audiobooks. This is -- absolutely -- not a guarantee, but I do have pretty high expectations of audiobooks in general, and am rarely disappointed.
This one has all the makings of a very fun series. Ancient Mayan gods, pyramids in the jungle, and a couple of teenagers who have to save everyone. And I'll probably read the rest of the series just to see where the author takes this plot line. But beyond the fun fantasy plot, the characterizations, conversation, dialog, reactions, and descriptions were all fairly mediocre, and most importantly, inconsistent. In particular, the main character, a 14-year-old boy, vascillates back and forth from spoiled brat to noble hero so many times that it's truly unbelieveable, and in the end, you actually don't like him very much, although you feel a bit sorry for him.
Still, I'll probably see what happens next. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read. The author could take some lessons from Rick Riordan and Suzanne Collins when it comes to consistent character development.
After reading "The Chosen One," a very, very good but very depressing book, I needed something light and fluffy. So I hit the children's section at the library. In my experience, books that aren't very well-written don't usually make it into audiobooks. This is -- absolutely -- not a guarantee, but I do have pretty high expectations of audiobooks in general, and am rarely disappointed.
This one has all the makings of a very fun series. Ancient Mayan gods, pyramids in the jungle, and a couple of teenagers who have to save everyone. And I'll probably read the rest of the series just to see where the author takes this plot line. But beyond the fun fantasy plot, the characterizations, conversation, dialog, reactions, and descriptions were all fairly mediocre, and most importantly, inconsistent. In particular, the main character, a 14-year-old boy, vascillates back and forth from spoiled brat to noble hero so many times that it's truly unbelieveable, and in the end, you actually don't like him very much, although you feel a bit sorry for him.
Still, I'll probably see what happens next. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read. The author could take some lessons from Rick Riordan and Suzanne Collins when it comes to consistent character development.
February 8, 2013
This book was assigned as part of my English curriculum in a 7th grade advanced class; nobody in the class had read it and in all honesty, it was more of a school experiment than anything. All the reading was done in class, accompanied with discussion, and soon enough, everyone had some complaint or other about the book.
Originally, the book seemed somewhat promising. Although, from the start, I found the writing style to be bland and juvenile, like something a sixth grade student would write for a class narrative instead of something an adult would write. Right at the beginning, I noticed that it seemed to pander to the younger audience--something I detest.
However, flaws quickly became apparant.
The plot was a basic battle of good and evil, the villain a cardboard cutout; it's as black and white as it comes. The heros have such minor flaws (i.e. "bossy" and "haughty" (if Max even qualifies as haughty)) that they're bland and uninteresting; their characters shift so many times that they become downright unlikeable. They're paper thin--there are no motives to explore, no steady traits, no interesting quirks.
The humor is pretty much lowered to "fart jokes and gross things"--again, seeming to underestimate the audience's's intelligence. The dialogue sounds very unrealistic for the age group they're trying to portray.
The book isn't daring, it's not intelligent, it's not witty, it's not funny, it's not anything new. It's a mediocre book that disappears into the gray masses of juvenile fiction at best and at worst one of the most poorly written novels I've ever read.
Final verdict? It's so dull that it's not even worth the read.
Originally, the book seemed somewhat promising. Although, from the start, I found the writing style to be bland and juvenile, like something a sixth grade student would write for a class narrative instead of something an adult would write. Right at the beginning, I noticed that it seemed to pander to the younger audience--something I detest.
However, flaws quickly became apparant.
The plot was a basic battle of good and evil, the villain a cardboard cutout; it's as black and white as it comes. The heros have such minor flaws (i.e. "bossy" and "haughty" (if Max even qualifies as haughty)) that they're bland and uninteresting; their characters shift so many times that they become downright unlikeable. They're paper thin--there are no motives to explore, no steady traits, no interesting quirks.
The humor is pretty much lowered to "fart jokes and gross things"--again, seeming to underestimate the audience's's intelligence. The dialogue sounds very unrealistic for the age group they're trying to portray.
The book isn't daring, it's not intelligent, it's not witty, it's not funny, it's not anything new. It's a mediocre book that disappears into the gray masses of juvenile fiction at best and at worst one of the most poorly written novels I've ever read.
Final verdict? It's so dull that it's not even worth the read.
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June 14, 2020As of June 14, 2020, I have never received the copy of this book that I won via Goodreads First Reads. I am making a note here to keep track of what ones I was unable to read due to it being lost/unreceived.
February 2, 2014
This book started out pretty good, but I have a few qualms about it. Max is a severely disliked character. Pretty much by everyone. Including me. I loved all the Maya mythology and stuff. The imagery was great! I loved how the authors described the jungle and I loved the adventure. However, I did not love the procedural "walking through the jungle" scenes. I think the book could have been cut down a hundred pages or so. However, I do like this book. I will read the second one.
April 3, 2010
I was lucky enough to score an ARC of this book, which releases later this month.
It's a great middle grade book for any kid into action/adventure stories. But my personal favorite part was the way the authors explored Mayan mythology. I only wish there was more magic and mythology!
It's a great middle grade book for any kid into action/adventure stories. But my personal favorite part was the way the authors explored Mayan mythology. I only wish there was more magic and mythology!
January 11, 2011
No Young Adult book should take me almost 2 weeks to read. I found this one obnoxious (mostly Max) and predictable.
November 28, 2018
great book, nice and intense, can't wait to read the second one. The ending to the first is really bothering me.
June 14, 2018
I work as a teaching assistant in a UK primary school and my Year 5 class read Middleworld during English lessons. The children really enjoyed the story! Here are some of their reviews.
Max Murphy, who lives in Boston, flies to San Xavier and his world turns upside down on a quest to save the world from Tzelek.
The highlight of the story is when they all pull together and it is like a fun history lesson with loads of facts I didn’t know. I loved it where Max was being tricked by the gods of mischief Ah Pukuh. Max’s parents get taken to Xibalba and Ah Pukuh tries to trick Max to lead him off the scent.
I definitely recommend this book for Terry Pratchett fans because it is full of magic and adventure. I would say this book is 10+. Enid Blyton fans may also like this book too because of the adventure and the intriguing worlds.
By IM
Are you looking for a fiction story with awesome warriors and vile villains? This is a must buy. I would recommend this to 13+ boys: it might interest boys more because of the fighting and sacrifices. It is also fun because you have talking monkeys, hidden messages and evil gods.
By JW
My opinion of the books series (The Jaguar Stones) is really good. The authors Jon and Pamela Veolkel created this great book just over 10 years ago. I would rate this book five stars because of the adventures and the things the characters go through. The main character is Max Murphy but some people call him Massimo. Later on in the book, a man from a Mayan village says that the legions of hell are coming for Max. Max and Lola go through large risks to save Max’s parents. My favourite part was the section where Max thought he had found his parents but they were evil doppelgangers! Read the book to find out more …
By DH
This story is all about a teenage boy called Max and his journey through the jungle to try and save his parents from hell. The story is more of a thriller and a cliffhanger. If you want a book to make you stay up all night then this is the book for you! I recommend this book for 8 and over - it is a big challenge.
By PT
A young boy called Max Murphy was going to Italy but his dreams got crushed by his parents going to San Xavier for their work. Max goes to San Xavier and goes in the jungle to search for his parents. On the way he finds trapdoors, ancient pyramids, ancient people and jaguar stones. Near the end of the adventure, they safely get home. I recommend this book to adults and kids who are strog readers.
By JR
Max Murphy, who lives in Boston, flies to San Xavier and his world turns upside down on a quest to save the world from Tzelek.
The highlight of the story is when they all pull together and it is like a fun history lesson with loads of facts I didn’t know. I loved it where Max was being tricked by the gods of mischief Ah Pukuh. Max’s parents get taken to Xibalba and Ah Pukuh tries to trick Max to lead him off the scent.
I definitely recommend this book for Terry Pratchett fans because it is full of magic and adventure. I would say this book is 10+. Enid Blyton fans may also like this book too because of the adventure and the intriguing worlds.
By IM
Are you looking for a fiction story with awesome warriors and vile villains? This is a must buy. I would recommend this to 13+ boys: it might interest boys more because of the fighting and sacrifices. It is also fun because you have talking monkeys, hidden messages and evil gods.
By JW
My opinion of the books series (The Jaguar Stones) is really good. The authors Jon and Pamela Veolkel created this great book just over 10 years ago. I would rate this book five stars because of the adventures and the things the characters go through. The main character is Max Murphy but some people call him Massimo. Later on in the book, a man from a Mayan village says that the legions of hell are coming for Max. Max and Lola go through large risks to save Max’s parents. My favourite part was the section where Max thought he had found his parents but they were evil doppelgangers! Read the book to find out more …
By DH
This story is all about a teenage boy called Max and his journey through the jungle to try and save his parents from hell. The story is more of a thriller and a cliffhanger. If you want a book to make you stay up all night then this is the book for you! I recommend this book for 8 and over - it is a big challenge.
By PT
A young boy called Max Murphy was going to Italy but his dreams got crushed by his parents going to San Xavier for their work. Max goes to San Xavier and goes in the jungle to search for his parents. On the way he finds trapdoors, ancient pyramids, ancient people and jaguar stones. Near the end of the adventure, they safely get home. I recommend this book to adults and kids who are strog readers.
By JR
October 28, 2016
RP Q1 Jack Branch Middleworld by Jon and Pamela Voelkel
Prompt #:
2. As a teenage Bostonian, young Max Murphy portrays growth in both his strengths and his shortcomings, just as many of us do at that age. Throughout the novel he demonstrates his immaturity by making remarks such as “A spoiled brat indeed!... Uncle Ted was going to regret the day he’d ignited the wrath of Max Murphy!” (J & P Voelkel 79). These thoughts lead him to do many rebellious actions, that often put him in rather unpleasant situations. His use of language shows that he still has long way to go before he is fully ready to handle the mature thoughts of an adult. However, not all of these teenage impulses are dis-satisfactory in nature. He does exhibit a rare case of bravery to contrast his normally cowardly nature, albeit with a push from one of his compatriots Lola: “What should he do? Save his skin and let a girl [Lola] think he was scared? Or bluff it out and face the horrors of the Black Pyramid?” (J & P Voelkel 317). As for the ending, authors Jon and Pamela Voelkel do a good job of keeping his teenage doubts intact, although they do resolve the major conflict of the novel, Max’s missing parents. Nevertheless, his doubts are still present, this time with new fear of the ancient Mayan Lords of Death, whom he had to bargain with in return for his lost parents.
3. This novel portrays many, many copycat features to other novels, which, in hindsight, is why I chose this book. First, the main conflict in the book is that the protagonist has lost his parents, and what quest will he have to go on to find them? This is a plot structure used throughout many novels just like this, such as Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, The Kane Chronicles, and the Sword of Summer. I mention these novels for another similarity, which may either be a draw for readers or a repellent. All of these novels have a basis in mythology, whether it be Greek, Egyptian or Mayan. Such a heavy focus on history leads it to be much more factual than other fictional works, so that may be another turn off for readers. However, not everything about Middleworld is a copycat to other novels as for one, he is completely normal and has no otherworldly powers, so he is much easier to relate to as a reader than per say, Percy Jackson. All in all, while its ideas are nothing I have not seen before, Middleworld remains a fast-paced novel that thrilled me to the very end.
Prompt #:
2. As a teenage Bostonian, young Max Murphy portrays growth in both his strengths and his shortcomings, just as many of us do at that age. Throughout the novel he demonstrates his immaturity by making remarks such as “A spoiled brat indeed!... Uncle Ted was going to regret the day he’d ignited the wrath of Max Murphy!” (J & P Voelkel 79). These thoughts lead him to do many rebellious actions, that often put him in rather unpleasant situations. His use of language shows that he still has long way to go before he is fully ready to handle the mature thoughts of an adult. However, not all of these teenage impulses are dis-satisfactory in nature. He does exhibit a rare case of bravery to contrast his normally cowardly nature, albeit with a push from one of his compatriots Lola: “What should he do? Save his skin and let a girl [Lola] think he was scared? Or bluff it out and face the horrors of the Black Pyramid?” (J & P Voelkel 317). As for the ending, authors Jon and Pamela Voelkel do a good job of keeping his teenage doubts intact, although they do resolve the major conflict of the novel, Max’s missing parents. Nevertheless, his doubts are still present, this time with new fear of the ancient Mayan Lords of Death, whom he had to bargain with in return for his lost parents.
3. This novel portrays many, many copycat features to other novels, which, in hindsight, is why I chose this book. First, the main conflict in the book is that the protagonist has lost his parents, and what quest will he have to go on to find them? This is a plot structure used throughout many novels just like this, such as Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, The Kane Chronicles, and the Sword of Summer. I mention these novels for another similarity, which may either be a draw for readers or a repellent. All of these novels have a basis in mythology, whether it be Greek, Egyptian or Mayan. Such a heavy focus on history leads it to be much more factual than other fictional works, so that may be another turn off for readers. However, not everything about Middleworld is a copycat to other novels as for one, he is completely normal and has no otherworldly powers, so he is much easier to relate to as a reader than per say, Percy Jackson. All in all, while its ideas are nothing I have not seen before, Middleworld remains a fast-paced novel that thrilled me to the very end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2010
Mayan mythology is a complex topic to handle (says the non-Mayan expert) so I really admire the authors for creating this story and explaining aspects of Mayan culture in such a fun and pretty easy to understand way. A few times I did get lost. There's a lot going on, not just with all the Mayan culture references but also with other storylines. Sometimes I would forget who was who when they were talking about all the Mayan gods but that's not too big a deal. The older reader in me didn't always appreciate the translations. For example, Lola would say something in Mayan and then right after she would say it in English. I understood why she would do that, for Max's sake but other characters did that as well and that annoyed me. I would rather figure out the meaning of the words from the context or a glossary in the back. However, I understand that it was probably included for younger readers who may not have the patience or desire to figure it out on their own.
Middleworld is an imaginative, action packed story filled with hazardous events. The characters are all hiding something (well Max isn't really but there's more to him than meets the eye) which keeps the readers guessing about the motives behind certain actions. The story is well researched and you get a real feel for Central America; the weather, the food, the people, etc. I liked the mentions of 2012 and how no archaeological evidence has been found to support the idea that Mayans thought the world would in 2012. Like I said, I understood most of what was going on and the ending left me desperately wanting more. It's not a complete cliffhanger, if you don't like the book (which I doubt) you could finish it and not feel compelled to read the rest of the series. However, there are still some secrets (like what is the deal with Zia? I need to know!) This is going to be a fun series, I can tell. I can't wait to see what's next in store for Massimo Francis Sylvanus Murphy (Max) and Ix Sak Lool (Eesh Sock Lowell aka Lola).
Middleworld is an imaginative, action packed story filled with hazardous events. The characters are all hiding something (well Max isn't really but there's more to him than meets the eye) which keeps the readers guessing about the motives behind certain actions. The story is well researched and you get a real feel for Central America; the weather, the food, the people, etc. I liked the mentions of 2012 and how no archaeological evidence has been found to support the idea that Mayans thought the world would in 2012. Like I said, I understood most of what was going on and the ending left me desperately wanting more. It's not a complete cliffhanger, if you don't like the book (which I doubt) you could finish it and not feel compelled to read the rest of the series. However, there are still some secrets (like what is the deal with Zia? I need to know!) This is going to be a fun series, I can tell. I can't wait to see what's next in store for Massimo Francis Sylvanus Murphy (Max) and Ix Sak Lool (Eesh Sock Lowell aka Lola).
October 25, 2016
Middle world is about a young teen named Max Murphy. He starts off his epic journey in Boston, as whiny and short tempered boy. He lives in a wealthy house and lives a relatively normal life, until his parents leave on an archaeology trip to the Maya temple of Ixchel. Max ends up traveling to Villa Isabella, his uncle's house, and there Max learns about the jaguar stones. One night he goes into the jungle and ends up going through a lot of Mayan temples with a girl named Lola. He battles both an evil Maya priest named Tzelek and a power crazy Spaniard. With the help of his Maya friends, Max finds three of the jaguar stones and stops Tzelek from sacrificing Lola at the pyramid of Ah Pukuh. I think that this book was both entertaining and informational, both talking about ancient Maya civilizations and telling the daring story of a young red-head. Throughout the book it mentions things that the Maya created, like their calendar and their culture. It also talks about the Mayan gods and goddesses like Chahk, Ixchel, Ah Pukuh, and Itzamna. I would recommend this book to my little brother because he likes stuff like this and both him and I have interests in the same books. My favorite quote is probably "A wild pig would have better manners!". Lola says that to Max when he tries to eat their guides food. This quote is good at at explaining how Max was at the beginning because he was really whiny and only cared about himself.
December 2, 2016
The book Middleworld by J&P Voelkel is an okay book. This book is about a boy named Max the son of archoelogists who study the Ancient Maya. Zia, the housekeeper, bought a plane ticket for him to go to San Xavier where his parents are. This is where he finds out his parents went missing and is on a journey to find out what happened to them. I think that it gets more exciting as the book goes on.
I disliked the beginning of the book because it didn't show any suspense and was boring. Also, all Max did was play video games and didn't care about the Ancient Maya and there parents found it very interesting. When I first liked the book is when Max discovered Uncle Ted's secret room in the office of his. Then, Lucky Jim, Uncle Ted's body guard and a family of Ancient Mayans, found him and told Uncle Ted. I also liked when Max was following a person who stool a jaguar stone and failed. Then, it turns out she wanted him to find her and then found out that Landa, a buissness partner of Uncle Ted, was after them for taking the jaguar stone.
This is why I liked and disliked the book. I would recommend the book, Middleworld, to people who like action and suspense to be built up. Also because you don't know what's going to happen next. If you read the book I hope you will enjoy it.
I disliked the beginning of the book because it didn't show any suspense and was boring. Also, all Max did was play video games and didn't care about the Ancient Maya and there parents found it very interesting. When I first liked the book is when Max discovered Uncle Ted's secret room in the office of his. Then, Lucky Jim, Uncle Ted's body guard and a family of Ancient Mayans, found him and told Uncle Ted. I also liked when Max was following a person who stool a jaguar stone and failed. Then, it turns out she wanted him to find her and then found out that Landa, a buissness partner of Uncle Ted, was after them for taking the jaguar stone.
This is why I liked and disliked the book. I would recommend the book, Middleworld, to people who like action and suspense to be built up. Also because you don't know what's going to happen next. If you read the book I hope you will enjoy it.
April 5, 2010
Max is the only child of two archaeologists who specialize in the ancient Maya world. His parents have left for the summer on a dig in San Xavier and soon after Max is sent to join them. In San Xavier Max stays with his uncle but his parents have disappeared and no one has heard from them. He meets Lola a Mayan girl and sets out with her to find his parents and uncover the secrets of The Jaguar Stones.
Being the only child Max is spoiled, selfish and in his own words only looking out for number one. But he slowly comes to realize that it’s not always about him and he can’t always take, take, take and not give anything back. The rules of the jungle are different than the rules of the city.
The book was packed full of information on Mayan culture and tradition. This book would be great for a reluctant reader as has lots of adventure and you are learning while reading at the same time. I certainly felt like I came away knowing a lot more about the Mayans.
Being the only child Max is spoiled, selfish and in his own words only looking out for number one. But he slowly comes to realize that it’s not always about him and he can’t always take, take, take and not give anything back. The rules of the jungle are different than the rules of the city.
The book was packed full of information on Mayan culture and tradition. This book would be great for a reluctant reader as has lots of adventure and you are learning while reading at the same time. I certainly felt like I came away knowing a lot more about the Mayans.
December 10, 2011
I think that the middle world is a great book. It is about a young boy named Max Murphy who's parents are archeologist they have to go on a trip to San xavier and cancel the family trip. While max is at home playing video games he finds out that his babysitter is acting a little weird when she was feeding maya statues corn and talking to them. The next morning Max finds at a play Plane tickets to fly to San Xavier when his babysitter says that they say he is special and he has to go. when Max gets off the plane he will Not know that being in san Xavier will be the Most challenging thing he has ever done.
August 9, 2010
mayan adventure and good action for kids. i found it really bothered me the main kids attitudes. But the cool thing is, they annoyed the author and the kid too.
i just hope that the bad attitude does not see cool to my children who will read this. will the moral come through well? will they continue to read and find a change of heart needed also?
i just hope that the bad attitude does not see cool to my children who will read this. will the moral come through well? will they continue to read and find a change of heart needed also?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 30, 2020Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and everything.
(Rounded from 2.5)
I liked the adventurous toned of this one, and the lush, wonderful setting, but I had problems with it, too. I have five pages of review notes, guys. I love the idea of this. I love the idea of having more books about things like the Mayan people. I actually mentioned this to a friend while I was reading it, and she mentioned she'd seen it looking up the newest Percy Jackson book, and that is a great comparison. The lessons about history, and the Mayan culture and it's deep, wonderful roots are incredibly well incorporated.
But then there are other things. Boy, are there some other things. And as much as I liked a lot of the rest of this book, those things really throw me off. But we'll get to that in good time!
Plot Talk: Max's parents go off to do a dig in Central America. Max gets mysteriously called there only to find they've quite literally disappeared. Max gets into many, many adventures and has to save the world, basically. The summary's up there, I'm not good at this. I will say, though, that there is a ton of action in this. There's a lot of action, and it starts very early in the book. The history and backstory is done in a way that I don't think kids would find boring.
Characters: Max is pretty whiny. He has a moment where he realizes what a jerk he's been, but it's not until 200 pages in, and those 200 pages can be a little rough. The kid doesn't like granola bars, for crying out loud. Who doesn't like granola bars?? He also can be very rude and ungrateful, and a little racist sometimes, honestly. I don't think he's entirely unrealistic. This is, in fact, a very real-feeling way for a kid to react to being left alone by his parents too much, and thinking he's not interesting enough for his parents. But it's still kind of annoying.
Lola was cool, but her character was somewhat inconsistent sometimes. One minutes she's rafting through rapids in the dark with people shooting at them and completely calm, and the next she's crying over a chicken dying? Girls can obviously be nuanced, and varied, but... it seemed to out of character.
The characters are fine, but a lot of the time they seemed pretty stereotypical. Some of them I believe were meant to be that way, since the book laughs at them about it, but others are played straight, and it doesn't work well. Lola and several other characters veer towards Magical Mayan at times, and that's kind of... problematic. I'll go more into that later, as well, but I look at Lola, and I am just not satisfied.
PG-13 stuff: There's one joke about "jackass bitters" being mistaken for cursing, some toilet humour that I didn't really find that funny, and some violence/scary imagery, but other than that, I don't think there would be anything to worry about.
Cons, complaints, bad stuff, etc.: This is a book about Mayan people, and their gods and culture. It stars a white boy who is the Chosen One. Why is a white boy so special? Why isn't this Lola's story instead, or a Mayan boy? It really ventures into White Saviour territory. I fully believe the authors love this culture, but I question whether this is truly telling their story, or just telling their story through white eyes.
There are things they do also that are probably because they're aimed at a young audience, but I think do that audience a disservice. Many characters who speak two languages say things in their native language, and then repeat them basically word for word in English, even when they're not talking to Max. That is solely so we know what is happening, and I think it comes off as really inauthentic.
I question if the references aren't somewhat dated. Are kids 10+ still into Lord of the Rings? Swiss Family Robinson? There's a reference to Jurassic Park - before Jurassic World, were today's kids really into that movie still? I'm 23, and I only saw that movie when I was like 20 because I told my uncle I had never seen it, and he immediately went and got the DVD and insisted we all watch it. The book in general is somewhat dated already since we've long-passed December 21st, 2012, which is part of the plot, obviously.
Last, there are some really fatphobic moments. There's one time when Max mentions tourists as "overfed". He's seeing them from a boat across the river and has never met them before. How does he know they're overfed? What does overfed mean when you're looking at strangers? Later, one of the gods of death who is presented as very evil is also described as "enormously, disgustingly fat", and Max at first thinks someone bought a fat suit because... fat people don't exist in this world? He is the only fat character that shows up, so maybe they don't. It's a nice touch, especially, that there's an illustration. It's great seeing the specific weight that is disgustingly fat, especially since the picture doesn't actually look that fat.
Cover comments: The cover is pretty awesome. It shows a scene from the book, which is always something that I think is cool, and it represents both that scene and the characters well.
Conclusion: I can rant about the fatphobia because that's something I know well. I am not qualified to speak on racism as a white person. I only know anything because of wonderful blogs like writingwithcolor who have spoken on the things I've mentioned in this post. In the end, I am not going to be comfortable recommending this to kids as a "diverse" book, or whatever you want to call it, when I feel like there's a strong sense that this would make many people who actually are qualified to speak about these things uncomfortable. It feels like it could be praising something that is just another microaggression for someone, and I'm just not aware enough to recognize it.
I liked the writing, and I think this could be a fun book for people who like Percy Jackson and the like, but I don't want to give people books with stereotypes, fatshaming, and possible racism. I did enjoy reading this! I thought it was fun to read! Some of the twists are really unexpected and clever! But I can't recommend it wholeheartedly. Gosh, I feel so bad to review this five years late, and then give it a bad review. I think kids would probably like this one, but I can't ignore those things.
I don't think I will be looking into the later books in the series, and I'm not sure if I will be keeping this one, or passing it along. I'm going to have to give it only two and a half roses. I'm so sorry!
Other notes:
- I seriously want a smoothie. Or ice cream. Books be making me hungry lately!
- Why couldn't Max go to Italy to stay with his grandmother/other family if he can stay in Boston alone for who knows how long with only the housekeeper to watch him?
(Rounded from 2.5)
I liked the adventurous toned of this one, and the lush, wonderful setting, but I had problems with it, too. I have five pages of review notes, guys. I love the idea of this. I love the idea of having more books about things like the Mayan people. I actually mentioned this to a friend while I was reading it, and she mentioned she'd seen it looking up the newest Percy Jackson book, and that is a great comparison. The lessons about history, and the Mayan culture and it's deep, wonderful roots are incredibly well incorporated.
But then there are other things. Boy, are there some other things. And as much as I liked a lot of the rest of this book, those things really throw me off. But we'll get to that in good time!
Plot Talk: Max's parents go off to do a dig in Central America. Max gets mysteriously called there only to find they've quite literally disappeared. Max gets into many, many adventures and has to save the world, basically. The summary's up there, I'm not good at this. I will say, though, that there is a ton of action in this. There's a lot of action, and it starts very early in the book. The history and backstory is done in a way that I don't think kids would find boring.
Characters: Max is pretty whiny. He has a moment where he realizes what a jerk he's been, but it's not until 200 pages in, and those 200 pages can be a little rough. The kid doesn't like granola bars, for crying out loud. Who doesn't like granola bars?? He also can be very rude and ungrateful, and a little racist sometimes, honestly. I don't think he's entirely unrealistic. This is, in fact, a very real-feeling way for a kid to react to being left alone by his parents too much, and thinking he's not interesting enough for his parents. But it's still kind of annoying.
Lola was cool, but her character was somewhat inconsistent sometimes. One minutes she's rafting through rapids in the dark with people shooting at them and completely calm, and the next she's crying over a chicken dying? Girls can obviously be nuanced, and varied, but... it seemed to out of character.
The characters are fine, but a lot of the time they seemed pretty stereotypical. Some of them I believe were meant to be that way, since the book laughs at them about it, but others are played straight, and it doesn't work well. Lola and several other characters veer towards Magical Mayan at times, and that's kind of... problematic. I'll go more into that later, as well, but I look at Lola, and I am just not satisfied.
PG-13 stuff: There's one joke about "jackass bitters" being mistaken for cursing, some toilet humour that I didn't really find that funny, and some violence/scary imagery, but other than that, I don't think there would be anything to worry about.
Cons, complaints, bad stuff, etc.: This is a book about Mayan people, and their gods and culture. It stars a white boy who is the Chosen One. Why is a white boy so special? Why isn't this Lola's story instead, or a Mayan boy? It really ventures into White Saviour territory. I fully believe the authors love this culture, but I question whether this is truly telling their story, or just telling their story through white eyes.
There are things they do also that are probably because they're aimed at a young audience, but I think do that audience a disservice. Many characters who speak two languages say things in their native language, and then repeat them basically word for word in English, even when they're not talking to Max. That is solely so we know what is happening, and I think it comes off as really inauthentic.
I question if the references aren't somewhat dated. Are kids 10+ still into Lord of the Rings? Swiss Family Robinson? There's a reference to Jurassic Park - before Jurassic World, were today's kids really into that movie still? I'm 23, and I only saw that movie when I was like 20 because I told my uncle I had never seen it, and he immediately went and got the DVD and insisted we all watch it. The book in general is somewhat dated already since we've long-passed December 21st, 2012, which is part of the plot, obviously.
Last, there are some really fatphobic moments. There's one time when Max mentions tourists as "overfed". He's seeing them from a boat across the river and has never met them before. How does he know they're overfed? What does overfed mean when you're looking at strangers? Later, one of the gods of death who is presented as very evil is also described as "enormously, disgustingly fat", and Max at first thinks someone bought a fat suit because... fat people don't exist in this world? He is the only fat character that shows up, so maybe they don't. It's a nice touch, especially, that there's an illustration. It's great seeing the specific weight that is disgustingly fat, especially since the picture doesn't actually look that fat.
Cover comments: The cover is pretty awesome. It shows a scene from the book, which is always something that I think is cool, and it represents both that scene and the characters well.
Conclusion: I can rant about the fatphobia because that's something I know well. I am not qualified to speak on racism as a white person. I only know anything because of wonderful blogs like writingwithcolor who have spoken on the things I've mentioned in this post. In the end, I am not going to be comfortable recommending this to kids as a "diverse" book, or whatever you want to call it, when I feel like there's a strong sense that this would make many people who actually are qualified to speak about these things uncomfortable. It feels like it could be praising something that is just another microaggression for someone, and I'm just not aware enough to recognize it.
I liked the writing, and I think this could be a fun book for people who like Percy Jackson and the like, but I don't want to give people books with stereotypes, fatshaming, and possible racism. I did enjoy reading this! I thought it was fun to read! Some of the twists are really unexpected and clever! But I can't recommend it wholeheartedly. Gosh, I feel so bad to review this five years late, and then give it a bad review. I think kids would probably like this one, but I can't ignore those things.
I don't think I will be looking into the later books in the series, and I'm not sure if I will be keeping this one, or passing it along. I'm going to have to give it only two and a half roses. I'm so sorry!
Other notes:
- I seriously want a smoothie. Or ice cream. Books be making me hungry lately!
- Why couldn't Max go to Italy to stay with his grandmother/other family if he can stay in Boston alone for who knows how long with only the housekeeper to watch him?
October 11, 2019
(the actual story ends on page 362)
I'd give it a 3.5 .... higher points for originality and effort, weighted down by a sense of trying too hard to think like a spoiled gamer kid. I read a good bit of YA lit, and have generally escaped having that be a distraction. So I'd be interested in an actual young person's take.
Max the Boston suburban teen gets yanked from his cozy pizza-and-gaming life when his archaeologist parents (glamorous mom, nerdy dad) go missing in Central America. We meet a lot of people who may or may not be who they appear to be, and from time to time get swooped up in one of Max's internal flights of fancy (which are actually entertaining, and fairly short). I personally am terrible at writing synopses so you'll have to get that elsewhere. The characters are neatly sketched, sometimes leaving the reader a little off-balance IMO, and there is also the abovementioned self-conscious caveat.
I found the overall story arc appealing, tied in to Maya legends and contemporary connections -- tension between traditional lifestyles and continuing one's education ("Lola"), archaeology vs plunder vs smuggling and what about colonialism? (several characters). Max is a good mix of idealistic main character and spoiled/entitled, immature irritant; "Lola" sometimes seems abrupt, but that could also be to keep her from being too romanticized. With her origin shrouded in mystery, the reader keeps waiting for a good surprise .... but I guess we have to wait for the 2nd or 3rd book to find out.
It was helpful that I'd read some simple introductions to Maya legends earlier this year.
I have requested the sequel from the library, and I really hope it's a little shorter, and reads more compellingly.
There are some handy appendices and lots of drawings.
I'd give it a 3.5 .... higher points for originality and effort, weighted down by a sense of trying too hard to think like a spoiled gamer kid. I read a good bit of YA lit, and have generally escaped having that be a distraction. So I'd be interested in an actual young person's take.
Max the Boston suburban teen gets yanked from his cozy pizza-and-gaming life when his archaeologist parents (glamorous mom, nerdy dad) go missing in Central America. We meet a lot of people who may or may not be who they appear to be, and from time to time get swooped up in one of Max's internal flights of fancy (which are actually entertaining, and fairly short). I personally am terrible at writing synopses so you'll have to get that elsewhere. The characters are neatly sketched, sometimes leaving the reader a little off-balance IMO, and there is also the abovementioned self-conscious caveat.
I found the overall story arc appealing, tied in to Maya legends and contemporary connections -- tension between traditional lifestyles and continuing one's education ("Lola"), archaeology vs plunder vs smuggling and what about colonialism? (several characters). Max is a good mix of idealistic main character and spoiled/entitled, immature irritant; "Lola" sometimes seems abrupt, but that could also be to keep her from being too romanticized. With her origin shrouded in mystery, the reader keeps waiting for a good surprise .... but I guess we have to wait for the 2nd or 3rd book to find out.
It was helpful that I'd read some simple introductions to Maya legends earlier this year.
I have requested the sequel from the library, and I really hope it's a little shorter, and reads more compellingly.
There are some handy appendices and lots of drawings.
May 6, 2018
"Middleworld" by Jon Voelkel is the first book of the series "The Jaguar Stones." It is about Max Murphy's adventure through both an ancient and modern world, though most only know the latter. During the book, Max meets Lola; a Mayan native. She was raised in Mayan culture, though her parentage is still a mystery. Throughout the book, Max and Lola travel together and figure out both the past and the future. For what has happened before will happen again.
Personally, this book was a good book. Max's character arc was a little strange. He is a complete jerk halfway through the book and then its like a switch flipped and he's a better overall person. It feels a little strange and forced, but it gets the point across. One thing I enjoyed about the book is how Max acted as how I would expect someone to act under those circumstances. Appart from that, the book is a good read, and I'm very excited to read the next one.
For those who enjoyed any of Rick Riordan's series, this is a great read. It also is suited to teenagers, considering two of the main characters are around that age. However, it is fairly open when it comes to the age demographic. All in all, this was a great book and I'd recommend it to those I listed earlier.
Personally, this book was a good book. Max's character arc was a little strange. He is a complete jerk halfway through the book and then its like a switch flipped and he's a better overall person. It feels a little strange and forced, but it gets the point across. One thing I enjoyed about the book is how Max acted as how I would expect someone to act under those circumstances. Appart from that, the book is a good read, and I'm very excited to read the next one.
For those who enjoyed any of Rick Riordan's series, this is a great read. It also is suited to teenagers, considering two of the main characters are around that age. However, it is fairly open when it comes to the age demographic. All in all, this was a great book and I'd recommend it to those I listed earlier.
January 24, 2019
This book didn't wow me, but neither did it disappoint. I'm all for books exploring more mythologies than just "Europe", but this book didn't quite bring it to life OR explain the intricies of Maya mythology. It didn't do it a disserve, either, mind you.
My only thing is the character - personality wise, he might have been okay. In other ways . . . I could personally be okay with the ethnicity thing, because he generally has the "same background" as me, and really, he shouldn't. Making him a spoiled American kid in the beginning is fine. But if BOTH his parents grew up down in the heart of Maya territory, why was one of them not in someway a descendant? Characters of different ethnicities are fantastic, and the set up to make Max one was PERFECT and it . . . didn't happen. A bit of a letdown, and a bit annoying.
Overall, the book is pretty good. If you just want a novel that's a light skim of Maya mythology, this is a good fit.
My only thing is the character - personality wise, he might have been okay. In other ways . . . I could personally be okay with the ethnicity thing, because he generally has the "same background" as me, and really, he shouldn't. Making him a spoiled American kid in the beginning is fine. But if BOTH his parents grew up down in the heart of Maya territory, why was one of them not in someway a descendant? Characters of different ethnicities are fantastic, and the set up to make Max one was PERFECT and it . . . didn't happen. A bit of a letdown, and a bit annoying.
Overall, the book is pretty good. If you just want a novel that's a light skim of Maya mythology, this is a good fit.
October 18, 2017
Запознайте се с Макс Мърфи - досаден, вечно мрънкащ и начумерен тийнеиджър, на чиито доста крехки прещи ще се падне да спаси света. Това, нали, ако се справи с апетита си за пица, диарията и прекалено голямата си уста.
Като оставим настрани доста дразнещия протагонист (който към края на книгата от 14 годишно наивно леке някак успява да се превърне в 14 годишен наивен ъъ....badass) тук имаме приключение за млади възрастни, опитващо се едновременно да прилича и на Индиана Джоунс, и на Хари Потър.
Интригуващите описания на хищниците, растенията и опасностите в южноамериканската джунгла, както и на елементи от културата и вярванията на маите някак успяват да изместят настрана фокуса от антипатичния пубер и също така антипатичните му сподвижници, и към края книгата става дори забавна. Има си и втора част, която може би ще прочета. Или пък не?
Като оставим настрани доста дразнещия протагонист (който към края на книгата от 14 годишно наивно леке някак успява да се превърне в 14 годишен наивен ъъ....badass) тук имаме приключение за млади възрастни, опитващо се едновременно да прилича и на Индиана Джоунс, и на Хари Потър.
Интригуващите описания на хищниците, растенията и опасностите в южноамериканската джунгла, както и на елементи от културата и вярванията на маите някак успяват да изместят настрана фокуса от антипатичния пубер и също така антипатичните му сподвижници, и към края книгата става дори забавна. Има си и втора част, която може би ще прочета. Или пък не?
October 23, 2023
This was a disappointing book, but at least it wasn't a terrible time. It was as meh as it came.
Every character was the most obnoxious ever, which meant there was a lot of gritting of my teeth and feeling annoyed. If it wasn't for them, I probably would have enjoyed it more. It was a fun adventure idea with a cool background and setting, with a super interesting history around it.
Not only did the characters bring the story down, but so did the pace of the story. It really began to drag. There'd be an interesting scene, but they'd amuse in the middle for a bit too long, and then repeat a little while later. It took forever to get to the point of the story. It felt like there were too many things going on and not focusing on anything in particular so long I wasn't sure where the plot was going to settle.
Every character was the most obnoxious ever, which meant there was a lot of gritting of my teeth and feeling annoyed. If it wasn't for them, I probably would have enjoyed it more. It was a fun adventure idea with a cool background and setting, with a super interesting history around it.
Not only did the characters bring the story down, but so did the pace of the story. It really began to drag. There'd be an interesting scene, but they'd amuse in the middle for a bit too long, and then repeat a little while later. It took forever to get to the point of the story. It felt like there were too many things going on and not focusing on anything in particular so long I wasn't sure where the plot was going to settle.
June 3, 2025
This is a fantastic adventure story for teens based on deep research into the Maya cosmology. It has maps on the endpapers and a lot of appendix material that provides a very accessible explanation of the Maya number glyphs, date glyphs, and very complex calendar. You do not have to read all of this stuff in order to understand the story, but after reading the story, you may be interested in it.
The story features an ancient Mayan king, Lord Six-Rabbit, and his royal mother, being re-incarnated in the bodies of ... a couple of monkeys. Hilarity ensues. I really enjoyed the humor. I also enjoyed how the MCs are able to convince this royal pair that a chicken is actually a very dangerous animal ... the Chee Ken of Death.
I picked up this book at a thrift store. I will now go out of my way to obtain the other books in the series.
The story features an ancient Mayan king, Lord Six-Rabbit, and his royal mother, being re-incarnated in the bodies of ... a couple of monkeys. Hilarity ensues. I really enjoyed the humor. I also enjoyed how the MCs are able to convince this royal pair that a chicken is actually a very dangerous animal ... the Chee Ken of Death.
I picked up this book at a thrift store. I will now go out of my way to obtain the other books in the series.
April 9, 2019
I never warmed up to this book. The characters are flat and some of them totally change in a chapter or two. People behave in odd ways that don't make sense. The actual words that the author chooses to use are weird and clunky. And by the way, why does the author despise granola bars?
Not for the school library because there are so many other books that are better than this one.
Not for the school library because there are so many other books that are better than this one.
April 20, 2019
It was a light fun young adult adventure about a young teen boy that teams up with a Mayan girl and her monkey friends and a couple of Mayan Gods that are is search of the young mans parents who disappeared during a archeology dig.
There were some funny parts and it kept my interest for the most part but not enough to continue the series.
good Luck to the Authors of this series
There were some funny parts and it kept my interest for the most part but not enough to continue the series.
good Luck to the Authors of this series
November 15, 2021
Okay, this book was amazing! I got to have fun reading while learning about the Maya culture! Although there were some hard words, I definitely think this book was awesome. Personally, I didn’t like how I didn’t learn much about Zia, and how I only read about Frank and Carla Murphy in the beginning of the book. Anyways, let me stop rambling and read book 2!
September 30, 2022
Fourteen-year-old Max Murphy is looking forward to a family vacation. But his parents, both archaeologists and Maya experts, announce a change in plan. They must leave immediately for a dig in the tiny Central American country of San Xavier. Max will go to summer camp. Max is furious. When he's mysteriously summoned to San Xavier, he thinks they've had a change of heart.
July 10, 2018
I liked how the plot was based on Mayan mythology, but it didn't make sense that the ancient Mayans knew English. It wasn't really explained. Max didn't really do anything hero worthy. I think it would have been a better book with Lola as the main character.
March 18, 2020
İlk okuduğum mitolojik kitaptır kendisi, çok ilgimi çekmesine rağmen başlarını çok uzun zamanda okumuşumdur, şimdi okuduğum fantastik ve mitolojik kitaplara bakarsam bu kitap dört yıldızlıktır, ama her zaman kalbimde yeri çok büyük olacaktır.
March 7, 2023
I have had this book for years and I have never picked it up. Until today I thought I would like it but I guess fate decided that it knew I wouldn't like it. I didn't. Don't get me wrong; I do think a child would like reading a more advanced book.
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