I had a great time reading this "out loud" to my young son over the course of a week during summer evenings. He was rapt, and we both ended up using the words "abate" and "abated" liberally for some days thereafter! Good adventure tale, and I had not read it since I was around 12y.o. myself.
I always love an adventure story, especially if the languange style is interesting like this book. It rich your imagination, makes you feel that you are there, involve in the adventure. So excited.