The Dragon's Blood

Explorer Academy #6

by Trudi Trueit

An explosive revelation and a familiar face in the sixth book in this adventure-packed series. Still reeling from the life-changing discovery he found buried in the mysterious archive, Cruz Coronado grapples with an important secret as the gang heads to China in search of the second-to-last piece of the cipher. Under the watchful eye of a new adviser, life on the ship returns to almost normal...Almost. Just as things seem to be going smoothly, a familiar face shocks Cruz back into reality, and the final piece in this life-and-death scavenger hunt veers toward a dead end. Explorer Academy Gripping fact-based fiction plot that inspires curiosity with new technology and innovations; Amazing inventions and gadgets; A cast of diverse, relatable characters; Secret clues, codes, and ciphers to track down within the text; Vibrant illustrations, Elements of STEAM; National Geographic explorer profiles in The Truth Behind Section. Complete your collection The Nebula Secret (1) The Falcon's Feather (2) The Double Helix (3) The Star Dunes (4) The Tiger's Nest (5) Explorer Academy Code-Breaking Adventure Explorer Academy Ultimate Activity Challenge Explorer Academy Field Journal Explorer Academy Future Tech

Genres: Middle Grade, Adventure, Mystery, Fiction, Action, Science Fiction, Fantasy

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 16, 2021

About the author

Trudi Trueit writes the kind of books she loves to read; stories packed with adventure, mystery, friendship, and hope; stories that reminds us to forge our own path and be our own hero! She's published more than 100 fiction and nonfiction titles for kids, including the award-winning EXPLORER ACADEMY series (National Geographic), which was chosen as an Amazon Prime Book Box selection and named one of Barnes and Noble Best Books of the Year for Young Readers. Look for her NEW EXPLORER ACADEMY spinoff series: VELA!

Born and raised in Seattle, WA she lives in the Northwest with her husband and three cats. P.S.: Trudi Trueit IS her real name (by marriage). Visit her website at www.truditrueit.com.

Visit her website at www.truditrueit.

Reviews

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...some major plot twist...um, I'm still trying to figure out what I think if some of those twist but...this was a fun book!

Characters:
As always it was great to see Cruz and the other explorers again! Emmett is still one of my favorites and I adore Sailor!
The friendship these characters have is always so fun to read! I just wish Dugan was in the book more...lol...

Storyline:
Lots of adventure...the advanced tech is always cool to read about and little bit scary at times...haha...but I enjoy the series a lot and can't wait to see how it ends...especially after that ending.

There are some brief evolution mentions but not much and can easily be talked over and explained with a child.

Romance:
Not really...there's an exchange of Valentine’s cards and mentions of liking another explorer.

Language:
N/A

Overall:
I really enjoyed this book...though I'm still not sure about my thoughts on certain plot twists...but hey, always nice to not see said plot twist coming...lol...a great Middle-Grade adventure series.

[Jaiden Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

THAT ENDING!!! EXCUSE ME?!?!?

Language: Nope. Just uses of d*ng, h*ck, and g*sh

Violence: Nope.

Magic: N/A

Okay...I've been waiting to read this one for almost two years and it did not disappoint!!💖 This was such a good installment to the series and the plot twists, WHAT?!?! I can't even! I need to start The Forbidden Island like right now!💖
This was such a wild ride...I can’t organize my thoughts except this was wayyyy more than I was expecting!! The characters remain top-teir!💖 Cruz's emotional journey was so beautiful and I'm worried about him for the next book! Be careful, Cruzer!! *bites nails*
I need to know what happens next! I literally can't say much about this book without spoiling everything because...THAT CLIFFHANGER, THOSE PLOT TWISTS! THIS IS WORSE THEN THE TIGER'S NEST!!
I must know what happens next! *marches off to read next book*

8+

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Cruz and his friends travel to China where they search for clues in an emperor's tomb. With Nebula spies all around, Cruz wonders who is telling him the truth, but the truth is more complicated than he realizes.

There are a lot of plots twists and major revelations in this book! Around every corner something insane happens and it throws the whole plot into turmoil. The adventure is fantastic, and it's really interesting to learn about all the historic sites that the characters visit.

I just adore these characters! They each have some good development and I love their different personalities. Cruz is such an amazing main character. He surprises me in every book!

I really enjoyed the writing style, which has both some serious situations and some humor to keep things light. The pacing is excellent. The writing kept my attention and had me turning those pages.

Cruz and his friends travel to a remote area searching for an animal that is supposed to be extinct, but may still exist on an island. The explorers use a fancy camera that looks like a local plant, and takes photos of wildlife when a motion detector goes off.

The artwork is a cool mixture of illustrations overlaid on top of real photographs, and it adds a wonderful dimension and depth to the story. I loved seeing the characters brought to life in the artwork, as well as the beautiful locations they visit. It really makes a special addition to the story!

The fictional technology is really cool. There is sensotivia gel that can sense your emotions, a helmet that lets you talk to whales, and of course, Mell, the honeybee robot drone, is always by Cruz's side, ready to protect her master. I just love that cute little bee!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Demeter Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it though!

Some revelations finally made.

It was a bit messier than usually and as an adult reader I might be a bit disappointed with the spy revelation. BUT it totally is fit for younger audiences (it just me old heart that wants deep betrayal 🙈)

I still have a chance

Loved the remote island and places with the exploration of maybe extinct species.

[Kathryn Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has been so great to listen to with the family. We’re on to the final book now!

[Florence Witt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must say my boys would rate this a strong 4 or 4.5. They love them....
Not as entertaining for me but clean and the narrator is their fav.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book in this adventure series, very good.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
Cruz is focused on figuring out a cryptic message left by his deceased mother that will lead him to the seventh piece of a stone cipher. The completed cipher will reveal the recipe for a serum that will change the future of medicine and health all over the world. Cruz’s mother had an accident while she was pregnant, and the serum has given him amazing healing powers; he may be immortal. Nebula is determined to stop Cruz from finding the cipher, and it’s willing to go to any lengths to stop him. Cruz tries to make wise and just decisions, but maneuvering through confusion and suspicions is difficult. Plus, he has feelings for Bryndis, and everyone else on the ship knows they’re a couple. His various friendships in the Explorer Academy are complicated by the fact that he doesn’t know who to trust.
The plot includes a number of mysteries and uncertainties to keep readers wondering. Obviously, the clues to finding pieces of the cipher are cryptic, so the explorers are never totally certain they’re on the right track to finding them. The most interesting problem concerns Nebula’s spies within the academy and aboard the Orion, the ship acting as a mobile school for the students. Cruz and his friends know two spies are on board, code-named Zebra and Jaguar, but that only makes them suspicious of everyone not in their group. Cruz even suspects his own aunt might be Zebra. Every few chapters, the setting focuses on Nebula, so readers gain some insight into their plans. These pages also reveal distrust and sabotage among the antagonists, as the players position for power.
Each book in the series focuses on an ecological mission, and this one deals with finding a marsupial scientists assume is extinct. However, a video surfaced one year ago that seems to show a thylacine wandering through the forests in Tasmania. This book includes information about other rare animals, along with colorful photographs, as well as geographical and historical facts regarding Borneo, China, and Tasmania. Specifically in China, the book displays knowledge of the thousands of statues in the Terra-Cotta Army, the Xi’an City Wall, and the lantern festival. The facts shared throughout the plot don’t interrupt the flow of the story, and some of it’s important to how events progress.
What didn’t work as well:
This book is the sixth in the series, and a lot has happened. References are made to past events, but many holes are left for readers to figure out. Nebula is the evil organization trying to locate pieces of a cipher, while Cruz and his friends follow the clues left by his mother to find them first. Details surrounding Nebula and the Explorer Academy are missing, but reading the previous books will solve those problems. Readers probably won’t miss the information, but it’s helpful in understanding the overall situation.
The Final Verdict:
The search for the cipher nears its end. It’s recommended readers begin with the first book in the series, The Nebula Secret, to appreciate the full story. The science-based adventure is full of mystery and intrigue, as Cruz tries to fulfill his mother’s quest. The Dragon’s Blood should appeal to all middle-grade readers, especially lovers of nature, ecology, and science fiction.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

okei, seistmeosalise sarja kuues raamat ja ma olen lõpuks ometi valmis viis tärni välja andma. see läks nüüd piisavalt huvitavaks ja ootamatuks, et kui siin ka on pisiasju, millesarnaste kallal eelmistes osasdes norisin, polnud mul seekord aega neid tähele panna, põnev oli lugeda ja tahtsin teada, mis saab.

avastajad avastavad, jah, ausalt öeldes neis viimastes osades need faktide kallamise osad juba muutuvad veidi tüütuks; tegelt vb ei viitsigi hetkel neisse Borneo ahvidesse või Tasmaania tiigritesse süveneda, vaid tahaks ikkagi teada, kus on järgmine šifritükk ja kuidas see kätte saadakse ja kuidas Nebula küll jälle ette teadis, kes kuhu läheb ja seal mida teeb. aga samas ma ju põhiliselt loen seda sarja ikagi just kooliõhkkonna pärast (jaa, sest mis see muud on, kui internaatkooliraamat, mu lemmikžanr) ja need tunnid ja hinded ja lastevahelised suhted ja õpetajad tegelikult huvitavad mind.

mõned pahad siin loos paljastatakse ja mõned jäävad veel järele, aga mul jälle on omad teooriad, et kes ja kuidas. nende kinnitamiseks peaks vast suurema osa sarja uuesti otsast üle lugema ja kuna viimane osa tuli küll just ükspäev välja, aga e-raamatuna veel saadaval ei ole (tegelikult üldse vist Euroopas veel ei ole), siis mul vbla jääb isegi aega seda teha? ja ühtlasi ka senistes raamatutes aegajalt ettetulnud koodmõistatused ära lahendada (seni suures osas ignoreerisin neid ja Kindle'is lugedes osasid ilmselt ka ei märgnud, telefoniekraanil värvilisena oli asi selgem).

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally sat down and read the last installment of Explorer Academy, and let me tell you, it is spectacular. With the previous novel, I had not been quite as smitten, but Trueit is again at the top of her game with Dragon's Blood.

The mystery of just who is spying on Cruz intensifies. Crazy wild new info about Taryn is revealed. Two treks into the wilderness offer excitement with new species discoveries. And family drama will twist your stomach in knots.

What I particularly like about this series, though, is how curiosity, friendship, and personal growth are wrapped in the package of an adventure. Sure, the kids are trying to decipher clues, find hidden pieces of the cipher, and beat the murderous Big Pharma spies - all between classes. But readers witness how the young explorers navigate friendships (awkwardly at times) and learn more about themselves and topics that interest them (while groaning about homework). The social dynamic and the encouragement of pursuing one's interests is both realistic and encouraging. Cruz has problems and isn't always sure he's making the right choices, but he ultimately follows his conscience and communicates with those he cares about. I apologize for being vague, but I must leave out the details so as not to spoil anything.

The Dragon's Blood is a stellar book in its own right, and a superlative segment of the series.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading book #6 in this series to D (7th grade). We just love this series! It's so fun to know the characters and the plot and encourage them on to find the final pieces of the cipher and to solve the mystery of who the spies are (Nebula). There were so many parts of this book that we did not want to stop reading. We can't wait for the next book.

In this book, we found out that Tayrn was a robot (talk about unexpected plot twist) and that she was fixed and returned to her same job as advisor, but under the new name of Nyomie. Cruz figured it out but she and he are keeping the secret. Dr. Vanderwick (Fanchon Quill's assistant) turned out to be working for Nebula and she tried to finish off Cruz. The sensotivia orange gel goo overtook her because she was so angry and it ended up finishing her off. And during that intense struggle, that's when Cruz discovered that Nyomie was Taryn. The other surprise part of the book, is that the piece of the cipher that Cruz discovered in China was not a real piece, at least that's what Cruz' mom's holographic journal told him when it scanned the piece. .... so we are anxiously awaiting the next (and final?) book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading book #6 in this series to D (7th grade). We just love this series! It's so fun to know the characters and the plot and encourage them on to find the final pieces of the cipher and to solve the mystery of who the spies are (Nebula). There were so many parts of this book that we did not want to stop reading. We can't wait for the next book.

In this book, we found out that Tayrn was a robot (talk about unexpected plot twist) and that she was fixed and returned to her same job as advisor, but under the new name of Nyomie. Cruz figured it out but she and he are keeping the secret. Dr. Vanderwick (Fanchon Quill's assistant) turned out to be working for Nebula and she tried to finish off Cruz. The sensotivia orange gel goo overtook her because she was so angry and it ended up finishing her off. And during that intense struggle, that's when Cruz discovered that Nyomie was Taryn. The other surprise part of the book, is that the piece of the cipher that Cruz discovered in China was not a real piece, at least that's what Cruz' mom's holographic journal told him when it scanned the piece. .... so we are anxiously awaiting the next (and final?) book.

[Al Gritten · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Explorers' adventures continue as does Cruz's search for the final clue to his deceased mom's puzzle that will lead him to the answers he needs - about her work and about himself. He and some of his close friends race against the mysterious and deadly Nebula all the while continuing their education aboard the Orion, a sea going classroom for the Academy. But Cruz and his friends cannot figure out the latest riddle tht will lead them to the last piece of the puzzle and so they have no destination and no idea where to look for the next, and final, clue. Even though these books are targeted for young readers, I have thoroughly enjoyed them. They are quick reads with very good characters and the occasional plot twist. And while they are fiction, Trueit uses modern science and technology and offers the reader references in the appendix to where the information is found in our word today. I am looking forward to the final book with great anticipation!

[MommyTeaches2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely full of adventure and major twists! I listened to the book on Audible and have to give another shout out to Ramon de Ocampo. I always read with accents in my head and attempt to do so when reading to my own children and students. Having the book read aloud by a true master has been such a treat. While I love the idea of having the actual book in my hand, I truly believe de Ocampo brings the book alive in a special way.
Trudi Trueit blends science and adventure again as she takes the reader on all kinds of twists and turns. I like how she keeps the reader second guessing everything from who the Nebula agents are, to where the next cipher piece will be hidden. October 4th cannot get here fast enough. I am so excited to read book #7. In the meantime, I am excited to share this series with my students. I have some reluctant readers that I believe will be completely hooked.

[Beth Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is series is really great for so many reasons. My biggest complaint at this point is that some details become foggy to me because I’ve been reading for so many years. My 11 year old son sat next to me and reread the ending over my should so we could discuss it just as soon as I finished. How can I not love a book like that?!

Major elements of these books is science tech, future tech (some feels probable and some feels far distant), codes, ciphers, puzzles, clues, and so much teamwork and espionage. We love finding the different ciphers hidden among the pages (SO thankful for the clue we found in one of them specifically this time). And the pages of these books are so interesting - full of maps and charts, illustrations and photographs. They are super well done and very fun.

[TenzinNL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Het terracotta leger en de drakenbloed mineraal.

Deel 6 van 7 van de Explorer Academy boekenserie.

Cruz en zijn vrienden proberen in dit deel het 7e deel van de formule te vinden.
Dit gaat wederom niet zonder gevaar, en Nebula heeft zelfs een voorsprong behaald op zoektocht naar het 7e stukje.

Terwijl Cruz uit probeert te vinden wie de Nebula spionnen aan boord van ‘De Orion’, zijn komen er wat onverwachte verdachten in beeld. Maar of ze Zebra en Jaguar echt zijn kom je gaandeweg het boek pas achter.

Gedurende het boek blijf je van de ene verbazing in de andere vallen, uiteindelijk weet je bijna zelf ook niet meer wie je wel of niet kan vertrouwen.

Wederom een leuk en meeslepend verhaal om te lezen.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy plot twists, Batman! This one took me a bit to get into and through after the events of the last book. My heart was not really into it. The joy of adventuring and discovering swept me up though once again. Reading about my favorite characters and traveling along with them was as fascinating as before.

And then...I cannot even write about it. Not for fear of spoilers but because I still cannot wrap my mind around what happened. What in the what?! There is just no way now. And that is all I can really say. Great googly moogly.

[syd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great follow up to the series. I'm reading this series with one of my friends and we both loved this book despite our different tastes in books. We really got to see how far Nebula was willing to go to get Cruz's mom's cipher. We get introduced to a couple new characters and see some familiar faces return. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who wants a unique series with a plot unlike any other.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay . . . just when I thought this series couldn't get any more exciting and intense, this book happens! One of Nebula's spies on 'Orion' is revealed, and though I had my suspicions, being proved correct was only part of the 'whoa-ness' of that particular scene. I've decided that I *need* to finish out the series right away . . . I can't handle too much more of the 'will he/won't he' back and forth for Cruz to find what his mother sent him to find!

[Graceful Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dragon's Blood, by Trudi Trueit was an excellent addition to the Explorer Academy series. Trueit combines history with adventure and mystery in this intriguing series. The mystery surrounding Cruz and his friends continued to deepen, with some things coming into the light, and others slipping deeper into the shadows. I cannot wait for the seventh and final book in the Explorer Academy series!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book brings us across the globe while also exploring themes of trust, collaboration, and friendship. Cannot wait to get a copy of the final book to find out what happens!

And yes, I am an adult who read this entire tween series and loved it. No shame.
My own quote to remember: A good book is a good book.

[Carolina Rodas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome! There are a lot of plot twists and when you pick it up you can't put it down. My favorite character was Emmet because he is very inventive and I like that. What surprised me about this book (*spoiler alert!) is that Emmet is accidentally the spy. I wouldn't change the ending because it leaves me in a cliff hanger and I like cliff hangers.

[Zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible book. Reading it the second time, I would put this as one of the best Explorer Academy books. It has turns and twists, and has a really good storyline. One thing that does bother me (while it may not bother everyone) is Cruz's relationship with Bryndis. It just seems it is pushed a little far for them only being 13. Besides this, I have no notes!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better. So many things are happening, and how it ended, whoa, what is Cruz going to do now.

Yeah, this book took me a long time to read, just wasn't in the mood.

[Will Voskamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, just as exiting as the others.
*Spoiler alert*


Love the suspicion around the piece of the cipher they find. Did the holo journal glitch?! Did nebula put in a fake?! Argh! can't wait to get my hands on the next book

[Boogy · Rating 3 out of 5]

More 3,5 stars rate. It was easy to read through it in like 2 days. There was one plottwist and the others I found very predicting. Nevertheless I still loved it and I’m definitely buying the next one.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

…. Ok, a lot happened and it was super interesting, and I totally called Zebra, but the other twist was a bit much in my opinion, even as I see how fitting it was the entire time. Certain topics just creep me out.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the 6th book in this series. There are twists, surprises, adventure and interesting facts in these stories. The characterization is good, but I would enjoy knowing more about the main characters, in each book. A great read for many ages.

[bear.hare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud.
We’re enjoying this series, and will read the last one soon.
But the author feels the need to describe every detail of everyone’s outfit, and for some reason it drives me nuts, but I’ve gotten pretty good at skimming over it.