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Choose Your Own Adventure #11
Mystery of the Maya
You are in Mexico. You've come to explore the ruins of the ancient and mysterious Mayan Indians, whose civilization disappeared 800 years ago. Many before you have tried to solve the mystery, but no one has succeeded. Now you have the chance to find out what really happened. Will you drink the magic time potion? Classic Choose Your Own Adventure.
134 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
15 people are currently reading
503 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Montgomery
156 books121 followersRaymond A. Montgomery (born 1936 in Connecticut) was an author and progenitor of the classic Choose Your Own Adventure interactive children's book series, which ran from 1979 to 2003. Montgomery graduated from Williams College and went to graduate school at Yale University and New York University (NYU). He devoted his life to teaching and education.
In 2004, he co-founded the Chooseco publishing company alongside his wife, fellow author/publisher Shannon Gilligan, with the goal of reviving the CYOA series with new novels and reissued editions of the classics.
He continued to write and publish until his death in 2014.
In 2004, he co-founded the Chooseco publishing company alongside his wife, fellow author/publisher Shannon Gilligan, with the goal of reviving the CYOA series with new novels and reissued editions of the classics.
He continued to write and publish until his death in 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 14, 2022
I managed to come across this little gem in a used bookstore. It's copy of the originally published version from 1981. Lucky me!
I do distinctly remember Mystery of the Maya as a mainstay in the large pile of these books I had as a kid. Looking at it, and reading it again as an adult, I am struck by little passages I recall reading on a plaid woven cover couch as a kid. The illustrations have an atmospheric vibe, and perhaps even a bit scary at the time considering that "you" in this story were putting yourself in danger.
Reading it now, it was wild. It had so many different directions with all these wild and crazy ways for the story to turn out. It's got stuff like You name. It was pretty cool.
Another thing I noticed that distinguishes this one from some of the newer ones Chooseco is putting out. 44 endings! 44! The newer ones I have gotten have some with more endings, but most of the ones I have hover around the 20s. One has only 16. I think these books benefit from having more endings. It gives them a much better re-readability.
I do distinctly remember Mystery of the Maya as a mainstay in the large pile of these books I had as a kid. Looking at it, and reading it again as an adult, I am struck by little passages I recall reading on a plaid woven cover couch as a kid. The illustrations have an atmospheric vibe, and perhaps even a bit scary at the time considering that "you" in this story were putting yourself in danger.
Reading it now, it was wild. It had so many different directions with all these wild and crazy ways for the story to turn out. It's got stuff like You name. It was pretty cool.
Another thing I noticed that distinguishes this one from some of the newer ones Chooseco is putting out. 44 endings! 44! The newer ones I have gotten have some with more endings, but most of the ones I have hover around the 20s. One has only 16. I think these books benefit from having more endings. It gives them a much better re-readability.
February 29, 2016
After completing several rounds of the Mystery of the Maya, I believe that this was a very nicely made book. I enjoyed choosing between different life-threatening choices, and seeing what would happen to me if I time traveled to the Mayan times. Each path would lead to very exhilarating choices, which would cause interesting endings. You could never expect what would happen! My only complaint is that there wasn't really a good ending out of the endings I got so it felt like I didn't stand any chance getting a good "The End." But it was still a great book!
I would recommend this book for ages 10+, just for "violence's sake" since it does talk about human sacrifices and your blood dripping off an altar... which I still consider gruesome! But the word choice is fairly simple, with occasion of a complicated word (but rarely)
I would recommend this book for ages 10+, just for "violence's sake" since it does talk about human sacrifices and your blood dripping off an altar... which I still consider gruesome! But the word choice is fairly simple, with occasion of a complicated word (but rarely)
January 21, 2019
Voltei a este formato de livros apenas para poder analisar melhor as técnicas e o design por detrás das escolhas oferecidas ao leitor. Para quem não conhece, "Mystery of the Maya" pertence a uma série que dá pelo nome de "Escolha a Sua Própria Aventura" criada por Edward Packard, que consiste em fazer desenrolar uma aventura base que se diversifica por meio de escolhas conducentes a uma miríade de diferentes desenlaces. O leitor é personagem da própria história e as decisões do personagem são as suas.
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Continuar a ler, com links e imagens, no blog:
https://virtual-illusion.blogspot.com...
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Continuar a ler, com links e imagens, no blog:
https://virtual-illusion.blogspot.com...
July 15, 2016
Honestly, I probably shouldn't give it more than 4 stars. But this was one of my two absolute favorite choose your own adventure books when I was little, and I must've read it a million times. So, 5 stars from my 9-year-old self.
January 11, 2015
I was obsessed with this book when I was very young! The Ashburton library had a lot of choose-your-own-adventures, but for some reason this was the only one I liked. Even if I did die EVERY SINGLE TIME.
November 5, 2018
Intrepid kid investigator gets himself and his friends killed. Bravo, my lad. Bravo.
September 6, 2016
For this one, I made an attempt at crowdsourcing. I posted the decision points on a forum and asked people to help make the right decisions.
The story is about a dude who disappeared while doing some kind of reporting on Mayan temples.
So you go to check things out, you meet the requisite creepy guide who seems to know more than he's letting on, and you immediately stumble on some kind of transporter beam taking people to a space ship.
You go into the beam, and here's what the text says:
Gaining confidence, you step into the transporter beam and are carried up into the spacecraft. You hear nothing as you shoot up and away into the far reaches of the universe, to the planet Merganatic and the great Congress on Intergalactic Life. You wonder why the Mayan sites were chosen as contact points. Their brutal and complex society seems an odd choice for other planets. Who knows what lies ahead?
THE END
Okay. So in this "adventure" you make a few choices about which sites to check for your missing friend, then you go into a SPACESHIP, and that's the end of the story.
Let me say that again. The story ENDS when you go into a spaceship and things get exciting and cool.
There was this thing Kurt Vonnegut said about writing, that you should start your stories as close to the end as possible. In a way, this story succeeded AND failed. Yes, it didn't take long to get to the ending. But at the same time, I feel like the thing we're calling the ending is really the beginning in this case.
I didn't die. I also solved the mystery of the Maya, or A mystery of the Maya, I guess. But it was unsatisfying, to say the least. This book, it's like if Star Wars started where it did, and then ended when the group decided to go and save Leia. You go through all the boring stuff, the moving characters around stuff, and just when it gets good, that's when it's like, "And then, what happened after that? Who knows? Use your imagination!"
Oh, I should also mention the cardinal sin, this book starts with an "It Was Only A Dream" moment. So it's not that the whole story is bad, just the beginning AND the ending, and the stuff in the middle.
The story is about a dude who disappeared while doing some kind of reporting on Mayan temples.
So you go to check things out, you meet the requisite creepy guide who seems to know more than he's letting on, and you immediately stumble on some kind of transporter beam taking people to a space ship.
You go into the beam, and here's what the text says:
Gaining confidence, you step into the transporter beam and are carried up into the spacecraft. You hear nothing as you shoot up and away into the far reaches of the universe, to the planet Merganatic and the great Congress on Intergalactic Life. You wonder why the Mayan sites were chosen as contact points. Their brutal and complex society seems an odd choice for other planets. Who knows what lies ahead?
THE END
Okay. So in this "adventure" you make a few choices about which sites to check for your missing friend, then you go into a SPACESHIP, and that's the end of the story.
Let me say that again. The story ENDS when you go into a spaceship and things get exciting and cool.
There was this thing Kurt Vonnegut said about writing, that you should start your stories as close to the end as possible. In a way, this story succeeded AND failed. Yes, it didn't take long to get to the ending. But at the same time, I feel like the thing we're calling the ending is really the beginning in this case.
I didn't die. I also solved the mystery of the Maya, or A mystery of the Maya, I guess. But it was unsatisfying, to say the least. This book, it's like if Star Wars started where it did, and then ended when the group decided to go and save Leia. You go through all the boring stuff, the moving characters around stuff, and just when it gets good, that's when it's like, "And then, what happened after that? Who knows? Use your imagination!"
Oh, I should also mention the cardinal sin, this book starts with an "It Was Only A Dream" moment. So it's not that the whole story is bad, just the beginning AND the ending, and the stuff in the middle.
June 23, 2011
The book I'm going to review is MYSTERY OF THE MAYA. The author is R.A. Montgomery. This book is fiction of the readers making. In other words, it is a chose-your-own-ending piece of fiction.
The main characters are Manuel and I, as a young teenage girl. In the start of the story I'm a reporter who has to write about why the Mayans disappeared. I begin the story by taking a plane to Mexico where I met Manuel, the guide. My first choice was to go straight to the Mayan ruins,but i asked Manuel to take me to Dr.Lopez where he gave me a potion that took me back in time.
One problem was that the Mayan priest had killed me by sacrificing me to there gods. I did like this book because it told me the way the Mayan sacrificed people. So the gods could make it rain.
I would recommend this book to Dianny because she has family in EL Salvador.
The main characters are Manuel and I, as a young teenage girl. In the start of the story I'm a reporter who has to write about why the Mayans disappeared. I begin the story by taking a plane to Mexico where I met Manuel, the guide. My first choice was to go straight to the Mayan ruins,but i asked Manuel to take me to Dr.Lopez where he gave me a potion that took me back in time.
One problem was that the Mayan priest had killed me by sacrificing me to there gods. I did like this book because it told me the way the Mayan sacrificed people. So the gods could make it rain.
I would recommend this book to Dianny because she has family in EL Salvador.
December 6, 2007
everyone should read this book
it has alot to do with mexico
and alot of stuff it can't always tell u
about how the maya dispear
it has alot to do with mexico
and alot of stuff it can't always tell u
about how the maya dispear
April 6, 2025
Welp... I made three decisions and hit The End.
I WILL BE BACK TO SAVE TOM!
(This was incredibly fun!! Like a hand-held, not digital, RPG!)
I WILL BE BACK TO SAVE TOM!
(This was incredibly fun!! Like a hand-held, not digital, RPG!)
March 3, 2025
One of the longest original Choose Your Own Adventure books at one hundred thirty-four pages, Mystery of the Maya boasts forty-four endings, tied for most in the series. You are researching the Mayas of old Mexico, a cultural superpower that died out long ago. The reason for their demise is unknown, but you hope to write a book on the subject. Your plane lands in Merida, capital city of the Yucatan, where you are met by a guide, Manuel. He recommends you consult Dr. Lopez, an expert on the Mayas, but if you're eager to be on your way you can head straight to the architectural sites. Which will it be?
Bypassing Dr. Lopez, you and Manuel might go to the Temple of the Magicians at Uxmal. Steer clear of scammers and you'll receive a note demanding you go to the Nunnery across the way. Notifying the police is an iffy prospect; you might be jailed yourself, or roped into acting as a government plant to inform on the Red Hand gang. If you went to the Nunnery before getting the note, a message requests you come to the Hotel Maya. It's a sting operation, and bad news for you. Maybe you went to Chichen Itza instead of Uxmal; there you encounter a spacecraft. Manuel encourages you to join the aliens voyaging to a distant planet, but you may never return. Hop aboard the ship and you'll hurtle to sectors of the universe beyond human conception, but is it worth the life you're giving up?
Meeting with Dr. Lopez leads a much different way. His time travel potion sends you back 1,500 years to meet the Mayas at the Temple of the Magicians. Should you try to blend in as a priest, or warrior? The priests demand you join in their human sacrifices, but you can run away to the town of Kabah and set sail on the sea. At an island you land on, a devastating plague is spreading. Will you risk your life and stand up to the priests, who scoff at modern ideas about disease control? You might instead travel to Cuba; spending the rest of your life here is appealing, but what if Dr. Lopez's potion wears off? If you never ran from the priests, you’ll be required to sacrifice a human, but maybe Manuel will yank you back to the present day. You could also rally the people to overthrow the barbaric priests. Perhaps you're better off among the warriors; they let you stay in Chichen Itza, but they play a sport that has death as consequence for losing. If that's not a risk you're prepared for, you can hunt jaguar. You might stumble onto a priceless artifact called the Plumed Serpent, or meet an alien named Cruzora. If you're captured by Toltecs, they obsess over killing the Mayas, but there are ways to turn the situation in your favor. Whatever path you choose, take time to observe the culture you're in. That's why you’re here in the first place.
Mystery of the Maya is a subpar book. Certain pivots of the narrative are bizarre and uncalled for, the decisions you make are often ignored by the text, and occasionally R.A. Montgomery doesn't bother to write an ending at all, instead just explaining what would happen in it if he had. These are problems similar to Space and Beyond but without any of the intriguing concepts. The people in Richard Anderson's illustrations look strange, distorted, but he's good at rendering scenes. One or two endings show impressive internal continuity, but I'm not sure that's enough to bump Mystery of the Maya to one and a half stars. It's worst of the first eleven Choose Your Own Adventures.
Bypassing Dr. Lopez, you and Manuel might go to the Temple of the Magicians at Uxmal. Steer clear of scammers and you'll receive a note demanding you go to the Nunnery across the way. Notifying the police is an iffy prospect; you might be jailed yourself, or roped into acting as a government plant to inform on the Red Hand gang. If you went to the Nunnery before getting the note, a message requests you come to the Hotel Maya. It's a sting operation, and bad news for you. Maybe you went to Chichen Itza instead of Uxmal; there you encounter a spacecraft. Manuel encourages you to join the aliens voyaging to a distant planet, but you may never return. Hop aboard the ship and you'll hurtle to sectors of the universe beyond human conception, but is it worth the life you're giving up?
Meeting with Dr. Lopez leads a much different way. His time travel potion sends you back 1,500 years to meet the Mayas at the Temple of the Magicians. Should you try to blend in as a priest, or warrior? The priests demand you join in their human sacrifices, but you can run away to the town of Kabah and set sail on the sea. At an island you land on, a devastating plague is spreading. Will you risk your life and stand up to the priests, who scoff at modern ideas about disease control? You might instead travel to Cuba; spending the rest of your life here is appealing, but what if Dr. Lopez's potion wears off? If you never ran from the priests, you’ll be required to sacrifice a human, but maybe Manuel will yank you back to the present day. You could also rally the people to overthrow the barbaric priests. Perhaps you're better off among the warriors; they let you stay in Chichen Itza, but they play a sport that has death as consequence for losing. If that's not a risk you're prepared for, you can hunt jaguar. You might stumble onto a priceless artifact called the Plumed Serpent, or meet an alien named Cruzora. If you're captured by Toltecs, they obsess over killing the Mayas, but there are ways to turn the situation in your favor. Whatever path you choose, take time to observe the culture you're in. That's why you’re here in the first place.
Mystery of the Maya is a subpar book. Certain pivots of the narrative are bizarre and uncalled for, the decisions you make are often ignored by the text, and occasionally R.A. Montgomery doesn't bother to write an ending at all, instead just explaining what would happen in it if he had. These are problems similar to Space and Beyond but without any of the intriguing concepts. The people in Richard Anderson's illustrations look strange, distorted, but he's good at rendering scenes. One or two endings show impressive internal continuity, but I'm not sure that's enough to bump Mystery of the Maya to one and a half stars. It's worst of the first eleven Choose Your Own Adventures.
January 28, 2019
I used to really love these as a kid. You got to decide what happens and if you die you can come back again and try something else. There is definitely an attraction to them.
My issue with this one is that it was very inconsistent in places. For example in one case you get the treasure yourself and it is not there, but you get help and it is. Tom appears to be either dead, in the past or in the future. Regardless of the path shouldn't he be in the same spot? There is no explanation for this. Maybe they all had these inconsistencies and I am only noticing it now because I am an adult.
My issue with this one is that it was very inconsistent in places. For example in one case you get the treasure yourself and it is not there, but you get help and it is. Tom appears to be either dead, in the past or in the future. Regardless of the path shouldn't he be in the same spot? There is no explanation for this. Maybe they all had these inconsistencies and I am only noticing it now because I am an adult.
June 21, 2019
From time travel to evil gangs and revolutions, this one was very exiting and the outcomes are very different from each other.
September 21, 2025
Found this little throwback did a few paths and had a blast but oh my god no way this version of Mayan life was published
September 2, 2024
39 endings… I wanted to get ALL of them. The Choose Your Own Adventure series as a whole just makes me want to find every way you can finish your story. What could possibly go wrong, right? Well, as Mystery of the Maya shows, there’s a lot at stake. The endings in question range from making you feel good after making the right choice, to hilariously anticlimactic with an unfortunate fate awaiting you or your buddy, to outright gruesome - and that’s just the beauty of it. The trick behind every Choose Your Own Adventure - that is, how all these wild twists can start from the same events, with the reader’s whim dictating the story’s course - is still so novel to me. Mystery of the Maya is the quintessential iteration of this daunting series.
February 11, 2015
Okay, I'll admit, I indulged with this. It took me back to leisure reading I did as a 10 year old. I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I will admit to an overwhelming feeling of silliness as I read it. Seemed wrong. LOL.
I did the book 3 times or had three "adventures". On the first one I learned a bit about the Mayan civilization and was killed by a Toltec arrow. The second adventure was Independence Day done Mayan style and in the third I was a klutz and nearly died. All in all, a ridiculous experiment.
I did the book 3 times or had three "adventures". On the first one I learned a bit about the Mayan civilization and was killed by a Toltec arrow. The second adventure was Independence Day done Mayan style and in the third I was a klutz and nearly died. All in all, a ridiculous experiment.
July 14, 2013
Mystery of the Maya
Written by R.A Montgomery
Time:7/9=6min
7words
Maya-lost-friend-adventure-time travel-warrior-fight
Discussion Question
If you were to have to fight as a warrior, can you do it?
In my case, I can't do it because I can't kill people even I have to do. Maybe I will escape from it.
This book can make our own stories. We can choose our own adventure. It was exciting. Actually, I tried to read it many times. I didn't like that story, but I can enjoy my adventure.
Written by R.A Montgomery
Time:7/9=6min
7words
Maya-lost-friend-adventure-time travel-warrior-fight
Discussion Question
If you were to have to fight as a warrior, can you do it?
In my case, I can't do it because I can't kill people even I have to do. Maybe I will escape from it.
This book can make our own stories. We can choose our own adventure. It was exciting. Actually, I tried to read it many times. I didn't like that story, but I can enjoy my adventure.
December 7, 2011
Book was pretty good. i read it a few times. And every time it seemed to have a different story then I remember the time before. Not many books can have that effect on me. I think it's a great book. But you should only read it once if you liked it. If you think it sucked try to read it again. I bet you you will have a different view the second, third or fourth time.
May 30, 2016
Okay, so these books are definitely for an older audience than my three-year-old. But, my daughter really enjoyed the unique format. She enjoyed choosing what to do next. I glossed over some of the more violent themes (and did some serious add-lib), but overall, this was a fun read-aloud.
I remember adoring these as a child. Highly recommended.
I remember adoring these as a child. Highly recommended.
January 18, 2024
This book is a “Chooseco” book and was recommended by a local librarian. It’s a “choose your own adventure” book and I read it for a bookstore book challenge.
Awesome book for children! You choose your own ending by making choices at the bottom of almost every page. There are 39 possible endings.
Highly recommend for children who love to read!!!
Awesome book for children! You choose your own ending by making choices at the bottom of almost every page. There are 39 possible endings.
Highly recommend for children who love to read!!!
January 20, 2016
Go to the next page if you love making your own decisions about how the plot develops in a book! These are excellent read alouds for the classroom too! The author made the effort to make the Mayan world depicted historically accurate.
January 18, 2017
Cuman pikiran iseng, kalau buku ini cetul saat heboh ttg kalender bangsa Maya, kira-kira bakalan laris manis ngak ya. Maklum judulnya sudah sangat jelas menyebutkan tentang bangsa Maya, dan seringnya orang latah memburu segala hal yang dianggap jadi topik hangat alias kekinian.
March 28, 2024
I loved this book growing up and I would read it again. Each time I chose and new thing it's like I get to experience it in real life and in my point of view. The characters were amazing and so was the writting.
July 29, 2008
Another 'Choose your own adventure', this time its a Mayan mystery, hope you don't die on your first try!!
January 23, 2009
I only give it two stars because I KEEP DYING!!! No matter what I choose, no matter what I do, I die somehow! Not cool!
April 15, 2009
This one ROCKS!
March 11, 2012
chose your own adventure...
December 31, 2013
I liked this book since it was very cool. My favorite ending is when I drew a yellow straw which made me leader of the Mayan civilization.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2013
Have read multiple "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. Love them all, great for kids.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews