Magical Maya

Adventures of Bobby and Eli

Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
116 Pages
Reviewed on 05/01/2012
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Fiona Ingram for Readers' Favorite

Life is never exciting enough for fourteen-year-old Bobby Irukurehc. Part of Bobby’s problem is that his life is already mapped out for him: prep school, Harvard, and then joining the family law firm. Bobby wants something more, something of his own choice. The family is spending time at the archeological campsite at Chich'en Itzá, Mexico, home of the ancient Mayans. Bobby and his younger brother Eli tour the marvellous architectural splendor of the Mayan pyramids. They return to camp and discover, later that night, that Bobby’s beloved watch (a family heirloom) is gone. They return to the site in the middle of the night to look for it. Somehow, they find themselves transported back in time to Chich'en Itzá in the year 1527 AD! Now trapped in another era, and facing a battle with bloodthirsty invaders, the brothers put their historical knowledge to the test to survive. They meet a number of interesting people, some good and noble, some deceitful and self-seeking. When the novelty wears off, Bobby finds he actually wants his old life back, but can they find a way to reverse the fall through time?

This is the best kind of time travel adventure to appeal to young teen readers, especially boys. Author Nick Cherukuri has nicely portrayed the two boys’ different characters: Bobby is responsible and always thinking ahead while happy-go-lucky Eli takes each day as it comes. The brothers face a difficult and potentially dangerous situation, and this brings out their true worth. They learn about another culture, and about life itself, since their new home has demands they would never experience back in their own modern life. The boys face deception and danger and make the right decisions. While there are several historical and cultural inaccuracies, I really enjoyed this book. Filled with action, adventure, and lots of fun facts, this book will appeal to young readers in search of something exciting and different.

Gordon Dempsey

I also very much enjoyed this novel. The book is very fun to read and fast-paced yet slow enough to give the reader a solid understanding of the time and culture of the Mayans. I found that pretty much all the facts were correct and I was able to have a good discussion with my friend who researches Mayans without feeling left behind just by reading this novel. Yes, this book, at 150 pages, is aimed primarily at young adults but I feel anyone can read it and learn a lot about the great civilization of the Mayans. The road to the climax is very enticing and suspenseful- I couldn't put the book down once I got into the meat of it. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who wants to learn about the Mayans and wants to have fun in the process.