By Trudi Strain Trueit
Published by Under the Stars, January, 2021 (a National Geographic imprint)
Review
I don't know how Trueit does it, but The Tiger's Nest is just as exciting and innovative as the first book in the Explorer Academy series.
Picking up with Cuz's endeavor to find the missing pieces of a cipher his deceased mother secreted around the globe, readers journey to the Taj Mahal and to a temple high in the Himalayas. Tense action and inscrutable clues keep the reader in suspense as Cruz and his friends grapple with enemies, riddles, and schoolwork. Readers will be satisfied to learn the answers to questions that arose in previous books (to some extent, anyway – the mystery is not fully unravelled by a long shot). As in the previous books, the science fiction is just out of today's reach, and therefore unquestionably believable. Back matter explains the inspiration for the tech.
I don't know how Trueit does it, but The Tiger's Nest is just as exciting and innovative as the first book in the Explorer Academy series.
Picking up with Cuz's endeavor to find the missing pieces of a cipher his deceased mother secreted around the globe, readers journey to the Taj Mahal and to a temple high in the Himalayas. Tense action and inscrutable clues keep the reader in suspense as Cruz and his friends grapple with enemies, riddles, and schoolwork. Readers will be satisfied to learn the answers to questions that arose in previous books (to some extent, anyway – the mystery is not fully unravelled by a long shot). As in the previous books, the science fiction is just out of today's reach, and therefore unquestionably believable. Back matter explains the inspiration for the tech.
The characters of Cruz and his teammates continue to develop authentically, including a budding romance. It is the personal storylines that shine in this fifth installment of the exploration series – the characters' real-life problems, mistakes, and corrections will resonate with middle-grade readers. Cruz discovers that villainous Nebula has a spy amongst Cruz's friends, which tests the bonds so recently forged. As much an adventure novel as one of friendship, The Tiger's Nest is driven both by plot and character, cementing the reader's investment in the characters at this stage in the series.
The Explorer Academy series is one I recommend and would buy as a gift for young readers if I knew any the right age. Kindergarten is still too young to appreciate the ingenuity of the world and understand the subtleties of social criticism. I've left my review spoiler-free on purpose. If you/your reader like(s) Alex Rider or Harry Potter or James Bond, this is a series for you. I, for one, can't wait for The Dragon's Blood.
Extra: Bonus Explorer Academy content at National Geographic.
Book 1: The Nebula Secret
Book 2: The Falcon's Feather
Book 3: The Double Helix
Book 4: The Star Dunes
Note: A review copy was provided upon request for the purpose of this honest review.
The Explorer Academy series is one I recommend and would buy as a gift for young readers if I knew any the right age. Kindergarten is still too young to appreciate the ingenuity of the world and understand the subtleties of social criticism. I've left my review spoiler-free on purpose. If you/your reader like(s) Alex Rider or Harry Potter or James Bond, this is a series for you. I, for one, can't wait for The Dragon's Blood.
Extra: Bonus Explorer Academy content at National Geographic.
Book 1: The Nebula Secret
Book 2: The Falcon's Feather
Book 3: The Double Helix
Book 4: The Star Dunes
Note: A review copy was provided upon request for the purpose of this honest review.
Comments
Post a Comment