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Title: Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow
Score:
Author: James Rollins
Rating: Not available
Hits: 97

Review of Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow

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Comments for Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow

• Posted on 2009-09-22
  This is definitely a series to jump into and start enjoying right away
  
  Jake Ransom can't wait to start vacation from his middle school. He definitely has more important things to do, like find out what really happened to his mom and dad. Three years earlier, his parents had been on an ancient artifact dig in Central America when their camp was attacked. Believed dead, Jake and his older sister, Kady, mourn them every day. An envelope arrived a few weeks after the attack containing the last gift their parents would give --- two halves of an ancient coin --- which Jake and Kady wear around their necks to remember them.
  
  But Jake is determined to find out what really happened in that remote camp three years ago, and to do that, he decides he must become as much like his parents as he can. So Jake studies everything they studied, learns about archaeology and anthropology, biology and more. And he is thrilled when the mysterious invitation arrives, inviting him and Kady to the opening exhibit of the artifacts found by his parents three years ago. But neither he nor Kady could possibly guess the adventure into which they were about to stumble.
  
  One of the artifacts at the exhibit is a replica of a pyramid. And on that pyramid is an indentation that just happens to match the two coin halves Jake and Kady wear around their necks. They try placing them in the pyramid, and without warning, they are transported into a strange place filled with fascinating history and lost civilizations, plenty of adventure and danger, and new friends. In the process of trying to find a way home, Jake and Kady even discover a clue to their parents' disappearance. But before they can piece together any plans, the evil Skull King discovers a way to penetrate the city's defenses and attacks with his army of terrifying grackyls. And the Skull King's ransom demands? He wants the city to hand over Jake and Kady into his clutches.
  
  Bestselling author James Rollins introduces an outstanding new series and an amazing new hero in Jake Ransom. He is quoted as saying, "For Jake, I saved my wildest and best adventure of all." And he is true to his word. Prepare to join Jake on a fast-paced, mind-boggling, heart-pounding thrill ride filled with history, monsters, battles, evil bad guys and, most importantly, family and friends. Jake is likable right from the start, with his energy and enthusiasm, kind heart, courage to be himself, and unquenchable thirst for knowledge and adventure. The pages are refreshingly short of the verbs "was" and "were," and instead are filled with powerful action verbs and colorfully vivid descriptions. Rollins keeps the pages turning with cliffhangers and mysterious clues.
  
  This is definitely a series to jump into and start enjoying right away. Fans will be excited to know that Jake's next adventure, JAKE RANSOM AND THE HOWLING SPHINX, is in the works.
  
  --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman
  
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• Posted on 2009-09-22
  A Fast-Paced, Mind-Boggling, Heart-Pounding Thrill Ride
  
  Jake Ransom can't wait to start vacation from his middle school. He definitely has more important things to do, like find out what really happened to his mom and dad. Three years earlier, his parents had been on an ancient artifact dig in Central America when their camp was attacked. Believed dead, Jake and his older sister, Kady, mourn them every day. An envelope arrived a few weeks after the attack containing the last gift their parents would give --- two halves of an ancient coin --- which Jake and Kady wear around their necks to remember them.
  
  But Jake is determined to find out what really happened in that remote camp three years ago, and to do that, he decides he must become as much like his parents as he can. So Jake studies everything they studied, learns about archaeology and anthropology, biology and more. And he is thrilled when the mysterious invitation arrives, inviting him and Kady to the opening exhibit of the artifacts found by his parents three years ago. But neither he nor Kady could possibly guess the adventure into which they were about to stumble.
  
  One of the artifacts at the exhibit is a replica of a pyramid. And on that pyramid is an indentation that just happens to match the two coin halves Jake and Kady wear around their necks. They try placing them in the pyramid, and without warning, they are transported into a strange place filled with fascinating history and lost civilizations, plenty of adventure and danger, and new friends. In the process of trying to find a way home, Jake and Kady even discover a clue to their parents' disappearance. But before they can piece together any plans, the evil Skull King discovers a way to penetrate the city's defenses and attacks with his army of terrifying grackyls. And the Skull King's ransom demands? He wants the city to hand over Jake and Kady into his clutches.
  
  Bestselling author James Rollins introduces an outstanding new series and an amazing new hero in Jake Ransom. He is quoted as saying, "For Jake, I saved my wildest and best adventure of all." And he is true to his word. Prepare to join Jake on a fast-paced, mind-boggling, heart-pounding thrill ride filled with history, monsters, battles, evil bad guys and, most importantly, family and friends. Jake is likable right from the start, with his energy and enthusiasm, kind heart, courage to be himself, and unquenchable thirst for knowledge and adventure. The pages are refreshingly short of the verbs "was" and "were," and instead are filled with powerful action verbs and colorfully vivid descriptions. Rollins keeps the pages turning with cliffhangers and mysterious clues.
  
  This is definitely a series to jump into and start enjoying right away. Fans will be excited to know that Jake's next adventure, JAKE RANSOM AND THE HOWLING SPHINX, is in the works.
  
  --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman
  
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• Posted on 2009-09-18
  New and Different!
  
  When I first started reading this book it struck me as something for a young reader, but then, after the first few pages, I found I couldn't put it down! What a great, new, exciting read! Keep them coming James. You are definitely one of my favorite authors!
  
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• Posted on 2009-09-15
  A Cliffhanger
  
  Reviewed by Ben Hartman (age 11) for Reader Views (9/09)
  
  "Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow" by James Rollins was a terrific fantasy book. This book is fantasy because it involves fantasy creatures, such as grackyls and sting tails. It takes place in two different worlds, the real world and an ancient world filled with long lost tribes. The second world has not a trace of modern technology. Jake and Kady Ransom, brother and sister, are the main characters. Jake is brave and curious while Kady is the opposite, self-centered and ignorant.
  
  The adventure all started when Jake and Kady received tickets in the mail to their missing parents' exhibition at the British Museum. Their parents were famous archeologists who disappeared while on an excavation. When they got to the museum, the two got some time to look around before anyone else entered the exhibit. Almost immediately, Jake noticed something. In the golden pyramid his parents had discovered, there was a hole. Jake's fingers went to his neck had he grasped the half of a Mayan coin hanging there. He called Kady over to get the two halves together and put the coin in the hole inside the pyramid. Suddenly, everything went black and they appeared in a jungle filled with prehistoric creatures. Seconds later, two kids ran by and saved Jake and Kady from a t-rex and brought them to a city protected from the animals and filled with long lost tribes. Jake and Kady quickly realize there is a problem in this ancient world. The Skull King is an evil person trying to take over the city. Can Jake and Kady help save the city and find out what happened to their parents?
  
  I highly recommend "Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow" by James Rollins because it was enthralling and left me hanging for the next book in the series. I was left wondering if Jake and Kady would go back to the prehistoric world and try to find out what really happened to their parents. I recommend this book to kids ages 9-12 that like adventure stories. Personally, I plan to go out and get the second book in the series to see what happens.
  
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• Posted on 2009-08-16
  Fun
  
  This was a fun book to read. I can't wait until my nieces and nephews are old enough to read this book.
  
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