Author: J. J. Pritchard 

Publisher:  iUniverse, Inc.

ISBN:  0-595-33674-4

The following review was contributed by:  Emily Shaffer: To read more of Emily's Reviews

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Deep in the heart of 15^th century Peru, a young Incan girl is taken up the highest mountain to pray for the end of a disastrous drought.  At the top, however, she discovers her true fate – to be buried alive as a sacrifice to the gods.  Centuries later, in present-day Peru, adventurer and treasure hunter Jake Morgan accidentally discovers the mummy of the girl.  She is wearing a strange necklace, and later, when Jake inadvertently finds he has one of its stones in his possession, the true adventure, and danger, begins. 

It is discovered that the necklace was made from a rare, highly valuable substance that could potentially prevent global warming, and the Canadian and Peruvian governments convince Jake to head back to Peru to find the hidden source of the substance.  He must also bring his “good-luck” niece Emma and nephew Joel, and must work with an attractive Peruvian historian who has been obsessively searching for the fabled “Seventh Jewel,” and feels no need to work with a fame-and-fortune-seeking treasure hunter.   The odd foursome head deep into the uncharted and dangerous landscapes of Peru in search of the mysterious “jewel,” and what follows is a suspenseful mixture of Indiana Jones-type adventure, romance, history lessons, curses, and the requisite smarmy villain who only cares about the money.

The story is mostly told in the alternating voices of Jake and Emma, a smart, capable teenager who is still coming to terms with her recent arm amputation.  While Pritchard’s writing is fast-paced and his characters multi-layered, one flaw lies in the voice of Emma, a voice which often sounds too similar to that of her 38-year-old uncle and not enough like a 15-year-old girl.  There are segments, too, which sound more like a book’s omniscient narrator then either character telling a story. 

However, young readers will enjoy the brave exploits of Emma and Joel and will certainly learn a great deal about everything from Incan history to satellite technology.  Pritchard peppers his narrative with lessons about Peru and the Inca, usually as explained to Emma and Joel, and he clearly knows his subject matter (there is even a glossary at the end of the book with Incan terminology).   Emma’s optimism in the face of her new handicap may also prove inspirational to some, while perhaps a bit preachy to others.   All told, however, the characters are fun and likable, and the story is suspenseful, educational, and entertaining.