REVIEW: Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow by James Rollins

Review by Reuben.

‘The man fled down the steep slope of the jungle mountain. His boots slipped in the muck of wet leaves and snagging thorns sought to catch him, but he ripped straight through them. ‘Must not stop...’

This man is Dr. Henry Bethel, Professor of Archaeology at Oxford University. In his hands is a package full of treasures from the ancient Mayan era. He is sending the package to America. Or at least that’s what he wants his pursuers to think. The real package secured via a simple trick, the last thing to do is get home. But the jungle has other ideas...

Jake Ransom is a bit of a geek. Respected by his teachers, resented by his classmates and blanked by his sister, he’s learnt to keep himself to himself. And most of his time is consumed learning about the historical world his parents worked in. After they disappeared three years ago, Jake became obsessed with this world, constantly digging, reading, or explaining stuff to his classmates: or at least he calls them classmates. They’re really class-colleagues, or class-members; because Jake doesn’t really have a mate. It doesn’t bother him much though; all the friends he needs are his books and his fossils.

One day, after an incident at the British museum, Jake and his sister Kady are thrown into a world of madness, with people of different eras living alongside each other. With the residents having their own problems, Jake and Kady aren’t exactly helping matters, and they must get home. 

I would recommend this book for children aged 10+. It’s a great storyline with twists and turns on every page, a real thriller. I would also recommend this book to fantasy lovers, and fans of historical fiction. Things like Harry Potter, and the Ramses series by Christian Jacq, would fit in the same bracket as this book.

I loved this book and hopefully others will too.

Review by Reuben, aged 11

With huge thanks from everyone at Chicklish

Comments

[Alexandra]

Great review, sounds very exciting!

[Sophie]

This sounds like a twisty, exciting book. Great review, Reuben!

[Nina]

Sounds like a great book to read. Thanks for the recommendation. I love historical fiction, so this would be great!

[reuben]

thanks for the comments.