Hoping that the mysterious Okalu tribe may be able to decipher the undecipherable treasure map in his mind, 13-year-old Egg travels over seas and through jungles to find them, having only just evaded a painful death in the less dark Deadweather and Sunrise (2012). He is accompanied by his sidekick, Guts, who is fluent at cusswords in made-up languages; Millicent, his unrequited love whose evil father supports slave trading; and some characters new to the series. There are pirates and dangers galore and plenty of grossness and surprises. With such an able hero and entertaining narrator as Egg, readers will hope that the adventure continues.

Crossing an ocean, navigating a foreign city, and slashing through a jungle, Egg--along with eclectic friends Guts, Millicent, and Kira--hustles to find an ancient treasure using a map he committed to memory (maybe). Family problems and romantic worries provide additional layers. Rodkey employs a lightly comic touch along with indefatigable adventure in this new volume of Egg's chronicles.

The second installment of the Chronicles of Egg delivers more danger, diabolical plots and dastardly villains than the first, and that's saying a lot. A few short weeks after teenagers Egg and Guts arrive via pirate ship in Cartage, supposed home of the treasure they seek, they are kidnapped by enemies. Lucky for them, they are soon rescued by Millicent--Egg's love interest and daughter of evil Roger Pembroke, who is also trying to find the treasure in hopes that it will enable him to rule the world--and Kira, new friend to Egg and Guts and member of the Okalu tribe to whom the treasure once belonged. The four spunky teens trek deep into the wilderness in search of an Okalu elder to help them translate the treasure map that Egg carries only in his memory. Along the way, there is bartering for supplies, severe illness, bickering and good-natured fun until the group is captured by Moku--enemies of the Okalu and Pembroke conspirators--and Egg discovers that his family, whom he thought murdered by Pembroke, is still alive, if not for long. Egg's narration, fresh and funny as ever, keeps readers engaged with the increasingly complicated plot. Occasionally gruesome, often funny and full of suspense, this one is sure to win Egg some new fans. (Adventure. 10-14)

Gr 5-8 Rodkey continues the story of two reluctant heroes that began in Deadweather and Sunrise (Putnam, 2012). Following the death of his parents at the hands of Roger Pembroke, Egg and his friend, Guts, have set across the Blue Sea to the New Lands in search of the treasure of the Fire King. Helping the boys along the way are Millicent, the girl Egg is in love with and the daughter of Roger Pembroke himself, and Kira, a local from an ancient and mysterious tribe that may hold the secret to the treasure. Before they can find it, though, Egg and his companions will have to find a way to escape the many dangers that confront them. This fun title is sure to please adventure fans. The text is accessible, moves at an exciting pace, and always keeps readers guessing as to what will come next. Fans of the first book will definitely want the opportunity to continue the story. Ryan F. Paulsen, New Rochelle High School, NY