Operation Red Jericho: The Guild of Specialists, Book 1
By Matt Berman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Top-notch, rip-roaring adventure with fantasy violence.
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What's the Story?
In 1920, 15-year-old Becca and her 13-year-old brother Doug have had behavior problems since their parents disappeared a year ago. They have been expelled from several schools and bounced from relative to relative. Now they are sent to Shanghai to stay with their Uncle Fitzroy MacKenzie, captain of the research ship Expedient. But Capt. MacKenzie's ship holds many secrets, not least of which are the torpedo tubes and two powerful hidden naval guns on hydraulic lifts. Soon the siblings are literally up to their eyeballs (you'll have to read the book to find out how that can be literal) in an adventure involving vicious 20th century pirates, kidnappings, murder, gadgets, explosives, and a centuries-old secret society of which their parents may have been a part.
Is It Any Good?
This mystery/adventure is a delightful mix of Jules Verne, Tom Swift, and Sherlock Holmes. It combines swordfighting, exotic locales, lots of science and pseudo-science, photos, maps, appendices, and nonstop excitement, all making for a rich and stimulating reading experience. Purporting to be from a secret underground archive found when the author's great-aunt -- who was the young girl of the story -- died and left him her house, it boasts an incredible level of detail and extras. They show a devotion to the creation of this fictional society that borders on the obsessive. From the moment you pick up this book, it is purely enjoyable – the kind of plain, old-fashioned literary fun you rarely see nowadays.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fantasy violence. Is it different than violence that takes place in a more realistic setting?
It may be fun to think about other kids who save the day -- like Alex Rider or the kids in The Mysterious Benedict Society. What do these kids have in common? What is appealing about these stories?
Book Details
- Author: Joshua Mowll
- Genre: Adventure
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Candlewick Press
- Publication date: October 19, 2005
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 14
- Number of pages: 271
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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