Vision Forty is proud to announce that Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings has won a Bronze Award from Reader's Favorite for Children's Books 4th-6th Grade. See the complete review from Reader's Favorite below!
BOOK REVIEW
Reviewed by Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer) for Readers' Favorite
Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings (Harley James Adventures Book 1) by Leah Cupps is a gripping middle-grade novel following the main character Harley as she tries to track down a missing statue and save the world. When Harley finds one of the statues of the Three Kings of Mayan history and legend, she hopes it will make her dad see that she’s mature enough to explore on her own. Unfortunately, the statue is stolen before she gets the chance to tell him about it, and she soon learns that if that statue is reunited with the other two, it could result in the end of the world. Together with her friend Aly, and Deacon, a boy she’s not sure she can trust, Harley must face her fears and get the statue back before it’s too late.
With strong characters and lots of action, Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings by Leah Cupps is not to be missed. The story is filled with exciting scenes that are sure to keep the reader in suspense, such as when Harley and Aly were almost trapped inside a temple, or when they nearly go over a waterfall. The book is well written, and the first-person narrative gives the reader a chance to get to know Harley, who is a likable and brave character who readers will root for. The occasional illustrations throughout the book are well drawn and enhance the reading experience. The book would be a fun way to learn about the Maya, and I feel I gained a lot by reading it. I found myself hooked from the first page and thoroughly enjoyed the book as a whole. I would certainly recommend it