Jake Atlas and the Tomb of the Emerald Snake (Jake Atlas #1)

Adventure, high-tech gadgetry, family quarrels and ancient Egyptian mythology are all packed into this fast- paced book by Rob Lloyd Jones, author of the Wild Boy books. Jake Atlas and the Tomb of the Emerald Snake is the first in a series about Jake Atlas and his family of treasure hunters.

Trouble maker Jake and his genius sister Pandora are dragged along on a family vacation to Egypt by their boring, academic parents. No one gets along and Jake’s parents are at the end of their tether when they suddenly go missing, leaving Jake and Pan alone in Cairo. That’s when things go crazy and Jake and Pan find themselves caught up helping a treasure hunter steal an ancient papyrus scroll bearing a clue to a lost tomb containing a mummy that the evil snake guys who kidnapped their parents want for their safe return – whew!

The author says he came up with the idea after he watched a Mission Impossible movie right after an Indiana Jones movie and this influence definitely shines through. What sets this book apart from others in this genre though, is the inclusion of family. Many other action/adventure/quest type books ditch the parents from the start, but here they have a distinct role. It kinda reminds me of the Spy Kids movies which my own kids love.

I liked Jake’s character as a kid who trusts his instincts under pressure, and learns to harness his strengths even when in the past it has caused him grief. And while Pan is more wooden as the brainiac, I liked her inclusion and the book’s family feel.

The writing is entertaining and I enjoyed the typical action jokes and farcical situations. But I have to admit there were a few times where it was difficult to suspend my disbelief. Although I guess this just goes with the genre, where it’s all about escape from the seemly inescapable and where strong motivations for doing crazy things are often glossed over as in — “Sure, I see no problem with putting my head in this dark, cob-web covered hole that’s emitting hissing noises”…

All this makes Jake Atlas the perfect book for kids who enjoy fast-paced adventure stories with some myth and history thrown in. A light, entertaining read, it delivers what it promises.