Review by Booklist Review
Still hot on the trail of the relics forming Copernicus' world-altering time machine, Wade, Becca, Lily, Darrell, and Roald continue their travels, breaking codes, solving clues, and evading the dangerous Order of Teutonic Knights. After a rendezvous in London with a Russian expert in ancient languages, the kids set out to Moscow, Siberia, and St. Petersburg, peeling back layers of secrets in order to uncover the hidden location of the two parts of the next relic on their list, a bejeweled serpent that comes to life when the pieces are joined. While following their leads, the kids and Wade's father also catch wind of the location of Darrell's mother, kidnapped by the order and held captive in a dangerous time machine. Though the breakneck pace and frenetic plot at times makes this installment in the Copernicus Legacy series feel overstuffed, the slow, intriguing reveals of enticing secrets about the order and, in particular, the mysterious origins of its leader will keep the pages flying and build ample anticipation for the next book. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Abbott's publishers are accelerating the momentum started with the series opener by adding a book tour and live relic hunt to the mix.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Still reeling from their last adventure in The Forbidden Stone (HarperCollins, 2014) which ended only hours before, Wade, Darrell, Becca, and Lily are nearly killed by Galina and the evil Order. So begins another around-the-globe hunt for one of 12 mysterious relics that can reactivate a time-traveling astrolabe built by Nicolas Copernicus. But the relic is not the only valuable thing the group is searching for: they must find and rescue Darrell's mother, kidnapped by Galina's thugs. Codes and riddles point the way to the hidden relic, and though readers are unable to participate in solving the puzzles, they will have fun witnessing the characters use their complementary skills to work together and find the answers. The novel's challenge is its length: multiple plotlines and secondary characters are interesting but numerous enough to slow down the otherwise fast-paced narrative. Moderate violence (stabbing, shooting, poisoning, and explosions) contrasts with occasional juvenile phrases such as, "Wade had been giving Becca goo-goo eyes." and "you are being tremendously awesome". References to the companion novella, The Copernicus Archives: Wade and the Scorpion's Claw, (HarperCollins, 2014) whose events take place after the first novel and before this title, add another layer. Readers learn a bit more about each of the four young heroes in this second installment, but those wishing for more character development will want to read the novellas. Fans of the series will eagerly await the next entry.-Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The Kaplan family continues their increasingly dangerous quest to secure the Copernicus Legacy relics. Wade, his stepbrother, Darrell, his cousin Lily and her friend Becca are unlikely heroes. However, whether it is intuition, bravery, tech know-how or intelligence, each possesses a quality vital to the success of their mission. Under the supervision of Wade's father, Dr. Roald Kaplan, and assisted by a worldwide web of Guardians, the four young adventurers must find all 12 relics and rescue Darrell's mother from her kidnappers. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones on the trail. The Teutonic Knights, led by the evil Galina Krause, will stop at nothing to collect the artifacts and reassemble Copernicus' time machine. Absorbing puzzles, beautiful settings and dangerous villains keep the pages turning, but what sets this adventure apart are the complex characters, who continue to grow. Each of the Kaplans understands the danger of allowing circumstances to define self, but at the same time, each acknowledges the need to evolve in order to accomplish the tasks at hand. The full-length Copernicus novels alternate with the Copernicus Archives novellas to chronicle this globe-trotting adventure. Fast-paced and chock-full of secrets, puzzles and twists. (Adventure. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
