Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Mask of the Jackal

by Christine Harris



      I'm always excited about bringing a new author to readers. Christine Harris, the author of Mask of the Jackal, is from Australia. She has written over fifty children's books, including picture books, joke and cartoon books, and novels for readers who are just discovering the joys of reading and for more sophisticated young teen readers. She handles historical fiction and spy novels as easily as horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Harris won her first writing prize when she was in second grade and has continued to earn prestigious awards for her books in Australia.

In Mask of the Jackal, Harris tells the story of Morgan Steele, a boy who finds himself in a museum basement writing his observations about Egyptian mummies for a class assignment. That simple task soon has him neck deep in trouble when he and his best friend, a girl named Jordy Logan who is deaf, are kidnapped and at the mercy of a rich man's henchman. Interwoven with this modern story is the story of an Egyptian mummy, which adds layers of depth to a simple adventure.

The action here is non-stop and certainly kept me turning pages. Morgan and Jordy are aptly drawn as very capable kids who can keep their heads in a very nasty situation. Even their use of sign language is clever.

Since Christine Harris likes to write books in a series—and she has several—I'm hoping that Morgan and Jordy will become regulars in a new series. I really like these kids and would love to read more of their exploits.

The Book

Launch Press
February 2008
Paperback
978-0-646-48531-7
Fiction / Children 9-12 years
More at Author's site
Excerpt
NOTE: Story involves Deaf Characters

The Reviewer

Janie Franz
Reviewed 2008
NOTE: Reviewer Janie Franz is the author of Freelance Writing: It’s a Business, Stupid!and co-author of The Ultimate Wedding Reception Book and The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Book.
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