Book Review: Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas by Jonathan W. Stokes

Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas
Series: Addison Cooke #1

Author:
Jonathan W. Stokes

Published: October 11, 2016
327 Pages

Reviewed By: Cristina

Book Description:

Smooth-talking, refined twelve-year-old Addison Cooke loves a grand adventure, especially one that involves using his vast knowledge of history and archaeology, learned from his aunt and uncle, both world-famous researchers. If that adventure includes an expertly-knotted Windsor tie and an Arnold Palmer on the rocks, all the better.

Luckily for Addison, adventure has a way of finding the Cookes. After Addison’s uncle unearths the first ancient Incan clue needed to find a vast trove of lost treasure, he is kidnapped by members of a shadowy organization intent on stealing the riches. An expert in Incan history, Addison’s uncle is the bandits’ key to deciphering the ancient clues and looting the treasure. . . unless Addison and his friends can outsmart the kidnappers and decipher the clues first. So it’s off to Peru (business class, no less), across the Amazon, and all the way to Machu Picchu in a race for riches and history.

Cristina’s Review:

Addison Cooke is just your regular almost 13-year-old guy–he’s got an 11-year-old sister, Molly, and loves to read about ancient civilizations. He’s got two best buddies, Raj and Eddie. His aunt and uncle are in charge of the local museum. Pretty easy, normal life–until his uncle and aunt get kidnapped by the Russian mafia because of a treasure clue they discovered! Addison and his friends are off on the adventure of their lives. Will they beat the evil Professor Ragar to the treasure? Can they save Uncle Nigel and Aunt Delia? Between Addison’s smooth talking, Molly’s quick thinking, Raj’s survival skills and Eddie’s ability to speak Spanish, they just might get through this adventure alive.

Confession: I love the movie “Goonies.” I also love Indiana Jones. (Yes, my childhood was in the 1980’s, how did you guess?!) I picked this book up largely because the cover art put me in mind of an Indiana Jones style adventure. I was not disappointed! I enjoyed how the characters were introduced, and allowed to grow throughout the story. The story was full of treasure hunting clues and a few fun clichés, but they only added to the story. This is a story written for young people who have dreams of adventure.

As an adult reading this, I had to suspend disbelief a few times (the airport scene–yeah, the kids aren’t making the flight in real life), but as a 12 year old, I would have loved watching them pull one over on the clueless adults. Who am I kidding? I enjoyed it as an adult. There are also plenty of laughs along the way. The scene where they crash a Cartel wedding? Priceless. I was giggling out loud. I recommend this book for 4th graders and up. And a little bonus? You’re going to learn some ancient Incan history, too. Enjoy!

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK