Sunday, February 9, 2014

The Secret Box by Whitaker Ringwald

Jax gets a present on her 12th birthday that her mother immediately confiscates.  She won't let her open the package and intends to mail it back to the sender.  Jax doesn't understand that.  I mean, it is HER gift and why should her mother be so upset?

Net Galley and Katherine Tegen Books allowed me to read an ebook of this story for review (thank you).  This book will be in local bookstores on February 25th.

It's a good thing Jax has her cousin Ethan and his older brother, Tyler, to help.  Tyler is a pain, computer obsessed and very smart; he follows his own rules.  Obviously little kids like Ethan and Jax don't belong in his world.  When he finds out the present was from their Aunt Juniper (who is estranged from the family) and Jax got a box she can't open out of some material she's never seen before, it begins to look like a computer game to him and he gets more interested.

They go in search of Aunt Juniper to find out what it is and how it works.  As they take their car trip to where she lives, they get approached by an old couple who wants to acquire the box.  Jax won't sell it and they leave.  When they come out of the convenience store, they find the car broken into and the box gone...  Now is when life gets real interesting for them.

Mr. Ringwald writes a smooth story with mythology woven into it.  There is lots of action and the story turns tense as the battle of the box accelerates.  This is written for ages ten and up and they will love it.  It's busy, exciting, and interesting.  And it's going to be a trilogy, so there will be more to read!

Happy reading.

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