Indiana Bones (Indiana Bones #1)

A heartfelt adventure story with a heroine readers will enjoy rooting for.

Gr 3-7--In this series debut, Aisha Ghatak is a 12-year-old Indian girl, world traveler, and archaeologist on an adventure to discover the best treasure of all time. Her companion is a magical talking dog named Indiana Bones. He came from a magical portal between Aisha's world and the world of the gods from Skara Brae, a site her famous archaeologist father explored. Indiana Bones brought Aisha's family three magical sapphires that connect them to the spirit world, allowing sight into the past as well as the future. Aisha and Indiana Bones set off to discover the trillions of pounds' worth of gold and jewels allegedly collected by a single thief, a French Knight called the Lonely Avenger. Their adventures bring them all the way to the pyramids of Egypt. This story is told by a narrator and guide wrly named Sir Harold of Heape. Readers will be intrigued by Aisha's study of the Scroll of the Lonely Avenger and amused by Indiana Bones' pronouncements. There are elements of wordplay in the text that some may find distracting, like descriptions of Aisha's father's "gladadventures," visiting the "funtryside," and feeling "bumcomfortable." The book mentions erupting volcanoes, cities of gold, and princes and paupers that may all be forthcoming. VERDICT This supernatural adventure series features a strong, whipsmart heroine and her talking canine; recommended for fans of archaeology and treasure-based romps.--Lisa Gieskes, Richland County P.L., Columbia, SC