The Fifth Codex

Gr 5 Up—Robert Woodson is an American archaeologist working on the restoration of a Mayan temple when his young apprentice Pedro finds a clay cylinder containing the lost journal of Gonzalo Guerrero. Guerrero, a real historical figure, was a Spanish sailor shipwrecked in 1511 who was taken captive by the Maya. He eventually married a high-ranking Mayan woman, had three children, and fought against later-coming Spaniards. The journal describes Guerrero's life in the New World and his rivalry with another shipwreck survivor. It contains clues that lead Woody and Pedro on a careening adventure around the Yucatan Peninsula that takes them to major Mayan temples in search of a "lost city" and mysterious codex. Woody's translations of the journal alternate with the main chapters. Stealing the journal from the site breaks every principle of archaeology and would be absolutely bizarre in a novel attempting to portray the profession in a realistic manner, but the intent of this book is to re-create an Indiana Jones-type story. The kapow punches, leather fedora, trusty native sidekick, ditzy love interest, car chase, double crosses—they're all here. The action-packed novel is written in short, choppy sentences that will be easy for struggling readers; unfortunately, the flat writing and characters keep a great premise from truly shining. The modern-day violence is cartoonish, making the book seem appropriate for younger readers, as does language like "knucklehead" and "dope," but the human sacrifices briefly described are more appropriate for older audiences. An additional purchase.—Caroline Tesauro, Radford Public Library, VA