Lost Treasure of Talus Scree Book

In the land of Talus Scree magical rocks yield powers to those who use them. Hover rocks allow kids to hover on air as if they were on a skateboard; clone rocks will duplicate anything; and flavor rocks will cook up a great meal. Good (the Protector of Light and the Angel of Beauty) struggles against evil (the Overlord of Darkness and the Gremlin of Mischief) for control of Talus Scree. Kiffin, a blue-haired twelve-year-old, grows up on Misty Island in privilege. While the adults, including his parents, slave away in Prince Mischief's mines and the children go to mining school, Kiffin is free to wander the island and do what he wants. He even has a yerble, Shelfy, a rare, magical creature that can shape-shift into any animal, except enchanted beats or mutants. When Kiffin finds the key to the lost treasure of Talus Scree, he and Shelfy embark on an adventure to find the treasure, along with their friends.

Author Biography: Adam Osterweil grew up in Plainview, New York. He graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in Classics, and from Stony Brook University with a M.A. in Liberal Studies. He teaches junior high English in Springs School in Springs, New York. His hobbies include treasure hunting, video games, and collecting comic books.Peter Thorpe began drawing and painting at an early age. He studied commercial art at the California College of Arts & Crafts and then moved to New York City, where he worked as an editorial and advertising illustrator. When he discovered that he also had a penchant for type design and layout, he began to specialize in book covers. He has created book covers for over 40 editions of Tony Hillerman's mysteries and the cover for Garrison Keillor's best-selling Lake Wobegon Days. Peter lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Lorraine Squires - VOYA

On Misty Island, on the planet of Talus Scree, the populace is enslaved by the Overlord of Darkness and his son, the Gremlin of Mischief, and forced to dig in the Mines, searching for magic rocks. Meanwhile the blue-haired boy Kiffin is allowed to idle away his days in a hidden grove with his pet/servant Shelfy, a shape-shifting yerble who was thrown out of the Protector of Light's palace on the sun. One day, Kiffin finds a mysterious key that may lead him to the fabulous lost treasure of Talus Scree, a chest full of magic rocks that will enable him to cure his ailing mother and break the Overlord of Darkness's hold over Talus Scree. He assembles a team of children with different special abilities and sets off in search of the treasure. Along the way, Shelfy guides and protects him in ways that lead Kiffin to wonder if there is something that Shelfy is hiding. This straightforward fantasy adventure offers the requisite heroes, monsters, and puzzles. Characterization and atmosphere take a backseat to plotting, and readers schooled in the Harry Potter or Chrestomanci series will find that a lot is lacking. The quick pace and clear plot might make this book appealing to younger reluctant readers, but most of those interested in this genre can find better reads. VOYA CODES: 2Q 3P M (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2005, Front Street, 152p., Ages 11 to 14.