The Colossus Rises

December 3, 2012
In this action-packed first novel in the Seven Wonders series, Jack McKinley, an imaginative kid with a penchant for Rube Goldberg–style devices, is kidnapped and brought to a mysterious island. There he learns that he and three other 13-year-olds carry a rare, often fatal gene; if they survive, the gene will confer superpowers on them and mark them as distantly descended from Atlantis. That ancient kingdom, they discover, was destroyed when its rulers misused the enormous power they wielded. Jack and his new friends have been recruited to rediscover the lost repositories of that power, which are connected to the wonders of the ancient world, such as the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Their survival, though, is far from guaranteed. Lerangis, contributor to the 39 Clues series, has created a real page-turner, and while the characters are somewhat one-dimensional (particularly the adults), there’s a genuine sense of mystery and even a touch of grandeur to this tale. Lerangis aims squarely at the legions of Percy Jackson fans and hits his target. Ages 8–12. Agent: George Nicholson, Sterling Lord Literistic.

March 1, 2013

Gr 6-9-A young teen who is descended from mythological beings and has extraordinary powers is trained in a secret facility with others like him. He finds himself on the run with a small group of his peers, battling other supernatural beings in a race to find a powerful artifact and avert disaster. Hmm, sounds familiar. This is not The Lightning Thief (Hyperion, 2005) and the mythology is the lost city of Atlantis rather than the Greek pantheon, but comparisons with the "Percy Jackson" series are inevitable. Unfortunately, this volume hardly measures up. Jack McKinley is just not as likable or believable as Rick Riordan's protagonist, and the supporting characters are flat. There are far too many deus ex machina moments needed to move the story along (e.g., Marco falling to his death but landing just close enough to a magic waterfall to not actually die). There is plenty of action throughout, and some of it is quite original (nearly dying under a mountain of flaming bat guano is certainly "fresh"), but it is not enough to make up for the uneven plot and weak characters.-Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School Library, CA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2012
Grades 4-8 Part Goonies, part MacGyver, part Percy Jackson, this big series starter is sure to please readers looking for underdog heroes and their unbelievable adventures. Jack learns he has a rare genetic anomaly that gives him a unique skill, but one that will cause his death if he doesn't receive mysterious treatments at a secretive institute along with three other young teens. Marco, Aly, Cass, and Jack are deeply suspicious of the institute's director and his trolllike thug, but rely on them for survivalwhen they aren't too busy trying to escape. Together, their skills make them a formidable team, which serves them well on their quest to find the cure for their ailment, the parts of which are located at each of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, beginning with the heart of Atlantis. The teens' talents mirror their obvious outward appearances, but they quickly develop the heart and personality of full characters. The tension of whom to trust and why keeps readers guessing, and the quick action, high stakes, and clever solutions make this a slam dunk. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Lerangis scored big as one of the 39 Clues authors, and a six-figure marketing campaign signals that this is being positioned as a tent-pole franchise.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)