Review: The Icarus Project by Laura Quimby

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

More than anything, Maya wants to discover something incredible. Her parents are scientists: Her mother spends most of her time in tropical rainforests, uncovering ancient artifacts, and her dad is obsessed with digging up mammoths. When her father gets invited by an eccentric billionaire to lead a team investigating a mammoth's remains in the Arctic, Maya begs to come along. Upon her arrival at the isolated camp, the mammoth is quickly revealed to be a fake, but there is something hidden in the ice-something unbelievable. Along with a team of international experts, each with his or her own agenda and theory about the mystery in the ice, Maya learns more about this discovery, which will change her life forever.
Laura Quimby expertly mixes adventure, science, and wonder into a page-turning story perfect for middle-grade explorers.
Laura Quimby is the author of The Carnival of Lost Souls, which Booklist called "a nicely paced, clever mix of ghost story and sideshow spectacle." She holds a degree in English literature from Towson University in Maryland, where she lives with her family. Visit her online at www.lauraquimby.com.

MY TAKE:


I almost considered not finishing this book as the images at the bottom of the pages made my Bluefire Reader app ridiculously slow, and it took me twice as long to read it. However, the book was interesting enough to keep me going despite being frustrated immensely by the slow app.


In The Icarus Project, Maya and her father travel to the Arctic to unearth a mammoth only to find out that it was a hoax and they were actually recruited to recover something much more unusual.

From the cover art and the title, you can sort of guess what it is they actually find. The story and the premise is quite fascinating. However, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I was actually hoping for something along the lines of Percy Jackson, that is, something that has gods, goddesses and/or Greek heroes. Instead, I found a book that was more sci-fi than I expected.

On the other hand, the book is a great way for young kids to learn more about archaeology and what it's like  to be at a dig site. For that alone, this book is worth a read.

In terms of characters, I never really warmed up to Maya, but I did like the other characters, especially her best friend who seems like a cool girl, and definitely the kind of girl I would like to hang out with on a regular basis.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amulet Books for the e-ARC. Publication date of The Icarus Project is on October 1, 2012.


THE GOOD:

1. The supporting characters are very interesting.
2. It's a good way for kids to learn about archaeology and dig sites.
3. It can appeal to boys and girls.

THE BAD:

1. If your kid isn't a fan of sci-fi, this might not be for them.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

A long buffet table was loaded down with grilled fish, piles of roasted potatoes and vegetables, bowls with wild rice, and an entire tray of chocolate cupcakes.

READ IT IF:

1. Your child is interested in archaeology or you would like him/her to be.
2. You like adventure books.
3. You like sci-fi books.

RATING: 



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