Addison Cooke is your average kid, but he doesn't have normal parents. His aunt an uncle(who are currently on a break), are archaeologists who travel around the world. His dream is to join them in exploring the globe. It is his little sister Madison's dream that their family stays together, and that Addison will for once get his nose out of the books and not make them late getting home. Addison's dream of adventure is about to come true, in a very round-about way. One night Addison and Madison are at the museum with their uncle, and he tells them about his amazing discovery of an ancient Inca key. The key is said to be one of three, and the riddle will lead to the others, which will lead to a magnificent treasure. But then the key is stolen and his aunt and uncle are kidnapped by an evil archaeologist with a rag-tag group of the toughest and meanest men around. So Addison, Madison, and two friends set off to recover the lost treasure-and their family. I loved how the author made everything adventurous and mysterious, but at the same time history was woven into the plot. There were turns and twists around every corner. The whole book was based on Inca history, and I loved the little details. I also love the sister-brother bond and slight rivalry between Addison and Madison. Addison is a particularly entertaining character, with his knowledge and sometimes pretentious attitude. I really liked the quirk of Addison's love of strange sayings such as "this is a sticky wicket". I recommend this book to adventure and mystery lovers, anywhere from higher elementary to high school grades. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas
By Jonathan W. Stokes
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 3 - 6 | n/a | 5.2 | 59988 |
Twelve-year-old Addison Cooke just wishes something exciting would happen to him. His aunt and uncle, both world-famous researchers, travel to the ends of the earth searching for hidden treasure, dodging dangerous robbers along the way, while Addison is stuck in school all day.
Luckily for Addison, adventure has a way of finding the Cookes. After his uncle unearths the first ancient Incan clue needed to find a vast trove of lost treasure, he is kidnapped by members of a shadowy organization intent on stealing the riches. Addison’s uncle is the bandits’ key to deciphering the ancient clues and looting the treasure . . . unless Addison and his friends can outsmart the kidnappers and crack the code first. So it’s off to South America, where the excitement, danger, gold, booby traps, and car chases are never-ending!
Full of laugh-out-loud moments and nonstop action, and perfect for fans of Indiana Jones or James Patterson’s Treasure Hunters series, Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas is sure to strike gold with kid readers.
Praise for Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas
"Combines the derring-do of Indiana Jones with a genuine archaeological mystery. Stokes brings a cinematic scope to the story. This lively debut promises more seat-of-the-pants thrills for readers who love adventure."-- Booklist
"Cinematic pacing and action drive the story, but it’s Addison and his friends who will keep readers engaged. Humor is never in short supply . . . and Addison’s endless optimism and irrepressible confidence in his own abilities are endearing. A solid start to a new series, with a conclusion that will leave readers hoping Addison and company return soon for another adventure."-- School Library Journal
"Addison is often one step ahead of the adults, but his lead is constantly threatened, building steady tension throughout the novel, screenwriter Stokes’s debut."--Publishers Weekly
Book Reviews (14)
![Ashlyn](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 12 12"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
it is awesome!!!!!!!!!!
I remember watching an old movie called Raiders of the Lost Ark. This book reminds me of that movie. There is lots of action -- sliding through caverns, splashing into water at the bottom, and hiking through caves, for instance -- as the main characters, a group of kids who think they never have adventure in their lives, attempt to find a long-lost treasure. It's a fast-paced book with twists and turns around every corner. Anyone who enjoys that type of book will like this one.
Addison and Molly Cooke are orphans living with their annulled uncle and aunt in the busy state of New York. All of their relatives are archaeologists. Addison is especially unique in the fact that he knows ALL about Incas, and other interesting, historical things. One particular school day ends with Addison and Molly being late for the bus. They worry about the wrath of their Aunt Delia. A couple hours later, their uncle and aunt have been kidnapped, they are wanted by the local police, and they recruit their two friends to rescue their relatives and find the three mystic keys of the Incas. Three days later, they have a lot to worry about. A Russian Mafia gang with a disgruntled leader is chasing them, a gang boss is angry at them for destroying his daughter's wedding, them being wanted in three different towns, them barely escaping booby traps, and how mad Uncle Nigel will be when he learns about the HUGE amount of money gone from his bank account. Will Addison's team get the seven hundred and fifty tons of gold, or will Professor Ragar kill them before they make it? Read this five-star book to find out!