The Lost Kingdom
by Matthew J. Kirby
Billy has always
admired his father, a botanist for the American Philosophical Society. And when Billy is asked to go on the new
voyage to draw the plants and animals they come across during the search for
the mysterious Prince Madoc’s Welsh Kingdom in the U.S., he jumps at the chance
to show his worth. He even gets to meet
Ben Franklin AND George Washington (though this was before either of them were
president). Traveling via airship, the
de Terzi, Billy meets Iroquois Indians (who his father hates), the French, who
are trying to hunt them down, and a bear-wolf that attacks the group. Things are not made easier when he finds the
daughter of one of the men as a stow away, nor are things easier when the crew
begin to find bottles with messages to the French, insinuating there is a spy
on board—a spy that Billy’s father MUST be the Indian Guide, Andrew. Billy must
learn who to trust and solve the mystery of the traitor before it’s too late.
The Lost Kingom is a great idea of a steampunk-type novel for middle school readers. There is a ton of action, and every chapter has a new obstacle for the crew to overcome. However, there is not much detail or explanation into all the action that is happening. While it is entertaining to read, I have a hard time understanding why the author put so much jam-packed into the story that didn't truly pertain to what was happening to Billy and the crew.
If you love historical fiction and adventure, this book is definitely for you. You will never get bored, because the action never stops! This is a quick read that will open up a whole new United States in the 1700s.
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