NEW LANDS

The second installment of the Chronicles of Egg delivers more danger, diabolical plots and dastardly villains than the first, and that’s saying a lot.

A few short weeks after teenagers Egg and Guts arrive via pirate ship in Cartage, supposed home of the treasure they seek, they are kidnapped by enemies. Lucky for them, they are soon rescued by Millicent—Egg’s love interest and daughter of evil Roger Pembroke, who is also trying to find the treasure in hopes that it will enable him to rule the world—and Kira, new friend to Egg and Guts and member of the Okalu tribe to whom the treasure once belonged. The four spunky teens trek deep into the wilderness in search of an Okalu elder to help them translate the treasure map that Egg carries only in his memory. Along the way, there is bartering for supplies, severe illness, bickering and good-natured fun until the group is captured by Moku—enemies of the Okalu and Pembroke conspirators—and Egg discovers that his family, whom he thought murdered by Pembroke, is still alive, if not for long. Egg’s narration, fresh and funny as ever, keeps readers engaged with the increasingly complicated plot.

Occasionally gruesome, often funny and full of suspense, this one is sure to win Egg some new fans.