“QUEST FOR THE SCORPION’S JEWEL: Amerias Adventures Book One,” by Amy Green, Warner Press, July 2011, $7.99 (ages 9-12)
Sometimes it’s the unlikeliest person who becomes a hero.
Jesse, a 15-year-old whose leg was crippled after an accident, is one such hero in “Quest for the Scoripion’s Jewel,” the first book in the Amerias Adventures.
Jesse loves with his aunt and uncle in the world of Amarias. When Jesse befriends a group of the king’s young warriors, he has no idea it will change his life forever. The warriors have been chosen to protect their king from the rebellion, but their leader is hurt in the process. Jesse risks his life to save the leader’s life, and is asked to join the Youth Guard in his stead.
Slowed by a crippled leg, Jesse is the last person people would expect to be part of a secret quest. Even other guard members Rae and Silas question his inclusion. Along the way, however, Jesse proves his worth by using his brains instead of brawn. The trio becomes a close-knit group, but is it enough to achieve the task at hand?
“Quest for the Scorpion’s Jewel” is published by Warner Press, which is a Christ-centered publisher. As such, it’s not surprising that elements of God make an appearance in Amy Green’s book.
Unfortunately, religious elements feel out of place here. It’s as if they were thrown in at the last minute rather than weaved throughout. Perhaps the author is planning further religious development in later books, but as is, it’s distracting rather than inspirational. Which is too bad, because “Quest for the Scorpion’s Jewel” holds a lot of promise.
Reminiscent of John Flannigan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series, Green’s book is full of action and adventure. It also stars a young protagonist who has hidden talents. In Jesse, we see a young man on the verge of adulthood. Unsure of his own skills, Jesse learns to see his disability as an ability. Jesse is a great role model and instantly likeable. And Green’s introduction of other main characters, including a girl, makes for broad appeal.
“Quest for the Scorpion’s Jewel” is short at 176 pages and, for the most part, flows smoothly. It’s a good start to the Amarias Adventures, which with a little more character development and tighter editing could become a strong middle-reader series.
