10/01/2014 Gr 4–6—Still reeling from their last adventure in The Forbidden Stone (HarperCollins, 2014) which ended only hours before, Wade, Darrell, Becca, and Lily are nearly killed by Galina and the evil Order. So begins another around-the-globe hunt for one of 12 mysterious relics that can reactivate a time-traveling astrolabe built by Nicolas Copernicus. But the relic is not the only valuable thing the group is searching for: they must find and rescue Darrell's mother, kidnapped by Galina's thugs. Codes and riddles point the way to the hidden relic, and though readers are unable to participate in solving the puzzles, they will have fun witnessing the characters use their complementary skills to work together and find the answers. The novel's challenge is its length: multiple plotlines and secondary characters are interesting but numerous enough to slow down the otherwise fast-paced narrative. Moderate violence (stabbing, shooting, poisoning, and explosions) contrasts with occasional juvenile phrases such as, "Wade had been giving Becca goo-goo eyes…" and "you are being tremendously awesome". References to the companion novella, The Copernicus Archives: Wade and the Scorpion's Claw, (HarperCollins, 2014) whose events take place after the first novel and before this title, add another layer. Readers learn a bit more about each of the four young heroes in this second installment, but those wishing for more character development will want to read the novellas. Fans of the series will eagerly await the next entry.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY
Praise for The Serpent’s Curse: “Fast-paced and chock-full of secrets, puzzles and twists.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Praise for The Copernicus Legacy: “Full of mystery and intrigue, this book had me completely transfixed.” — Ridley Pearson, New York Times bestselling author of the Kingdom Keepers series
“The Copernicus Legacy takes you on a fantastical journey that is as eye-opening as it is page-turning. With mysteries hiding behind secrets coded in riddle, this book is like a Dan Brown thriller for young readers. The further you get, the more you must read!” — Angie Sage, New York Times bestselling author of the Septimus Heap series
“The Copernicus Legacy has it all: A secret code, priceless relics, murderous knights, a five-hundred-year-old mystery, and a story full of friendship, family, humor, and intelligence.” — Wendy Mass, New York Times bestselling author of The Candymakers and Every Soul a Star
“Tony Abbott is such an amazing storyteller, Copernicus should’ve named a star after him. With codes to crack, clues to unravel, and bad guys to outrun, this is one thrilling, smart, and fun read! I can’t wait for the next chapter is this stellar new series.” — Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author
Praise for The Forbidden Stone: “With engaging characters, a globe-trotting plot and dangerous villains, it is hard to find something not to like. Equal parts edge-of-your-seat suspense and heartfelt coming-of-age.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“With word games and rebus puzzles to spare, this whirling first entry in a projected six-part series from Abbott has international intrigue, fast-paced action, entertaining characters, and a healthy helping of science history.” — Booklist
“Fast-paced and clever, the novel reads like a mashup of the National Treasure films and The Da Vinci Code.” — Publishers Weekly
“The author masterfully pulls all the threads together and creates an engaging thriller enhanced by codes, puzzles, exotic locales, and narrow escapes.” — School Library Journal
“This lively escapade will suit fans of the 39 Clues series who are looking for a new puzzle to solve.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A sprawling and fast-paced adventure in the great tradition of Robert Ludlum, Ian Fleming, and other masters whose tales loom larger than life. Readers are in for a real treat.” — David Lubar, author of Flip, Wizards of the Game, and Hidden Talents
This lively escapade will suit fans of the 39 Clues series who are looking for a new puzzle to solve.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Tony Abbott is such an amazing storyteller, Copernicus should’ve named a star after him. With codes to crack, clues to unravel, and bad guys to outrun, this is one thrilling, smart, and fun read! I can’t wait for the next chapter is this stellar new series.
The Copernicus Legacy has it all: A secret code, priceless relics, murderous knights, a five-hundred-year-old mystery, and a story full of friendship, family, humor, and intelligence.
Praise for The Copernicus Legacy: “Full of mystery and intrigue, this book had me completely transfixed.
With word games and rebus puzzles to spare, this whirling first entry in a projected six-part series from Abbott has international intrigue, fast-paced action, entertaining characters, and a healthy helping of science history.
The Copernicus Legacy takes you on a fantastical journey that is as eye-opening as it is page-turning. With mysteries hiding behind secrets coded in riddle, this book is like a Dan Brown thriller for young readers. The further you get, the more you must read!
A sprawling and fast-paced adventure in the great tradition of Robert Ludlum, Ian Fleming, and other masters whose tales loom larger than life. Readers are in for a real treat.
This lively escapade will suit fans of the 39 Clues series who are looking for a new puzzle to solve.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
With word games and rebus puzzles to spare, this whirling first entry in a projected six-part series from Abbott has international intrigue, fast-paced action, entertaining characters, and a healthy helping of science history.
This lively escapade will suit fans of the 39 Clues series who are looking for a new puzzle to solve.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
MacLeod Andrews narrates the second installment in the Copernicus Legacy series with subtle expression. Wade, Darrell, Lily, and Becca work with Wade’s father to try to rescue Wade’s kidnapped stepmother. Andrews maintains a steady pace as the youngsters flee from Hawaii to San Francisco, solving puzzles along the way. Andrews’s voices aren’t always easy to distinguish from one another, but plot is more the point here. Listeners will be engaged as Wade and his friends become involved in conspiracies that are much larger than they ever imagined. A.F. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
MacLeod Andrews narrates the second installment in the Copernicus Legacy series with subtle expression. Wade, Darrell, Lily, and Becca work with Wade’s father to try to rescue Wade’s kidnapped stepmother. Andrews maintains a steady pace as the youngsters flee from Hawaii to San Francisco, solving puzzles along the way. Andrews’s voices aren’t always easy to distinguish from one another, but plot is more the point here. Listeners will be engaged as Wade and his friends become involved in conspiracies that are much larger than they ever imagined. A.F. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
★ 2014-08-20 The Kaplan family continues their increasingly dangerous quest to secure the Copernicus Legacy relics. Wade, his stepbrother, Darrell, his cousin Lily and her friend Becca are unlikely heroes. However, whether it is intuition, bravery, tech know-how or intelligence, each possesses a quality vital to the success of their mission. Under the supervision of Wade's father, Dr. Roald Kaplan, and assisted by a worldwide web of Guardians, the four young adventurers must find all 12 relics and rescue Darrell's mother from her kidnappers. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones on the trail. The Teutonic Knights, led by the evil Galina Krause, will stop at nothing to collect the artifacts and reassemble Copernicus' time machine. Absorbing puzzles, beautiful settings and dangerous villains keep the pages turning, but what sets this adventure apart are the complex characters, who continue to grow. Each of the Kaplans understands the danger of allowing circumstances to define self, but at the same time, each acknowledges the need to evolve in order to accomplish the tasks at hand. The full-length Copernicus novels alternate with the Copernicus Archives novellas to chronicle this globe-trotting adventure. Fast-paced and chock-full of secrets, puzzles and twists. (Adventure. 8-12)