The execution of these books was SUPER COOL. I'm really into this kind of story

As promising as the book cover looked, the plot didn't nearly convince me as much of the story. The characters felt archetypal, sometimes unrealistic and not very well-developed. The turning point was especially disappointing, as the author was unable to introduce the battle in any convincing way. The reason for the book to receive three stars by me was its layout, the fantastic cover and the way it was structured with all those additional information on the ship etc. Even though the book looked like a journal, the author soon gave up on the idea to write it as one, in the beginning switching from journal entries to narrative chapters before totally concentrating on the narrative parts.

The beginning was well-executed and would even have convinced me to read the second installment, but the ending egalized that opinion and left me very disappointed. The positive thing about it is that it looks absolutely stunning. ( )

For Joshua Mowll, it was the surprise of a lifetime. There, among the archives inherited from his great-aunt Rebecca MacKenzie, was a 1920's journal recounting the thrilling and dangerous adventures of fifteen-year old Rebecca and her younger brother, Doug, in the wake of their parents mysterious disappearance in the deserts of China. Interspersed are such archival elements as:elaborate diagram and maps vintage photos and illustrations documents with stamps, seals, and watermarks four full-color gatefolds, the largest a six-page foldout extensive appendices and notes

This book was so COOL. All these neat maps and diagrams and things.
Unfortunately, it was kind of boring. ( )

Touches of realia make this suspenseful story even more intriguing and include illustrations, side bars, and archival documents. Follow a brother and sister duo as they become embroiled in a confidential mission while aboard their uncle’s ship after their parents go missing on a South Seas expedition during the 1920s. Full of intrigue, this novel also highlights some of the unschooler tendencies of interest-led learning focused on an individual’s passions and interests. Readers eleven and up may “pore over the details in this novel; others will simply appreciate the comic adventure” according to School Library Journal. --SJ Cournoyer