May 6, 2025 by Melissa de la Cruz Studio
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Zeus Jones' ancestor, Amadeus Jones, had a magazine in the 1920s called BURN that not only showcased Black writers, but didn't ignore further marginalized groups, as many others did at the time. There was only one publication before a tragic fire took the offices and Amadeus' life. He was found in the rubble, clutching a toaster, which Zeus' grandfather saved. The grandfather has done very well; the Jones family has a big house in Southampton, chauffeur, and a butler, Mr. Will. The grandfather has been very involved in Zeus life, which has been helpful, since Zeus' parents are very busy, and his brother Apollo is a film star. There was even a group of children that were descendants of BURN's staff to whom the grandfather was teaching cultural history, but lately he has missed meetings with Zeus, and the group has been abandoned. When the grandfather doesn't answer his texts, Zeus knows something is wrong and calls together Ashley, Charlie, and David, asking them to bring their family's copies of the original magazine. Finding messages in invisible ink, combined with a clue Zeus had previously found in the toaster, motivates the group to take off on an adventure (with Mr. Will flying the family jet) that leads them to the Mojave desert, Boston, the University of Michigan, Chicago, the Statue of Liberty,and the plantation where the Jones ancestors were enslaved. They finish their journey at Arlington Cemetery, and they almost come to a tragic end in the basement of Robert E. Lee's house after the crew finds letters from the early 1800s. There is sure to be a second book, because this ends on an enormous cliffhanger!
Strengths: This packed an enormous amount of Black history into an engaging adventure story with deep family ties. I loved the depiction of Zeus' grandfather gathering the children and teaching them about history, and all of the memorabilia of the magazine that was in his office. It also gives Zeus great motivation to go on an adventure, as well as the resources to do so. Charlie was also an appealing character, who had once been wealthy but whose family has fallen on hard times after the collapse of her father's business and his death from a heart attack. There is even a question of how the Jones family might have been involved in this. The details about all of the sites visited (and there are many!) and the relation that they have to history are very well done, although I was hoping that the clues involving Jesse Owens would take the group to Ohio State instead of the University of Michigan. There is still more of the story to be told, but I can't find any information about a sequel yet.
Weaknesses: I always have a hard time believing that clues on paper can last for a hundred years, and that the children can pinpoint exactly where the clues are hidden, but younger readers won't have this problem. The fire in the Mojave desert was heartbreaking (the fires are still raging around Pacific Palisades and other California locations as I write this), and three people died, so sensitive readers might not be ready for this.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the combination of mystery and history in Vaught's 2016 Things Too Huge to Fix by Saying Sorry, Tarpley's 2017 Harlem Charade, Johnston's 2018 The Parker Inheritance, Durst's 2024 Spy Ring, or Landis' 2024 Capitol Chase.
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Zeus Jones' ancestor, Amadeus Jones, had a magazine in the 1920s called BURN that not only showcased Black writers, but didn't ignore further marginalized groups, as many others did at the time. There was only one publication before a tragic fire took the offices and Amadeus' life. He was found in the rubble, clutching a toaster, which Zeus' grandfather saved. The grandfather has done very well; the Jones family has a big house in Southampton, chauffeur, and a butler, Mr. Will. The grandfather has been very involved in Zeus life, which has been helpful, since Zeus' parents are very busy, and his brother Apollo is a film star. There was even a group of children that were descendants of BURN's staff to whom the grandfather was teaching cultural history, but lately he has missed meetings with Zeus, and the group has been abandoned. When the grandfather doesn't answer his texts, Zeus knows something is wrong and calls together Ashley, Charlie, and David, asking them to bring their family's copies of the original magazine. Finding messages in invisible ink, combined with a clue Zeus had previously found in the toaster, motivates the group to take off on an adventure (with Mr. Will flying the family jet) that leads them to the Mojave desert, Boston, the University of Michigan, Chicago, the Statue of Liberty,and the plantation where the Jones ancestors were enslaved. They finish their journey at Arlington Cemetery, and they almost come to a tragic end in the basement of Robert E. Lee's house after the crew finds letters from the early 1800s. There is sure to be a second book, because this ends on an enormous cliffhanger!
Strengths: This packed an enormous amount of Black history into an engaging adventure story with deep family ties. I loved the depiction of Zeus' grandfather gathering the children and teaching them about history, and all of the memorabilia of the magazine that was in his office. It also gives Zeus great motivation to go on an adventure, as well as the resources to do so. Charlie was also an appealing character, who had once been wealthy but whose family has fallen on hard times after the collapse of her father's business and his death from a heart attack. There is even a question of how the Jones family might have been involved in this. The details about all of the sites visited (and there are many!) and the relation that they have to history are very well done, although I was hoping that the clues involving Jesse Owens would take the group to Ohio State instead of the University of Michigan. There is still more of the story to be told, but I can't find any information about a sequel yet.
Weaknesses: I always have a hard time believing that clues on paper can last for a hundred years, and that the children can pinpoint exactly where the clues are hidden, but younger readers won't have this problem. The fire in the Mojave desert was heartbreaking (the fires are still raging around Pacific Palisades and other California locations as I write this), and three people died, so sensitive readers might not be ready for this.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the combination of mystery and history in Vaught's 2016 Things Too Huge to Fix by Saying Sorry, Tarpley's 2017 Harlem Charade, Johnston's 2018 The Parker Inheritance, Durst's 2024 Spy Ring, or Landis' 2024 Capitol Chase.
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