The Forbidden Stone: (The Copernicus Legacy Series, 1)
Tony Abbott, 2014
HarperCollins
432 pp.
ISBN-13: 9780062194473
Summary
Bestselling author Tony Abbott's epic new middle-grade series the Copernicus Legacy begins with The Forbidden Stone, a thrilling adventure packed with puzzles, intrigue, and action.
Wade, Lily, Darrell, and Becca fly from Texas to Germany for the funeral of an old family friend. But instead of just paying their respects, they wind up on a dangerous, mind-blowing quest to unlock an ancient, guarded secret that could destroy the fate of the world.
Fans of Rick Riordan and Ridley Pearson will love this first book in an exciting series that takes the reader all over the globe in a race to find pieces of a mysterious hidden past—before it's too late. (From the publisher.)
Author Bio
• Birth—1952
• Where—Cleveland, Ohio, USA
• Raised—Fairfield, Connecticut
• Education—B.A., University of Connecticut
• Currently—lives in Trumball, Connecticut
Tony Abbott is an American author of nearly 100 children's books. His most popular work is the book series The Secrets of Droon, which includes over 40 books. He has sold over 12 million copies of his books and they have been translated into several other languages, including Italian, Spanish, Korean, French, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, and Russian. He has also written the bestseller "Firegirl".
Abbott was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1952. His father was a university professor and had an extensive library of books which became one of Abbott's first sources of literature. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Connecticut where he went through elementary school and high school.
He attended the University of Connecticut, and after studying both music and psychology, decided to study English and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in English literature. He attended the workshops of Patricia Reilly Giff to further develop his writing after college.
When he began reading bedtime stories to his children, the spark of writing he had had for so many years finally turned to children’s books. After many failures, his first published book, Danger Guys (1994), was written while taking a writing class with renowned children’s author, Patricia Reilly Giff. That book began the Danger Guy series and was followed by five more books (1994-96).
Since then Abbott has written over ninety-five books for readers ages 6 to 14, including many series—The Secret of Droon, The Haunting of Derek Stone, Underworlds, Goofballs, to name a few. The Copenicus Legacy, starting in 2014, is his newest. He has also written novels for older readers, including Kringle, Firegirl, The Postcard, and Lunch-Box Dream.
The author currently lives in Trumbull, Connecticut, with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs. Tony had one brother and two sisters. (Adapted from Wikipedia and the author's website. Retrieved 1/23/2014.)
Book Reviews
[S]trong, ambitious.... four protagonists on a globe-spanning adventure as they attempt to reclaim lost artifacts before a secret organization realizes its evil agenda.... [T]here’s no denying the epic scope of this storyline. Fast-paced and clever...a thriller that engages the intellect even as it rummages through history.... (Ages 8–12.)
Publishers Weekly
[An] ominous message in code...sends Wade Kaplan, his astrophysicist father, stepbrother Darrell, cousin Lily, and her friend Becca on an around-the-globe chase to locate hidden parts of a time-traveling astrolabe built in the 16th century by Copernicus....Characterization takes a backseat to action, but readers won't mind. (Grades 5–8) —Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY
School Library Journal
Right before Wade’s uncle Henry, an astronomy professor in Berlin, meets a suspicious and untimely demise, he sends Wade’s dad a coded e-mail.... leading them...all around the world..... [I]nternational intrigue, fast-paced action, entertaining characters, and a healthy helping of science history. (Grades 4-7.) —Sarah Hunter
Booklist
(Starred review.) Four precocious preteens and a distracted astrophysicist travel to Europe to unravel a mystery that has already claimed several lives.... 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. (Ages 8-12.)
Kirkus Reviews
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