The Navel of the World

At the end of summer school last year, Benjamin Holt had one outstanding homework assignment - to find his two missing brothers. The thing is, Benjamin has no idea how he is ever going to accomplish this, especially since he won't be in Lemuria for a long while. What perplexes him even more is the fact that he and his brothers are the three people that keep the worlds in balance. This news is almost too much for him to bear, especially since he is so young, but it also pushes him farther to find the whereabouts of his brothers. Over spring break, Benjamin gets the opportunity to intern at his father's law office, where he finds a mysterious file with his name on it. The only problem with the file is that he can't read it, as it is in ancient Lemurian, but at least he now has some sort of clue. When he finally arrives back in Lumeria, he is greeted by his telegen pals continuing on with their studies, along with learning the art of time travel. With this new power in tow, the Emerald Tablet Alliance sets off across the earth in search of the missing brothers. Goodness, these books are good! They are so jam-packed with adventure that it is hard not to love them. With the combination of the great plot and characters, along with the flawless writing, it was quite difficult to put the book down. The world that was created - Lemuria - was so cool. What was even better about Lemuria was that it felt real. You could hear the footsteps on the path and the bell jingling when the characters walked into a shop. The characters were also very interesting. Benjamin was so determined to find his brothers that I felt myself cheering for him along his journey - which sounded like a lot of fun! Also, they all just clicked together. It was interesting to see their relationships unfold, and again, it was all very real. The ending was probably the best part of the book. It made my heart race with anticipation, which I never wanted to end. Sadly it did though, leaving lots of room for the next book. THE NAVEL OF THE WORLD is definitely suitable for anyone looking for adventure and fun. I compared the first book of the series, THE EMERALD TABLET, to the PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS series, but after reading this book I dare say that they are better! I cannot wait to read more from PJ Hoover, as she is absolutely fantastic, and I urge everyone, young or old, to pick up a copy and see for themselves how cool Lemuria is! Reviewed by: Tasha

At the end of summer school, Benjamin Holt was charged with one task: to find his two missing brothers. Of course, before Benjamin ever stepped foot in Lemuria, he had no idea that he was one of the triplets responsible for holding the worlds in balance. Months pass with no luck whatsoever regarding Benjamin's quest until he interns at his father's office during spring break. There he stumbles upon a strange file with his name on it. Even if Benjamin can't read it because it's written in ancient Lemurian, at least he's one stop closer to what he seeks. As Benjamin and his fellow telegen friends' training progresses, they learn of a new ability--that of time travel. Armed with this new power, Benjamin and the rest of the Emerald Tablet Alliance must search all of the earth through time to have any chance of finding Benjamin's long lost brothers. Benjamin and his quirky Lemurian friends are at it again in this fun myth filled story. These youngsters have a purpose now, and any trouble making and rule breaking is strictly the result of their difficult quest to find the remaining two of the triplets. Although it's easy to mix up each telegen's psychic ability and secret crush, there's something so endearing in reading about these five friends. Though by no means complex, these characters are realistic and genuine; their determination, hard work, and sometimes self sacrificing nature, not to mention their clever quick thinking, are admirable. The plot of this novel moves at a good pace, not too fast or slow, and takes the reader along on a whirlwind journey around the world and through time. The incorporation of ancient mythology and various cultures with new and original countries like Lemuria is definitely Hoover's strength and a major part of what makes The Navel of the World such an enjoyable read. The Navel of the World will be enjoyed by fans of mythology, especially those who enjoyed this novel's prequel, The Emerald Tablet, as well as Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs.

Benjamin Holt is not your average kid. He's a telegen with special abilities and he's on a very important mission--to find his brothers. This story is full of action, adventure, and humor--a fun read for all ages!