The Doomsday Mask [Paperback]

Simon Rose (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up

The ceremonial mask of Kulkaan, high priest of the ancient civilization of Atlantis, was endowed with incredible powers. In the cataclysm that resulted in the destruction of Atlantis, the maskwas shattered and its fragments scattered to the ends of the earth. Over many generations, the mask of Kulkaan has been reassembled by the shadowy Crystalline Order, who intend to unleash its terrible powers on mankind. In a desperate race against time, Josh and Erica must destroy the mask before catastrophic consequences befall the world.

Born and raised in Britain, Canadian writer Simon Rose lives in Calgary, Alberta. The Doomsday Mask is his sixth novel for Tradewind.

 

 

 

 

(20091001)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Would appeal to students who enjoy a fast-paced adventure." (Library Media Connection )

"This fast-paced adventure will capture the reader to the final page...Rose has managed to create another fascinating, suspenseful story, which should be a popular addition to an elementary school library collection." (Resource Links )

About the Author

Simon Rose was born in Derbyshire, England and has lived in Canada since 1990. Simon and his two children live in Calgary, Alberta.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Tradewind Books (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189658019X
• ISBN-13: 978-1896580197
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,277,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Simon Rose was born in Derbyshire, England and has lived in Calgary, Canada since 1990. His first novel for young readers, The Alchemist's Portrait, was published in 2003 followed by The Sorcerer's Letterbox in 2004, The Clone Conspiracy in 2005, The Emerald Curse in 2006, The Heretic's Tomb in 2007 and The Doomsday Mask in 2009. He is also a contributing author to The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction Volume One.

A seventh novel for middle grades, The Time Camera, will be published in 2011, along with The Insistence of Memory, a novel for young adults. He is also a contributing author to The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction Volume One, has written several non-fiction books for younger readers with Weigl Educational Publishers, has a regular column 'Simon Says' with the National Writing for Children Center and works as a writer for Dark Roasted Blend online magazine.

He offers a wide variety of presentations, workshops and author in residence programs for schools and libraries, covering such topics as the writing process, editing and revision, where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories, character development, historical fiction and historical research, story structure, the publishing world and more. He also offers virtual author visits by video using Skype. He works as a creative writing instructor for home school students throughout the year and at summer camps each July and August, is an instructor for adults with Chinook Learning Services, University of Calgary and at the National Writing for Children Center, and offers a variety of online workshops for both children and adults.

Simon is a regular presenter at conferences and festivals, and served as a juror for the Governor General's Literary Awards for Children's Literature, the Saskatchewan Book Awards, the Parsec Awards and the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic. He is the founder of Children's Authors and Illustrators on Facebook, the Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI Western Canada and organizes the Calgary Children's Book Fair and Conference, held in conjunction with the Children's Fiction Writing Award, each November.

Simon offers a number of services for writers, including manuscript evaluation, editing, writing workshops and coaching, plus copywriting services for the business community, full details of which can be found at his website www.simon-rose.com. You can also visit his blog at http://simon-rose.blogspot.com/, his channel on YouTube, follow him on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling page-gripper of a mystery, December 24, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Doomsday Mask (Paperback)

"The Doomsday Mask" is a thrilling page-gripper of a mystery that has 12-year-old Josh and almost-14-year-old Erica scrambling with their grandfather, an adopted Canadian survivor of WW II Germany, in a race for clues to construct and protect the Mask of Kulkaan to prevent it from being used for evil world domination purposes by the corrupt Crystalline Order. In a race against time and history, the two sleuths adventure fearlessly with their grandfather in locations ranging from Niagara Falls and Santa Marta, Mexico in the present day, to the lost island of Atlantis 10,000 years ago. Danger lurks everywhere as does the course of history and even prehistory. Juvenile readers from 10-14 will be spellbound by "The Doomsday Mask," and they will learn a bit of interesting world history and paleontology along the way. Although "The Doomsday Mask" may be considered to be science fiction fantasy/adventure, it is solidly grounded in facts of known prehistorical events and speculates from these logically. Also recommended young adult reading from Tradewind Books is "Angels Inc." by Bruce McBay, illustrated by Kim LaFave, an entertaining chapter book about kids organizing to do good for others.

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, November 12, 2009

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Doomsday Mask (Paperback)

As a youth in war-torn Germany, Paul Jaeger and fellow boy soldier Jonas Krueger accidentally find a mine filled with treasure. Jonas grabs an unusual piece of blue stone just before the mine explodes, and the two boys are thrown into a nearby creek. Sure that Jonas is dead, Paul takes the stone and flees.

Years later, Paul and his grandchildren, twins Josh and Erica, fall into adventure when Jonas finds them again. Jonas tells the story of his rescue by a group called the Crystalline Order after the explosion. He also warns Paul that the Order is plotting to gain world power by rebuilding the Mask of Kulkaan, a relic from Atlantis. The piece of blue stone that Paul and Jonas found in Germany is part of that mask.

A chase across two countries ensues as Paul takes the children to find the pieces of the mask that Jonas has hidden. Carl von Wallenstein, the leader of the Order, and his henchman, Ballantyne, kill Jonas and one of his helpers, seriously injure Paul, and capture the children.

As the children fight for their lives, they learn that they are part of a prophecy involving the reincarnation of the mask. Will they be able to fight the temptation to use the mask's power and destroy it for all time?

Rose takes the reader on a fast-paced adventure through time and legend. Among other issues, the story confronts the battle of good versus evil and exposes the danger of a hunger for power that threatens to consume everything in its path.

Reviewed by: Theresa L. Stowell