Land of the Lost Mammoths: A Science Adventure [Hardcover]

Mike Davis (Author), William Simpson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Science Adventure Series | Publication Date: June 2004

Until the late nineteenth century, it was widely believed that an ancient Viking colony had survived on the unexplored and ice-locked coast of southeast Greenland. The Danish discovery of the isolated Inuit culture of the Ammassalick Fiord in 1884 did not fully dispel the myth.

Now jump to present-day Greenland: four teenaged scientists, winners of United Nations scholarships, are excited to spend their summer counting reindeer for the celebrated Professor Dansgaard at his Artic wildlife research station. But when they discover some mysterious bones in Dansgaard's lab, they suddenly find themselves on an expedition to the mysterious Valley of the Runes. Battling screaming ice, marooned Vikings, a sorcerer named Halldor, an Arctic hurricane, and a collapsing cave, the adventurers must learn the deep meaning of friendship and nonviolence if they are to survive. Mike Davis's tale of teenage teamwork and discovery is filled with scientific wonder, coming-of-age intrigue, and potent lessons on the fruits of collaboration and friendship.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 174 pages
• Publisher: Perceval Pr (June 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974707805
• ISBN-13: 978-0974707808
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,003,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, Fun, Imaginative, and Educational!, June 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Land of the Lost Mammoths: A Science Adventure (Hardcover)

What more could you want from a book? It's been a long time since I read a book that was as engaging as this one. I can't believe no one else has reviewed it yet. It was a page turner, without being annoying; it constantly surprised me with interesting facts without coming off like a collection of trivia--everything fit and made sense where it came up; I learned a little about Greenland and its culture, about the Vikings, about mammoths, about science, history, about folklore, new technology (do you know what a trike is . . . hint: it's not a three-wheeled bike) and all kinds of odds and ends (did you know a little soap powder will make a geyser erupt?).

Despite the array of intriguing facts, they only play a supporting role to an engaging and imaginative story that kept me reading steadily from cover to cover in just a weekend. I'm looking forward to the sequel!

This is the kind of book that teachers could use for all kinds of interdisciplinary units or enrichment projects (it's even got footnotes!) AND it's the kind of book that students would enjoy reading, whether or not anyone asked them too.

Read this book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Lost" and found, September 14, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Land of the Lost Mammoths: A Science Adventure (Hardcover)

"Science adventure" sounds like an oxymoron. But Mike Davis strays from urban theory here: a young adult science adventure with a few hints of sci-fi. "Land of the Lost Mammoths" is that rarest kind of kid book -- educational and fun, not to mention as intriguing to adults as to their honor student kid.

Four young students win special U.N. scholarships, thanks to their brilliance in biology, engineering, linguistics and ecosystems. They're going to Greenland, to study under celebrated scientist Professor Dansgaard. Jack, his half-brother Conor, Qavigarssuag ("Qav") and Julia soon find that Dansgaard is indeed brilliant, though rather eccentric.

But how eccentric? They find mammoth bones in Dansgaard's office, and learn that he believes that mammoths still exist somewhere nearby. He also believes that the descendents of an ancient Viking colony still live in hiding. The group travels to a legendary valley in a glacier, but things start to go wrong, pitting them against the forces of nature -- and a Viking sorcerer.

Perceval Press is best known for publishing spellbinding poetry, photography, music and other art. Here they take a small detour -- it's sort of a modern Jules Verne book for kids. Davis doesn't let the plot lag for a moment, and he's not afraid to sprinkle in stuff to give you thrills and chills. Is all this science and history boring? Heck no.

The plot is sprinkled with examinations of ecological and political ramifications. For example, Qav brings up the U.S.'s controversial presence in Greenland at one point. Another would be the conflict between the expedition members -- should they bring a gun into a Viking camp? The question of whether they should risk themselves to avoid contaminating an unspoiled culture is a hard one, and not one that Davis chickens out on.

The characters are well-drawn and likable, and Davis successfully makes them seem intelligent and innovative without being annoying. And William Simpson provides delicate, detailed black-and-white illustrations, complete with animal skulls and Celtic knots. It adds to the feeling that the present and past are twined together in this book.

"Land of the Lost Mammoths" is a surprising but very welcome "bedtime story" from Mike Davis, with enough fun and thrills to send readers scrambling for more research books.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intoxicating Land of Magic and Mystery, June 27, 2004

By 

A. Perez (Whittier, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Land of the Lost Mammoths: A Science Adventure (Hardcover)

Although deservedly touted as a "Science Adventure," Mike Davis's novel is much more than this. Certainly one of the most unique features of Davis's novel is its ability to stimulate further reading and interest in the geography and history of Greenland and the science and technology of Arctic exploration. However, "Land of the Lost Mammoths" also imagines a land of magic and mystery, of places that cannot be named and of persons that give name to dreams.

As the first in an anticipated series of adventures, Davis's novel is engrossing, imaginative, and magical. His trio of male and female protagonists (Julia, Conor, Jack and Qav) are inspiring not only for their accomplishments, but for their response to the discovery of a lost world. Moreover, Julia and Davis's rejection of traditional "damsel in distress" adventure scenarios in the course of the novel is inspired. Davis has clearly offered a novel that will appeal to the imaginations of readers of all ages.