Customer Reviews

Land of the Lost Mammoths: A Science Adventure

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

"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.

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.

Mike Davis, as urban theorist, has always impressed me. With his effortless language and compelling way of sharing information it's no wonder that his first attempt as young adult novelist would be just as impressive. The book is certainly entertaining and action-packed, but more importantly it strives to teach young people valuable life lessons, such as non-violence and the meaning of friendship. In a time when most children are inundated with violence on a daily basis (movies, tv, videogames) it's a nobel effort. So get your kid to drop his/her Playstation and pick up this book instead. They just might develop a conscience.

I thought this book had a great plot. It was a lot like a movie that I saw a while ago which I really enjoyed. The writing is descriptive and informative and gives necessary in depth details about the characters and plot. The book is about four kids who are supposed to be the best science kids in the world. They go to a science workshop in Greenland and meet a scientist who takes them on a search for mammoths. I won't tell you what happens because that would spoil the story, but I do recommend this book for people who like science adveture stories.

Finally, a book for kids has been written that is more than just your average adventure. I am 13 years old, and this is one of the first books I've read that realizes that readers my age can deal with serious issues.

This book really made me think about ethics and the environment. When Julia, Jack, Conor, and Qav were debating whether to use a gun, I asked myself what I would do in the situation. I've never felt more involved in a book.

Apart from these heavy topics, the story of Land of the Lost Mammoths is really exciting! Before they know it, the characters are thrust into non-stop adventure. I couldn't put it down!

Here, Perceval Press delivers an offering that is delightfully different from its established niche in books centered on art, poetry and activist essays. Mike Davis brings forth a charismatic fictional tale that is sure to charm readers of all ages.

In "Land of the Lost Mammoths", Davis tells the story of four brilliant young students who spend their summer on a mysterious research project in the wilds of southeastern Greenland. Led by a renowned scientist and a powerful local spiritual leader, the group sets out on the adventure of their lives.

Not since I read James Hilton's "Lost Horizon" in my early teens have I been so captivated by a story that interweaves mystery and adventure so deftly with native cultures and the myths and tales of the long past. Davis' and Hilton's stories have much in common, as do their writing styles. The reader is drawn into the story immediately and turns each page eagerly anticipating the new developments. There is no section of this book where the plot slows or the interest wanes. You are propelled through all of the incredulous events as the story moves full-throttle towards the conclusion.

Davis has deftly modernized old themes of expansionist attitudes and conquest. It is refreshing to see believable characters who are concerned with their impact on native cultures, societies and habitats. The book inspires the young and encourages the not-so-young...and...anyone who honestly aspires to be called "Nuka".

Here, Perceval Press delivers an offering that is delightfully different from its established niche in books centered on art, poetry and activist essays. Mike Davis brings forth a charismatic fictional tale that is sure to charm readers of all ages.

In "Land of the Lost Mammoths", Davis tells the story of four brilliant young students who spend their summer on a mysterious research project in the wilds of southeastern Greenland. Led by a renowned scientist and a powerful local spiritual leader, the group sets out on the adventure of their lives.

Not since I read James Hilton's "Lost Horizon" in my early teens have I been so captivated by a story that interweaves mystery and adventure so deftly with native cultures and the myths and tales of the long past. Davis' and Hilton's stories have much in common, as do their writing styles. The reader is drawn into the story immediately and turns each page eagerly anticipating the new developments. There is no section of this book where the plot slows or the interest wanes. You are propelled through all of the incredulous events as the story moves full-throttle towards the conclusion.

Davis has deftly modernized old themes of expansionist attitudes and conquest. It is refreshing to see believable characters who are concerned with their impact on native cultures, societies and habitats. The book inspires the young and encourages the not-so-young...and...anyone who honestly aspires to be called "Nuka".

What a terrific book! Mike Davis sweeps the reader along with his teenage adventurers Jack, Julia, Conor, and Qav into the icy haunted reaches of Greenland with a flair and a verve that took me back to boyhood days spent under the spell of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Lost World" (the inspiration for "Jurassic Park"), Jules Verne's "Journey to the Center of the Earth, and all the stories by Robert Louis Stevenson and H. G. Wells I could lay my hands on. Jack and his friends are brainy and brave, one or another of them knows all about carbon dating, kayaking, mountaineering, plate tectonics, and "refugia," and needless to say, all of this knowledge turns out to be handy, even life-saving, as they penetrate a weird and enthralling Arctic lost world. Through all their adventures, their loyalty and example of mutual aid are as impressive as their derring-do. For anyone who has ever wondered, as I did, why no one writes like Conan Doyle, Verne, Wells, or Stevenson any more -- Davis, a MacArthur fellow, does just that. This is a book to share with your friends of all ages. Perceval Press has done a beautiful job producing it, and the illustrations by William Simpson are as magical as the prose. He and Davis are a combination to compare with R. L. Stevenson and N. C. Wyeth.

As a mom who enjoys reading to her son at bedtime, I found Mike Davis' Land of the Lost Mammoths: A Science Adventure to be a real treat. The story moves quickly and is compelling, but most of all, it's refreshingly intelligent. So many books for kids today are "dummied-down" as though the authors are afraid to use language that might force a child to use a dictionary! Here, Davis informs and educates as well as entertains his readers. My son was thoroughly engaged and it raised some interesting discussions as we tried to figure out what would happen next. Also, my son loves science and the characters in this book reinforce the notion that science is a "cool" thing. A great message for a parent to share with their child.