Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx [Hardcover]

James Rollins (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Jake Ransom

Using his father's watch as a key, Jake intends to return to Calypsos. Instead he's thrust into a strange desert land where he's joined by his friends Marika, Pindor, and Bach'uuk and his sister, Kady. As they try to figure out what to do next, a surprise attack by the beautiful young Princess Nefertiti takes them all captive.

Soon even she is battling the Skull King's minions. For Jake has something the Skull King wants—a prize that will give its owner awesome power, including control of the fearsome Howling Sphinx. In a new pounding adventure, Jake races against time to outfight and outwit Kalverum Rex, knowing that if the Skull King wins, he'll be unstoppable.

Filled with unexpected danger, challenging puzzles, and dazzling action, this is a first-rate, fast-paced thriller—a read only James Rollins could have created!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Exclusive: James Rollins on Writing Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx

Over the years, I’ve always included a note at the end of my thrillers, where I address what’s true and what’s not in my novels—so I thought I’d do the same here.

But before I get started, a bit about myself. Though I earned my degree in veterinary medicine, I’ve always been an armchair archaeologist. I’ve loved all things buried and lost to time. In fact, I maintain a Cabinet of Curiosities at home, where I display all manner of the weird and strange—from giant fossilized specimens to tiny, pinned insects. And gracing the top of the cabinet is a massive 100,000-year-old mammoth tusk from China.

So as you might guess, the young adventurer Jake Ransom is close to my heart—and for Jake, I saved my wildest and best adventure of all.

The series is chocked full of the fantastic, but it’s also grounded in reality. Each novel centers on a different lost culture from Earth’s past. First up are the ancient Maya. Throughout the book appear various Mayan glyphs, the symbolic writing of these Mesoamerican people. The glyphs in the book are real, and each plays an important role in the adventure. Likewise, details of the Mayan culture—from the clothing they wear to their astounding skill at astronomy—are all factual and integral to the story. Additionally, there are several fun facts for kids, too… like how the ancient Maya invented chocolate and chewing gum.

Lastly, for this series I’ve also created my own cryptic language, snatches of which appear in this novel. The alphabet breaks down to English equivalents, so for the more industrious readers, they can translate these bits of language to reveal secret messages.

So that’s just a hint of the truth behind the fantastic world of Jake Ransom. I hope you grab a backpack and come join me—the adventure is just beginning!

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author James Rollins holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine and resides in the Sierra Nevada mountains. An avid spelunker and certified scuba enthusiast, he can often be found under-ground or underwater.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061473820
• ISBN-13: 978-0061473821
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Multicultural Stories > Hispanic & Latino

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Walk Like an Egyptian, May 3, 2011

By 

Susan Tunis (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx (Hardcover)

James Rollins is a natural-born storyteller, of that there can be no doubt. As a long-time fan of his adult novels, I have absolutely no problem embracing a whiz-bang of a YA page-turner, and this one's a doozy! The story began in Rollins' YA debut, Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow. Mr. Rollins helpfully recaps the highlights of the first book, but I really think you're going to want to read these books in order. As you may have gathered, Jake Ransom and his sister Kady are back. This book picks up their story just three months after the events of the first. The VVV (Vaguely Voldemortian Villain) that they defeated in the first novel is still gunning for them. In fact, a brief prologue set in Egypt's Valley of the Kings involves the discovery of an ancient artifact and ends with these ominous words: "With this, I will make Jake Ransom suffer."

Meanwhile, after barely escaping the lost world of Calypsos with their lives, both Jake and Kady have taken a sudden interest in self-defense. Jake studies tae kwon do, and when not cheerleading, Kady fences. The last book ended with a small clue to the fate of their missing archeologist parents. But suddenly others want to get their hands on the clue that Jake and Kady found. Something is definitely up. And the two have a strong suspicion that it has to do with an Egyptian exhibit that's about to open in New York. They're correct; as an artifact in the exhibit turns out to be the lock that fits their key--and abruptly they're transported... Not back to Calypsos. They've landed in a scorching hot desert, in a land very much like Egypt--if Egypt had velociraptors!

I don't want to tell much more. The fun is in the twists and turns, the thrills and chills. And, believe me, there are plenty! The pace of the novel gallops along breathlessly (much like a kid running from a dinosaur). Rollins introduced such terrific characters in the first novel, you'll be happy to hear that even though the setting has changed, many of those characters are back. And there's something so sweet about the relationships and interactions of these young protagonists, most of whom are still at the hand-holding stage of life. Despite their youth, however, this is an impressive group. The adult characters don't talk down to them. In addition to the returning friends, several new characters are introduced in this book, but none is more endearing than the wisling. I'm in love!

Always the most important relationship, and the catalyst for these stories, is Jake and Kady's search for their parents. There are more questions, but also more answers in this latest installment. It ends with plenty of foreshadowing for the next novel and beyond. ("A great war is coming, spreading across time.") I believe I heard there will be seven books in this series. Who knows where Jake, Kady, and I will be in our lives before it's all over? One thing I do know is that I'll be along for the duration of this wild, time-traveling ride!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME!!!, May 4, 2011

By 

Berserkangel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx (Hardcover)

Let me just say I was a huge fan of the first book.But this book is 10 times better.I know it sounds ridiculous,but the action is edge-on-your seat.This book starts off great-I won't say how.Definitely better than the first book.And it keeps you breathless the whole way.The whole time I was thinking,Man,I don't want this to end." As this book is a hefty 362 pages,it kept me busy for quiet a while.I recommend this book whole-heartedly to anyone who wants a REALLY good read.Way to go James Rollins!Since it has been almost 2 years since the first book was released, I fervently hope that the third book( which of COURSE there will be one,InshAllah)won't take HALF as long.I'm waiting on pins and needles for it to come out.Until then,I'll read this book over and over and over again till I've got it memorized!

P.S I just turned 12.

----UPDATE----
No longer is this my favorite book..sorry, Rollins.Of course I still love this book,but with the time passing,I have discovered new delights.Well,I am now 12 and three quarters.Not THAT much time passed.

P.S Try Artemis Fowl.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An action heavy story that will appeal to readers who crave adventure, suspense and a hero with a big heart, June 8, 2011

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx (Hardcover)

For months, Jake Ransom has experienced frightening nightmares and has gone through the motions of middle-grade life in his Connecticut home. With a heart heavy from grief brought on by not knowing the fate of his mother and father, Jake has taken up Tae Kwon Do. His older sister Kady fills her high school days with friends and cheerleading, as well as taking up a sword and learning how to fence.

Months earlier, after Jake and Kady returned from Pangaea, they made a pact not to tell anyone about the discovery of their father's pocket watch.

Determined to find out if their parents are dead or lost somewhere in time, Jake and Kady hope to use their father's watch to return to the prehistoric world of Calypsos, where Jake has stared down Kalverum Rex, the evil Skull King. Jake is certain his father's gold anniversary pocket watch is the key to unlocking the mystery of his parents' disappearance, and is convinced that his mother's inscription inside the watch gives a significant clue.

At Tae Kwon Do practice one day, Jake survives a fiery accident. But was it an accident? When he returns home, he interrupts a burglary and is almost kidnapped. Was the kidnapping a ruse to trick Jake into revealing the location of the watch? The following day, while viewing a special exhibit of an Egyptian mummy during a visit to a museum, Jake is transported to a strange desert land, where he is joined by Kady as well as Pindor, Marika and Bach'uuk --- all friends from his previous visit to Calypsos. In the hostile desert land, they are attacked by a pack of blood-thirsty velociraptors, taken captive by a tribe of hunters led by Princess Nefertiti and pursued once again by the Skull King.

JAKE RANSOM AND THE HOWLING SPHINX, the sequel to JAKE RANSOM AND THE SKULL KING'S SHADOW, is filled with action, surprises and intrigue. I've read several novels written by James Rollins, and he knows how to build and maintain suspense. His latest starts off with a bang and has lots of twists and turns and dramatic elements. At times I found the action confusing --- although that might be because I didn't read the first installment. While the story is told from Jake's middle-grader point of view, the voice slips into an older perspective. When he describes Master Kree as being "handsome like an Egyptian James Bond," the James Bond reference doesn't sound like a connection a middle grader would make --- at least not the one in my household.

Despite that, JAKE RANSOM AND THE HOWLING SPHINX is an action-heavy story that should appeal to readers who crave adventure, suspense and a hero with a big heart.

--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt