ABOUT THE BOOK:
An ancient Mayan civilization!
That's what Bubba and Squirt find when they travel through the mysterious
vortex for another wild adventure. There they meet archeologists who are
unearthing priceless artifacts.
But someone is stealing them. And an encounter with the Tate Duende awakens
magic within Bubba. Throw in the mysterious Alux and a new discovery and things
get sticky.
Will Bubba and Squirt solve the mystery, or will they be stuck forever in the
jungles of Belize?
Release date: September 15, 2020
$7.95, 6x9 trade paperback, 96 pages
Juvenile Fiction - Action Adventure (JUV001000)/Legends, Myths,
Fables-Caribbean & Latin American(JUV012070)/Fantasy & Magic(JUV037000)
Print ISBN 9781939844705 / EBook ISBN 9781939844712
$3.99 EBook available in all formats
Purchase Links:
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083S1VQ14
ITunes - https://books.apple.com/ca/book/bubba-and-squirts-mayan-adventure/id1495108829
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bubba-and-squirts-mayan-adventure-sherry-ellis/1136013293?ean=9781939844705
Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/bubba-and-squirt-s-mayan-adventure
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50624942-bubba-and-squirt-s-mayan-adventure
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sherry Ellis is an award-winning author and professional musician who plays and teaches the violin, viola, and piano. When she is not writing or engaged in musical activities, she can be found doing household chores, hiking, or exploring the world. Ellis lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
CONNECT WITH SHERRY:
Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure: A Look Behind the Scenes
By Sherry Ellis
It’s always fun to learn about the story behind the story. Here are eight fun facts about my book, Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure.
1. The story was inspired by a trip I took to Belize in November 1997. In my past life, I was an avid SCUBA diver. My trip to Belize was a SCUBA diving vacation with a group of dive buddies. As a side trip, we traveled inland to visit the Mayan ruins of Altun-Ha. I know first-hand what it’s like to climb all those steps of the pyramids!
2. The monkey in the story was inspired by a critter I met in Belize. We traveled to a small village while we were there. One of the kids had a pet monkey. For a dollar, he would put the monkey on a tourist’s shoulder and take a picture. Naturally, I had to do this. Let me tell you, the boy was the world’s worst photographer. The photo was blurry, and my head was cut off. He was, however, the world’s best salesman.
3. The muddy roads in the story are real. Our trip to Belize was right after a hurricane had rolled through. Diving conditions weren’t so fabulous. Neither were the roads. They were a muddy mess and our van almost got stuck. The van, by the way, closely resembled the one in the story. I have no idea how the thing even ran. The good news is, no trees fell in front of us!
4. Archeologists are still excavating the ruins of Altun-Ha. While I was there, they were working. Tourists couldn’t enter certain areas, just like in the story.
5. The original name of the story was Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Treasure. How did it get changed? Well, the publisher kept referring to it as “Mayan Adventure,” probably because it’s quite an adventure! When the cover came out, lo and behold, it said, “Mayan Adventure.” Instead of redoing it, we decided to rename the book. And so “Mayan Adventure” it is.
6. The first version of the story was written eight years ago. There were no magical elements in it other than the vortex through which Bubba and Squirt travel. The alux and Tate Duende were added a couple of years ago when I started conceiving the rest of the series. We’re aiming for three more after this one, all with magical elements.
7. The names of the characters in the story are all people I have met and known in my various travels throughout Mexico and Central America. None of them are from Belize and none of them are exactly as they are in the story. Their appearances, however, are similar.
8. The book is dedicated to my SCUBA diving instructor and his wife. I eventually became an instructor myself and ended up working for them and traveling with them. They were part of my own Mayan Adventure.
It's easy to see why this author has won so many book awards for her previous releases! This book is well-written, well-paced, and unique.
This is the second book in the 'Bubba and Squirt' adventure series. I feel the story can easily be read as a standalone.
There is a lot to like about this book, especially the friendly sibling banter between younger brother, Bubba, and his older sister, Squirt; the well-described setting for their adventures in the jungles of Belize; the historical significance of the Mayan Indian culture revealed through the course of the story; and the fantasy and mystery elements of the story which I expect will delight middle-grade readers.
The back matter in this book is exceptional. There are sections containing facts on the Mayan Indians and Altun Ha (a ceremonial center for the ancient Mayan Indians in Belize), two maps, a list of additional resources, and a bibliography. In addition, there is a detailed glossary containing Spanish words/numbers/names used in the story which are translated into English; and two recipes of foods served in the story.
Highly-recommended for fans of middle-grade Latin American fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, and Mayan Indian culture.
Disclosure: I was provided with a paperback review copy of this book by the publisher. I was not compensated in any way for posting a review on this site or any other site. This review expresses my own opinions.
Find the links to read more great Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts from middle-grade authors and bloggers at Greg Pattridge's 'Always in the Middle' Blog.
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Find the links to more great 'It's Monday! What Are You Reading?' (#IMWAYR) posts for children's and Young Adult books over at the Unleashing Readers website.
That's so cool that Sherry actually visited Belize. This sounds like a great story, and I'm excited to read it. Congrats to Sherry!
ReplyDeleteIf I could travel anywhere, I'd visit Australia because of the amazing geological diversity of the country.
ReplyDeleteHave read other reviews about this book, so I thoroughly enjoyed the Sherry Ellis interview. What an inspiring trip. Can only imagine she could see a story at every turn. The boy got his monkey in the photo! LOL! Sounds like a great salesman.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. We need shorter books like this one that appeal to a wide range of new MG readers. Thanks for featuring on MMGM.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds intriguing! Thanks for a great interview!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such a fun story! I've seen a lot of bloggers enjoying it. Thanks for the great post!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the author interview and appreciate the chance at winning a copy of this one. If I could travel anywhere, I think I'd visit the Holy Lands. It's a place hubby has always wanted to go and it would be wonderful to travel together. Thank you for sharing this title!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. It sounds like a fascinating read. I too have climbed up the steps of a Mayan temple. Getting up is easy. Coming down isn't for the faint of heart.
ReplyDeleteWe both reviewed this book this week! That's fun. I always enjoy and learn from hearing directly from authors. Thanks for this post.
ReplyDeleteI keep reading such great things about this one! I was in Honduras about the same time (1996), and I have experienced those muddy roads. There's something about an author having personal experience that makes a book come to life!
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