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The Thirteenth Key
This round-the-world adventure is wonderfully complex, and young readers will delight in the puzzles and exotic devices.
In The Thirteenth Key, Eduardo Penate brings together the best elements of young adult science fiction, from the arcane knowledge of a forgotten past to a fascinating reimagining of multiple universes. Although some scenes are slow to develop, each page holds new mysteries that will captivate young readers and take them on an exciting journey.
The story begins as twelve young strangers converge in a remote part of the Brazilian rain forest. They come from all corners of the world, and each represents one of the powerful and secretive Twelve Families. They seem to have little in common but soon discover that they each have unique and mysterious powers. Together, the twelve learn that they are tasked with unlocking a gate between dimensions, and that the fate of two universes rests in their hands.
The team must gather cryptic messages hidden in remote areas around the world, from the Grand Canyon to a small village in Tibet. On their quest, they are followed by shadowy agents and must brave dangerous traps and hazards. To complete their mission, the twelve first have to learn to trust each other and work together, which may be the toughest challenge of all.
The story is wonderfully complex, and young readers will delight in the wide range of locations, puzzles, and devices. But like other books that follow a group of protagonists, there is little in the way of individual character development. While some members of the team become more well rounded as they take unique roles within the group, others remain one-dimensional, largely due to instructions from their families not to divulge information about their past.
Some points in the story feel too routine as the group moves from one location to the next to unravel similarly structured puzzles, though readers are soon rewarded by the emergence of a more complicated plot that follows a range of satisfying twists and turns. Overall, the narrative would benefit from more tension, as some of the puzzles seem to be easily solved or too convenient. For example, the team happens upon a spyglass on the Canary Islands that is essential to deciphering a mystery at the Grand Canyon. While this connection is needed to progress the plot, presenting it linearly creates the impression that they are following an existing trail rather than unraveling a mystery.
The text also suffers from several typos, some awkward narration, and instances of stilted dialogue. However, the balanced use of new and familiar terms will make it an exciting challenge for readers eager for fresh ways to use language. Words like “precarious,” “unanimously,” and “transcendent” are presented in context to allow those with a growing vocabulary to learn new terms without being frustrated by obtuse usage.
The story is enjoyable and appropriate for young readers. The moral messages of teamwork and perseverance are clear without being contrived, and the diverse settings are certain to spark interest in some of the world’s most mysterious places.
Reviewed by
Eric Anderson
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
