The Falcon's Feather (Explorer Academy #2) by Trudi Trueitt (MG Adventure Book Review)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Falcon's Feather
(Explorer Academy #2)
by Trudi Trueitt
Published by Under the Stars
on March 19, 2019
Genre: Middle Grade, Adventure
Length: 208 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

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Synopsis:
Cruz, Sailor, and Emmett, along with their new ally Bryndis, embark on their first globe-trotting mission aboard the ship Orion. Cruz jumps right back into school and starts using the latest technology in submersible underwater dives, but is soon reminded of the dangers of exploration when his equipment fails and he almost drowns. Determined to keep his eye on the prize, Cruz sneaks away to try to find answers but unknowingly lures his friends into bigger trouble. When a friend of Cruz's mom meets an untimely end, Cruz's luck really seems about to run out and the questions multiply. What does the message mean? Where will it lead? Who is following him? And why?

My Thoughts:

We return to 'Explorer Academy' aboard the Orion, the 'flagship of the Academy's fleet' in this excellent sequel to The Nebula Secret.
Split into teams, Cruz Coronado and his classmates continue their unique education while traveling across the globe. Cruz is determined to continue looking for the secrets his deceased mother has left for him and in the meantime, he and his team, Team Cousteau, stay busy learning, inventing things, cracking codes, and more, for grades! But the secret organization that Cruz is hiding his mother's secrets from will stop at nothing to get what they want. 

This is such an amazing series and I would expect nothing less of a National Geographic imprint! If you've ever enjoyed pouring over National Geographic magazines, educational books, or watched their documentaries, you sure to enjoy this fast-paced and adventurous middle-grade series. 

Explorer Academy accepts only the brightest and best for their unique boarding school. Kids in this school learn all about science, technology, conservation, and more, all while being physically immersed in hands-on activities and adventures that will prepare them for real-world situations. In The Falcon's Feather, Cruz gets some first-hand experience steering submersibles and diving to save the whales! 

These books are filled with fun content, learning opportunities, and lots of illustrations imposed over quality photography. There's also 'Truth Behind the Fiction' section included that explains some of the science, technology, and other advancements mentioned within this sequel!


Be sure to check out all of the books in the Explorer Academy series!

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The Nebula Secret (Explorer Academy #1) by Trudi Truett (MG Book Review)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Nebula Secret
Explorer Academy #1
by Trudi Truett
Published by Under the Stars
on September 4, 2018
Genre: Middle Grade, Adventure
Length: 208 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years


Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository



Synopsis:
Adventure, danger, and a thrilling global mission await 12-year-old Cruz Coronado as he joins an elite school for explorers. 

Cruz leaves his tranquil home in Hawaii to join 23 talented kids from around the globe to train at the Explorer Academy with the world's leading scientists to become the next generation of great explorers. But for Cruz, there's more at stake. No sooner has he arrived at the Academy than he discovers that his family has a mysterious past with the organization that could jeopardize his future. In the midst of codebreaking and cool classes, new friends and augmented reality expeditions, Cruz must tackle the biggest question of all: Who is out to get him, and why?

My Thoughts:

Cruz Coronado is thrilled to be admitted into the elite Explorer Academy boarding school where he and his classmates will be trained and tested on matters of science, exploration, conservation, and more. He's been hoping for it for as long as he can remember but someone doesn't seem to want him there at all and he must use his wits and the help of his friends and classmates to discover who and why.

The Nebula Effect is an action-packed middle-grade adventure filled with high-tech gadgets, simulators, and more, and includes a diverse group of characters from around the world. Cruz Coronado is from Hawaii but has classmates from Iceland, Scotland, and New Zealand, among others. We get to learn a little about their homelands, languages, and cultures, which really adds to the story experience.

This fun series will appeal to those who love adventure and learning, but also to tech lovers, coders, and anyone who loves a good fast-paced mystery! The mixture of a high-tech adventure school and a secret organization out to get Cruz for reasons he doesn't understand will keep you entertained and ready for the sequel!

The hardcover copy of this book is absolutely gorgeous, with a full-color naked cover, beautiful world map end pages, fun chapter headings that include closeups of setting locations and topography, as well as plenty of illustrations mixed in!

There's also a fun addition at the end of the book that shares the 'truth behind the fiction', with explanations of some of the technical terms mentioned in this book such as 4-D printing and augmented reality, as well as several real-life adventurers who live lives that the soon-to-be-explorers in this story --and perhaps even you-- dream to become. 

More from this series!

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