Odom, Mel. Hunter's league, volume one

Kliatt, Jan, 2005 by Claire Rosser

ODOM, Mel. Hunter's league, volume one. Simon & Schuster. 252p. c2005. 0-68986608-9. $5.99. JS

This begins a series of adventures set in 19th-century London, with a group of friends battling sinister men determined to undermine the British government, seizing power and wealth. The main character is Matthew, whose mother was murdered as his father tried to catch the bad guys. Matthew's father is present at the beginning of this book, obsessed with bringing down the men who killed his beloved wife. Soon he too is murdered. Joining Matthew are his friend Paul, another aristocrat, and Gabriel, a Cockney thief. The action includes fighting off mechanical gargoyles, stealing into a museum to examine a mummy, and wading through foul sewers while carrying a sawed-off mummy's head.

At the end of the story, the evil-doers are still at large, but the friends have survived the first round; more adventure is coming in future volumes. The young men in this league are brave, intelligent, independent heroes, and their opponents are powerful. There are elements of fantasy and horror, but basically this is an adventure story. Mel Odom has written many books for teenagers, and he knows his audience well. Claire Rosser, KLIATT

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.