Harley's father is an archaeologist, and they're currently at a dig in Guatemala. Their family of two has been traveling together to digs around the world for years, so Harley is used to the routine.

When she isn't doing sixth-grade homework or being tutored (by Jessica, a graduate student), she enjoys cryptography; solving and using codes and cyphers.

Thanks to Harley's hobby, she almost stumbles onto a valuable artifact. But it's soon out of her possession, and on its way to causing the return of three ancient kings of the Maya. By reuniting the three relics, legend says the kings will raise an army of the dead and rule the world. So it would be bad.

A thirteen year old girl needs help to save the world, so Aly and an surprising character join Harley (and a couple of cheerful dogs), in their mission to thwart an evil society and save Guatemala if not the world!

This is a fun adventure story with a little history and geography mixed in, and not so much reality that it spoils things (i.e., the kids walk through the jungle at night). There are no descriptions of the Mayan glyphs or symbols, but drawings are included where it matters.

I was disappointed that Harley, such a bright girl, couldn't think of a way to hold onto the dog's leash.

4/5 Stars

Thanks to Vision Forty and NetGalley for the preview of this ebook; the review is voluntary.

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History, mystery, puzzles, and tons of action make this the perfect book to get lost in and leaves the wish to travel the world.

Harley is the only daughter of an archaeologist, and gets to travel the world and visit the most amazing places. While in a jungle in South America, Harley heads out to explore a little on her own...which her father wouldn't like if he knew...and runs across an ancient wall buried between the trees. When she figures out which stone is missing and fits it into place, a hidden statue comes into view. She wants to show it to her father and hides it under her bed until she has a chance, but someone steals it. Not only does she need to figure out who took it, but coded notes, secret meetings and a strange boy mean she's in for more than just a little adventure.

This is the first book in a series, and what a beginning it is! Harley is a curious girl, who loves to solve puzzles and likes to explore. She ranks friendship high, loves her father, isn't a homework fan, and despite her desire for a little more independence, does hesitate, sometimes. In other words, she's a pretty normal girl, who many readers will be able to identify with and wish they could explore with her.

The pacing makes this book hard to put down. Something is always happening, and little clues slide in here and there. Written in first person, the reader always knows what Harley is thinking, and her down-to-earth nature makes her easy to identify with. The mystery mixes with tension, and the twists and turns aren't always easy to see coming. The characters leave just enough uncertainty in their true natures and intentions to keep the reader guessing. And all of it is age appropriate.

While the tale is already fun, puzzles and historical facts give it even more richness. The reader gets to solve the riddles with Harley, and these vary in types and difficulty. The entire tale is based on historical and cultural facts and myths, allowing the reader to learn more about the Mayans along the way. None of this comes across as preachy or teach-y, but rather, it melds right in with the plot. As an extra bonus, the website offers puzzles, facts and other tidbits connected with the story. So, there are quite a few possibilities and things to do. Oh, and there are illustrations sprinkled in the chapters as well.

This is a read for mystery and puzzle fans with more than a little adventure, and the beginning of what promises to be a great series. So, yes, I can recommend this one. I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley and am so glad I gave this one a go.

All of the family enjoyed this one, even grumpy grandad was cheering Harley on. He even had some interesting facts about the Mayans to add to the story. Once he had nodded off again, we got back to the story and only stopped for lunch and toilet breaks. A great family read. Has a good story, a bit of history and myth and spurred the children on to go and find out more about the Mayans. Except the younger who will be in the person's of Harley for some time to come.

Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings is an action-packed adventure perfect for young readers! I loved that the main character, Harley, was a 12 year old girl, rivaling Indiana Jones or Rick O'Connell from the Mummy. Harley is strong, smart, and passionate and I love that young girls will be able to see themselves in this book!

The mixture of fact and fiction with all the history, mythology, and cryptology will draw in readers of all ages! It was fun to learn about Mayan history and try to solve the puzzles that Harley runs into. Overall, Harley James and the Mystery of the Mayan Kings is a fantastic books for young readers. I plan on buying a copy to read out-loud to my young first graders and I know they will be sucked right in. Looking forward to more of Harley's adventures!

Thank you NetGalley and Vision Forty for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.