My review copy from the publishers of Ice Shock came in a nice yellow plastic cover with a reference to the Joshua Files website and a note that told me, “JOSH needs your help!” Of course, after I read the book I had to see what good old Josh needed me to do.

I’m not sure, but I think the SOS is a gimmick to get me to read the book. Still, it’s a good book, and if that’s the marketing ploy that works, more power to Josh and to Ms. Harris, the British author who wrote Invisible City, the first book in The Joshua Files series and the one I just read Ice Shock, the second book in the series. Zero Moment, the third book in the series is due out February 1st.

I read Ice Shock because it was nominated for a Cybil Award in the Middle Grade Fiction category. I haven’t read Invisible City, and I may or may not do so because I definitely know a lot of the plot of the first book from information contained in the second. I do plan to pick up a copy of Zero Moment when it comes out because I’m anxious to see what happens to Josh and his intended bride Ixchel.

Let’s back up. Josh Garcia is the British son of a Mexican archaeologist. When his father is reported dead as a result of a plane crash in Mexico, Josh must find out how he died and why. That’s the premise of the first book. Ice Shock takes place a couple of months after Josh has returned to Oxford, to his mother, with some answers, more questions, and orders from a mysterious mentor to shut down his blog. Unfortunately, the villains from the first book are still after Josh and after the ancient Mayan treasures he has discovered.

The book is part science fiction (space vehicles called Muwans that hover and land like helicopters), part fantasy (an invisible Mayan city), part mystery (what really happened to Josh’s father?), and part action adventure (Josh’s sport of choice is capoeira, “an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, music, and dance”). The book skews young adult. Although Josh is only supposed to be 13 years old, he feels older to me. Maybe European Mexican kids mature faster than Americans do.

Bottom line: fun, good cover, nice marketing, action adventure, boy appeal, good read.

Oh, I think the “Josh needs your help!” appeal is tied to a video game called The Descendant. Not my cuppa, but it might draw in the guys.