The Santa Fe Jail

September 1, 2012

Gr 4 Up-In Mysterious Manuscript, Mortensen goes back to Scotland in the 1500s where a manuscript has shown up with a drawing of an airplane. In Santa Fe Jail, he is on the hunt for a kidnapped scientist who is dumped in the past. A small team of scientists has developed a new technology where it is possible to travel through time, but the technology has fallen into the wrong hands and it is up to the protagonist to prevent the present from being altered. Occasionally, the shifts through time (the constant back and forth) in the stories is confusing. Still, adventure and history fans will enjoy watching Mortensen as he tries to solve the mystery in the first book and rescue the scientist in the second. While reminiscent of Herge's "Tintin" tales, these slim volumes are not as sophisticated or exciting as those stories. Still, they're sure to find an appreciative audience. The artwork is a throwback to the early days of the comics industry. Bland colors are quite dominant, but have just a hint of bright colors to draw in readers' eyes. Additional purchases.-Esther Keller, I.S. 278, Marine Park, NY

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.