The Amazon

When their mother disappears in the Amazon rainforest while researching golden lion tamarins, two siblings leave base camp to seek her in this uneven, environmentally conscious mystery. Resourceful, fact-savvy Asia Wilde, 13, and fearless Ring, 11, are often left to their own devices by their ambitious parents, but Asia's field notebooks betray a yearning for regular school over global homeschooling. Their conservation-biologist mother frequently goes off-grid during field work, and their veterinarian father operates a massive Texas animal park, specializing in conserving rare and endangered animals. Currently staying with their mother south of Altamira near Brazil's Xingu River, the kids wake to find they've been deserted by their camp crew and their mom is missing from her zipline-connected network of treetop research platforms. The nearest adult is their dithering tutor, until the arrival of an Indigenous Kayapo man, Raoni, who holds an advanced degree in cultural anthropology and conservation biology, and who helps the children after wildlife-cam footage deepens the mystery. Though Raoni's undercover impersonation of "an ignorant Kayapo" strikes a strange note, thrilling, high-stakes escape scenes propel the plot and eco-justice message as Smith (The Switch) reveals the terrible damage inflicted by government and industry on Indigenous lands and wildlife habitats. Ages 9--10. (Apr.)

Prolific wilderness adventure author Smith takes readers on a wild ride in his latest book, featuring an American family pursued by gold-seeking criminals in the Amazon. When their mom, respected conservation biologist Dr. Jane Wilde, goes missing during a research trip in Brazil, sister and brother Asia, 13, and Ring, 11, are plunged headlong into the heart of the rainforest. The kids' veterinarian dad is kept busy at home in Texas as director of the family's enormous animal park. The omniscient narrator moves between the characters, focusing mainly on the siblings. Asia, despite her encyclopedic scientific knowledge, is desperate to attend a regular school rather than being home-schooled in the field. Meanwhile, impulsive Ring is happy going along for the ride, something that grates on Asia. Over the next few whirlwind days, the young Wildes learn what it means to survive and fight for someone they love--and for their own lives. Smith moves the story along at a breakneck pace as the siblings, along with Prof. Bob, their tutor, and Raoni, a multilingual Kayapo man they meet by chance, race through the jungle trying to save Dr. Jane--and, indirectly, her beloved, endangered golden lion tamarins. Along the way, readers are introduced to information about the environment and politics of the region, the Brazilian government's hostile treatment of Indigenous people, and the corrupt, profit-driven gold mining industry. The Wildes are cued White. A fun, fast-paced thrill ride. (Adventure. 9-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.