Secrets of Stone and Sea by Allison K. Hymas

Abstract

Reviewed by: Secrets of Stone and Sea by Allison K. Hymas Danica Ronquillo Hymas, Allison K. Secrets of Stone and Sea. Roaring Brook, 2022 [304p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781250799470 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781250799487 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 5-7 A summer visit to their grandmother in the coastal town of Seaspire, Massachusetts, sounds delightful to twelve-year-old identical twins Kai and Peter, but their trip turns into a nightmare when an errant hotdog becomes an unintentional offering that wakes up an ancient deity who has the power to sink cities and worlds. The twins are gifted strange powers after the encounter, with Kai able to read and interpret any language and Peter able to activate ancient seals. With their newfound powers and the help of their historian grandmother (who is skilled in weaponry) and knowledgeable father (who is skilled in puns), they unravel riddles and codes to seal away the sea god before the next full moon and perhaps even find the lost city of Atlantis. Alternating narration between the two siblings effectively distinguishes each character: Kai is reckless while Peter is vigilant, and the two struggle to come to any sort of consensus—on both mundane and life-or-death matters—while facing the consequences of their actions. Rhymes and riddles feature Greek mythology and bits of Massachusetts’ history, but the information can be distracting and difficult to parse. Nevertheless, this action-packed book will engage young readers with clever wordplay and mysteries, as Kai and Peter face their fears on land and sea. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois