“Surely you’d know if you’d been possessed by Tzelek?” said Lola.  “Do you get black moods?  Do you think evil thoughts?  Are you bad tempered and irrationally angry?”

    “Yes,” nodded Max.  “It’s me, isn’t it?”

    “Of course it’s not you!” sighed Hermanjilio in exasperation. “Let us not confuse the emotional turmoil of adolescence with the inner workings of one of history’s most evil villains! Guess again!”

    Poor Max Murphy.  He’s a spoiled, and sometimes whiny, 14-year-old who grows up fast during an Indiana Jones-like adventure in a new book by husband-and-wife team Jon and Pamela Voelkel of Norwich, VT. The first book of the Jaguar Stones series, entitled Middleworld, was released in October by Lyme, NH publishers Smith & Sons (A Smith & Kraus Imprint).  Max leaves the comfort of his predictable life in Boston, Mass., for the Maya jungle on a search to find his missing archeologist parents.  It’s a tough road for Max as he navigates a real-life video game to unlock mysteries of the past.  Kids will love the twists and turns of the story, and cheer along with Max as he rescues his parents, gets the girl (well, gets the girl as his best friend) and saves the K’in (the Mayan word for day).  Parents will love what the book provides to their teens: a glimpse into the world of archeology, an educational look at another culture and several valuable life lessons.  The illustrations by Andrea Voelkel are also great fun.  The Jaguar Stones:  Book One Middleworld, priced at $17.95 can be found at the Norwich Bookstore and Borders in West Lebanon, NH. Learn more on the Web at www.jaguarstones.com.