This is number two in The Cooper Kids Adventures series by Frank E. Peretti. I have read it several times finding them in thrift stores. I was going to give it a quick read just to remind me of the story - but lingered because I had forgotten how well Peretti wrote and ended up reading everything word by word.

Very fast pasted adventure story -- but is dark in places with pagan rituals and human sacrifice and better for a more mature reader.

It is filled with Christian beliefs that blend in with the story -- page 26
"But surely a man of God like yourself would know that there are only two sources of such things: supernatural occurrences are either from God or from Satan. There's really nothing very mysterious about it."

p.54
"Listen to me, MacKenzie, and listen well. I don't know what this Moro-Kunda of yours is, but I assure you, you are now tampering with a God who is more than a match for any curses or powers you can dream up." ( )

Archaeologist Dr. Cooper and his kids, Jay and Lila, travel to an island in the South Pacific to find a man thought dead, after recent letter in the man's handwriting was found floating in the ocean, on the dead body of a man whose cause of death was not completely clear.

I liked this book a lot more than the first one. While the first one had supernatural elements that require a lot of suspension of disbelief, the things that happened in this one were a lot more believable. The danger felt more real. And it had shades of two of my favorite Peretti books, The Oath and Hangman's Curse.

I love the way Dr. Cooper stands up to everything with his faith and trust in God. I've gotten to a point while reading these books that when someone tries to warn his family away because the evil spirit or god in the area is dangerous or scary, I just smile as I wait for Dr. Cooper to tell them how much greater his God is. It's a great lesson for the kids these books are written for. While they're not likely to face anything close to what the Cooper family faces, their trust in God really can combat any fear. ( )

I like the faith of the main characters (the Cooper family) and of the true missionary they were sent to find. I like that some of the Villagers were loyal to the true missionary and to God even when it looked like they were working for the bad guys.

It was tough to read about the pagan culture being exploited by the bad guy and all the things he had his followers do. It was nice to see good win in the end. ( )

The Cooper Kid Series by Peretti is essentially a Christian Indiana Jones series for elementary kids. And it's marvelous! A bit dated (they were written in the 80s), but still worth reading. In particular, if you have boys who hate reading, this is a good start. They stories are fast-paced, with lots of action and plot twists and imminent danger and daring deeds of courage! I recommend for anyone, but in particular Christian parents who are looking for good books for their children. ( )

This book is about the the Religious Cooper Family, they go on many missions around the world praising God and converting people. It is a very easy read, but full of mystery and suspense. ( )