INDIANA BONES

Twelve-year-old archaeologist Aisha Ghatak and her talking dog, Indiana Bones, are determined to find the treasure trove of a French knight that has been successfully hidden for many years.

Aisha, a little girl from Oxford, England, loves her father’s stories, especially those that revolve around his work as a renowned archaeologist. Born and raised in India, Dr. Ghatak is the leading expert on the knight known as the Lonely Avenger, who notoriously amassed a treasure in ancient times. Aisha has long thought of Indiana Bones as her sidekick and co-investigator, so when she becomes determined to find the treasure, she knows that she and Indiana Bones need to work together in order to discover the truth—even if that means that the pair have to head to Egypt alone. Heape’s prose strikes the right mix of funny and clever, and Aisha’s boldness will find fans in many readers. The pair also meet helpful grown-ups whose expertise refreshingly rejects traditional gender roles. Although Aisha’s Indian heritage is occasionally referred to (she learned to pick locks from her grandfather during a summer trip to the family home), the primary focus is solving the mystery at the heart of the novel. Cheerful spot art adds to the fun as Aisha and her adorably scruffy canine friend pursue their goal.

A heartfelt adventure story with a heroine readers will enjoy rooting for.