GATEWAY TO CITNALTA

Two brothers unearth an ancient civilization in Kluck’s debut middle-grade SF novel, the first in a series.

Albert Leonardo Fitzgerald (he prefers Alf) was devastated when his family moved to a new town in Wisconsin. But, after a year, he’s settled in and ready to start the sixth grade. His summer vacation will be spent in Peru, as he, his father, and his older brother, Andrew, join his archaeologist mother on a dig. The brothers are fanatic gamers who could play video games all day, but their mom insists they get some fresh air. One day, a hike leads them to a cave, where they find a hefty “miniature gold Frisbee.” It transpires that this disc is a key to Citnalta, an underground city, where a girl, Citlalli, has been frozen for millions of years. Kluck’s opening installment introduces an appealing young hero: Alf is a typically dramatic tween (for whom moving is practically the end of the world) who is also able to roll with the punches. His constant bickering with Andrew makes for entertaining scenes, as there’s no doubt that the brothers care for and look out for one another. While an early introduction to Citlalli’s people gives readers a hint of what’s to come (“In the distance, large plumes of dark smoke billowed from the pockmarked terrain. A yellow haze had blanketed the planet, which made it almost impossible to see the small ships that made their escape as they fled into the dense atmosphere”), there’s a touch of mystery as well, from the two unknown men keeping tabs on the brothers to the significance of Alf’s favorite video game. Much of this installment, however, is given over to exposition—establishing the Fitzgeralds’ home life, touring Citnalta, and explaining the keys and Alf’s potential “quest.” It’s more a buildup to subsequent entries than its own story, though readers will surely look forward to sequels.

A young cast headlines this diverting adventure that feels more like an introduction than a complete story.