a magical quest in the heart of the Costa Rican Rain Forest.
A wonderfully dramatic story set in the small Central American country of Costa Rica. A rich blend of cultures from the indigenous Indians, the colonising Spanish and today’s ubiquitous Transatlantics combine with faiths both ancient and modern to draw teenage heroine, Meg, into a real web of intrigue. Sometimes accompanied by friends, often by enemies and invariably by her own thoughts, she sets out to find her kidnapped brother, Rick. At the same time, new life is being breathed into Quetzalcoatl, the god of the Aztecs, by the mysterious RE teacher at the school where Meg and her friends are studying; bringing a terrifyingly new dimension to the search for Rick.
The linking of the heroine’s exploration of Mayan culture with the contemporary problems of the Indians gives this book an edgy, topical slant. Titles for teenage girls tend to be of the “Bridget Jones Junior” ilk; so it is nice to have a strong girl as a serious protagonist in this type of adventure story so often peopled by male characters. Literary Consultancy
Having edited and published well over a hundred novels and other books over the last six or seven years, I still regard “The Return of the Quetzal” one of the best I have had come my way. It would make an excellent reader for teenagers learning English. C. Muller. (Professor of English Literature and Editor of Diadem Books)
Return of the Quetzal is a ripping yarn, a wonderfully dramatic story based on the theme of faiths – religious faith, false faith, faith in one’s self, in other people, and in one’s roots. The teenage heroine, Meg, uprooted from her smug little middle class life in England, struggles to find her place in the multi-cultural broil of a small Central American country. She stands alone in both her doubts about the strangely compelling and mysterious new teacher and in her search for her missing brother until she meets Tony, her first friend in a strange country, and her first love. The quest for her brother in the heart of the Costa Rican Rain Forest is beautifully evoked, as is the terrific final climax to the book. Bette Paul (Children’s Author and Winner of the Carnegie Medal)
This story gripped my attention from the outset. It made for a compelling read. Most successful novels make the reader want to know what happens next and engage with the main character. “Quetzal” does this. An excellent opening, a lively narrative style, and a very good characterisation. Another strength is the rich vein of cross cultural background. Jeremy Davies, playwright and author
Excerpt
There were no marked trails and the terrain was steep and rigorous. Suddenly we lost sight of them altogether.
"Let's stop and rest,"said Tony. putting a comforting arm around me. "They're sure to come back for us if we get too far behind."
We drank water from the bag the Orruco woman had given us and began to eat some of the corn cakes.
It was then we heard a terrifying scream that rent the air. There was no mistaking it, it was the scream of someone in great pain.
Some time later, one of the trackers returned carrying a bloodied knife. We both looked at him, fearing what he had to say.
My memory of Elias is intimate but brief; I asked him, "what happened, where are you taking me, who are you? Tell me!"
In a calm voice; "Sara hush, you died.
