While Modo has spent a quiet winter recovering from hisadventure in the dark deeps, talk of ancient Egyptianruins in the midst of the Australian rainforest has been swirlingaround London. A temple bulges with riches, but also containsdanger: the infamous God Face. No one knows what the GodFace is or what it is made of, but it is rumoured to be a powerfulweapon; anyone who looks upon it will be driven mad.

Modo’s next assignment? Go to Queensland in Australiaand discover the truth behind the God Face. He won’t be alone:Octavia and even Mr. Socrates will be accompanying him, aswell as Mrs. Finchley, Modo’s beloved caregiver from childhooddays. But hot on their trail is the Clockwork Guild, witha brand-new weapon—mechanical birds, capable of transmittingsignals as well as delivering poison.

With an airship battle, an escape from spear-waving nativesand an astounding discovery—one that hinges on Modo’strue appearance—the Hunchback Assignments series continuesto enthrall readers of all ages!

The first volume in ARTHUR SLADE’s Hunchback Assignments series won the prestigious TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, and the second volume, The Dark Deeps, was a finalist for the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award and the CLA Young Adult Book Award. Slade is also the author of Dust, a national bestseller and the winner of the 2001 Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature, the Mr. Christie’s Book Award and the Saskatchewan Book Award for Children’s Literature. His other books include Tribes, Megiddo’s Shadow, Jolted, Monsterology, Villainology and the Canadian Chills series. He lives in Saskatoon. Visit him online at arthurslade.com.

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Empire of Ruins: The Hunchback Assignments III

In this third installment of The Hunchback Assignments, Modo travels to the rainforests of Queensland, Australia, to discover the truth about ancient Egyptian ruins that shelter the God Face — a powerful weapon that can drive men mad. Accompanying him on this quest are his colleague Octavia, his master Mr. Socrates, his former trainer Tharpa and Lizzie, an old friend of Mr. Socrates who pilots the aeronautic balloon in which they travel. Once again, Modo and Octavia are up against Miss Hakkandottir and The Clockwork Guild in this race to retrieve the God Face. And to make matters worse, the Guild have created yet another deadly weapon that will impede Modo and his friends’ progress — mechanical birds that transmit signals and deliver poison from their metallic claws.

This series has to be one of the best reads available to steampunk fans and adventure seekers alike. From the aeronautic balloon to the mechanical birds that Dr. Hyde creates for The Clockwork Guild, Arthur Slade has created another thrilling adventure for Modo and Octavia to embark upon. Slade has once again managed to endear his hero to us as Modo finds acceptance among the Rain People of Queensland, takes a moral stand with Mr. Socrates and reveals his true face to Octavia. Filled with characters that evoke a multitude of emotions, action-packed sequences and a host of imaginary mechanical devices, this is a hard book to put down. I would recommend it for students from Grades 5 and up (and parents, too).

Empire of Ruins: The Hunchback Assignments III

On his next assignment, Modo is off to Queensland, Australia, to discover the truth behind the God Face. Flying by airship into the rainforest, Modo is accompanied by Octavia, Mr. Socrates and his loyal companion, Tharpa. In a race against the Clockwork Guild and Miss Hakkandottir, Modo and his companions must survive an airship battle, a trek through the rainforest and a journey into an ancient temple.