• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7
• Reading age: 8 to 12

“Oertel knows how to develop a scene for maximum humorous or scary effect.”—Kirkus Reviews

When their friend is accused of stealing ancient artifacts, Cody, Eric, and Rachel spring into action. And this time, that action takes them far away from their sleepy town of Sultana and deep into the jungles of Panama! Can these smart thirteen-year-olds figure out who is pilfering crystal skulls, and why? Find out in this hair-raising installment of the fun-filled Shenanigans Series.

Andreas Oertel has travelled all over the world and had a hundred different jobs -- everything from rickshaw driver to health inspector -- but his favourite occupation is writing. His middle grade fiction is critically acclaimed and has been nominated for several awards, including the Silver Birch Award, Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award, and Charlotte Award. Andreas spends much of his free time visiting schools, and in 2012 and 2013 he was Writer in Residence at Lac du Bonnet's Centennial School. He lives with his wife, Diane, next to the Lee River in Manitoba.

Andreas Oertel's profile page

Oertel does an excellent job of building suspense as the junior sleuths try to track a stolen crystal skull and run up against a multimillionaire collector who threatens to blow up an archeological dig. The author also manages to introduce plenty of humour at Eric’s expense.

Winnipeg Free Press

“It's an exciting and enjoyable read from page one to the very end. Kids will learn a bit about how archeologists work and a great deal about what fun it can be pulling off leeches acquired in a night trek through the rain forest. Which is to say, the yuck factor is acceptably high, the tension mounts as it ought, and Panama Pursuit is indeed a good read that kids will enjoy a lot. I did.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials