Itch Rocks: The Further Adventures of an Element Hunter
Gr 7 Up—Mayo picks up the story of Itchingham Lofte just a few months after he has survived kidnapping by a psychopath and near-fatal levels of radiation. Cornish high-schooler "Itch," as he is known to all and sundry, managed to hide several samples of the heretofore unknown element 126 that has potential as a source of energy and a horrible weapon. Now he and his family are protected 24/7 by a team of MI5 agents and with good reason. Nathaniel Flowerdew, Itch's kidnapper, and Shivvi Tan Fook, Flowerdew's murderous associate, want 126, as do other criminal groups, and that means they need to trick or force the location from Itch. School is strange for Itch, his sister Chloe, and his cousin Jack, especially now that the formerly friendly Lucy Cavendish has become inexplicably cold and even vicious toward the trio. MI5 foils one kidnapping attempt but Itch and the girls are fooled into ducking their minders, and all three are captured. Shivvi coerces Itch to return to face element 126 at Woodingdean Well. Mayo carefully layers action with moments between family and friends to provide both adrenaline and a human side to the story. Itch, Chloe, and Jack are terrific characters who combine brains, heart, and will in a believable fashion. Regardless of their feelings about science, readers will cheer for these kids.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library Wisconsin Rapids