The Tombs of Anak

Archaeologist Dr. Cooper and his kids, Jay and Lila, search for a lost co-worker in a tunnel under an unearthed temple of the Philistine god Dagon. They find themselves on the wrong side of Ha-Raphah, the Fearsome One, whom the locals revere and fear. What will it take to discover the true identity of this evil power?

Though I thought the premise for this book sounded too similar to the previous book in the series, it turned out to be quite a different story with quite a different outcome. The story was engaging all throughout, and so far, it's my favorite of the series.

I found the mystery behind Ha-Raphah really interesting, and even after light is shed on the mysterious being, he remained very sinister, as opposed to becoming less show more scary once his identity was known, which is what I expected. I read the last 1/3 or so of the book at night, and frankly, I went to bed feeling a little creeped out. This again reminded me of some of my favorite Peretti books, which is a big reason that I liked the book a lot in the end. As for kids that are the age the book is meant for, some might be a little scared, so it's a good thing to keep in mind if you're thinking of this book for your kid(s). Maybe read it first and gauge that aspect on an individual basis. show less

The Cooper Kid Series by Peretti is essentially a Christian Indiana Jones series for elementary kids. And it's marvelous! A bit dated (they were written in the 80s), but still worth reading. In particular, if you have boys who hate reading, this is a good start. They stories are fast-paced, with lots of action and plot twists and imminent danger and daring deeds of courage! I recommend for anyone, but in particular Christian parents who are looking for good books for their children.

This is book 3 in the series and so far, each one has taken on a local legend with a magical connotation and related it back to a Biblical principle.

I wish the author had not made Lila, the only Christian female, so scared much of the time compared to the other characters in the series, if only so little girls would have a character to relate to in the series.

This is a great example of a realistic fiction because though the story is not true, a very similar adventure could actually take place.