Book Reviews
There are lots of great review of the MacGregor series. Click on the name of the book to see the reviews for that book.
Reviews for Cayman Gold
Cive Cussler, Author of 25 Best-selling Novels, 80 million in print
“Trout has written a tale for young people the way it should be written.”
“Children’s Bookwatch” • Midwest Book Review (Wisconsin) • February 2000
“Cayman Gold is a well crafted adventure with meticulous attention to accuracy in detail and highly recommended reading for teens and young adults.” James Cox, Editor-in-Chief
KLIATT • Journal for Librarians • May 2000
“In this quick-moving adventure story, teenagers who are expert scuba divers bump up against modern-day pirates. In 1622, two famous hurricanes destroyed numerous Spanish galleons as they sailed in the Caribbean. As they sank, they dumped precious cargo on the ocean floors and into tiny crevices on the islands. Dr. MacGregor, a world-renowned zoologist, brings his children to the Cayman islands because he is studying endangered species and investigating the sea turtle conservation project there. The children, ages 17, 14, and 12 and all trained in survival tactics, are quickly drawn into a sinister plot. The 17-year-old boy falls in love with an island visitor who also becomes involved in the intrigue. The author, an environmental biologist and college professor, shows his love and fierce protectiveness of natural resources and endangered species.
This story is fun to read while making teens aware of environmental issues.”
Sherri Forgash Ginsberg, Duke School for Children, Chapel Hill, N.C.
VOYA • Journal for Librarians • August 2000
“Science fact and fiction based on folklore intertwine in this fast-paced story of pirate gold and adventure. In an increasingly rare story line, the family is intact, with parents who are intelligent and involved in the lives of their children. …surely will appeal to older teens–mostly boys–looking for a blend of adventure and a bit of romance.”
Pam Carlson
“Book Briefs” • The Sunday Oklahoman • February 13, 2000
“…..Billed as a young adult-family novel, this adventure story offers suspense and some good lessons in conservation.” Kay Dyer
“Kids Books” • Northwest Metro Times • February 22, 2000
“This riveting story combines historical events, hurricanes, daring escapades and some nasty bad guys and puts them all together in a way that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page.” Dale Knowles
“An action-packed journey for young adults through the trials and triumphs of wildlife conservation in the African bush.” Dr. Delia and Mark Owens, Zoologists Authors of the bestselling Cry of the Kalahari and The Eye of the Elephant and the National Geographic film, African Odyssey
Children’s Bookwatch
Richard Trout’s Elephant Tears: Mask of the Elephant is a thriller adventure novel set in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro, moves across the wild game parks of East Africa, and ends up at the seaport of exotic Mombasa, when the three MacGregor kids, their mother, and their zoologist father are in search of ivory poachers. Superbly researched and written Elephant Tears is one of those infrequent novels for young readers that are so easy to pick up, and so hard to put down! Also highly recommended is Trout’s first adventure novel featuring the MacGregors, Cayman Gold: Lost Treasure of Devils Grotto. James Cox, Editor-In-Chief
KLIATT • Journal for Librarians • September 2000
“….the author weaves an exciting adventure while stressing the importance of protecting the earth’s dwindling resources and endangered animals. It is a powerful, enlightening novel that remains exciting without being didactic.” Sherri Forgash Ginsberg, Duke School for Children, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Kid’s Books • Northwest Metro Times • August 2000
“Trout’s ‘Elephant Tears Will Grab Kids’ Attention”
How does being chased by a mamba (while in a Land Rover), being rescued by a giant secretary bird, having a tire blown out because of a shot from a .375 double rifle, being attacked by wild dogs, spending the night in a Baobab tree and being saved by a group of Samburu warriors grab you for an exciting adventure? Well, that is what is in store for you in Chapter 1 from this great African adventure book, “Elephant Tears.” And there are 17 more chapters. Once again we are following the MacGregor family with Jack and Mavis and their children, Chris, Heather, and Ryan, or R.O. as he prefers. This time they are in East Africa in Kenya where Dr. MacGregor, a noted zoologist, is working with the Kenya Wildlife Service in helping them assess the big game population to see if their efforts, along with the rest of the world, have helped maintain a strong animal population.
However, there are sinister forces at work here. There is still a lot of money to be made on the black market selling ivory, lion skins and skulls, and other exotic animal skins. And there are those in responsible positions within the Kenyan government who are willing to sacrifice the animals for their own personal monetary gain.
All these things and more are at work in this action-filled thriller set in the plains of East Africa. This is a book you will want to read for the excitement factor as well as gaining a lot of insight into the problems of wildlife survival. I certainly enjoyed it, and I think you will also. And yes, there are elephant tears. Dale Knowles
Reviews for Falcon of Abydos
Midwest Book Review • Children’s Bookwatch • January 2002
“Falcon of Abydos: Oracle of the Nile by Richard Trout is the third book in the MacGregor Family Adventures. Written for all ages, Falcon of Abydos is a thrilling adventure story in which the MacGregor family becomes entangled in an ancient Egyptian mystery stretching from the heat of the Sahara to beneath the surface of the Red Sea. Falcon of Abydos: Oracle of the Nile is an engaging, action-packed and memorable techno/thriller for young readers.”
KLIATT • March 2002
“This is the third adventure for the traveling MacGregor family. We find them in Cairo, unearthing secrets that could change the face of the Middle East forever. The series consists of three books so far, which do not have to be read in order. They are action-packed, quick-moving stories that pull the reader into the story, giving the feeling of being right there with the characters. They make important political and environmental statements as well as providing pure entertainment. This story is loaded with historical facts, laced with romance and humor; a definite purchase for your library.”
Sherri Forgash Ginsberg, Duke School for Children, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Sunday Oklahoman • February 2002
“This is a children’s adventure novel. And what adventures! Richard Trout, an Oklahoma City author, has written Falcon of Abydos: Oracle of the Nile as the story of the MacGregor family, traveling around the world with dad Jack, who is on sabbatical, the family finds excitement and danger at every turn. While Jack is attending classes and speaking about environmental problems, wife Mavis, sons Chris, 17, and Ryan, 12, and daughter Heather, 14, set out to discover what secrets the desert holds. A desert storm and scorpion stings are just the start of their problems, as enemies – old and new – pursue them. These include a man out for revenge; Egyptian mobsters who may have ties with terrorists; and a couple of Russians, former secret police agents trying to steal high-tech weaponry. Along the way, the author lets the MacGregor chilren learn some Egyptian history and mythology, and the way some projects meant to be progressive (the Aswan Dam) could turn into ecological disasters. Most young readers would like to follow the MacGregors into these exotic lands and adventure.” Kay Dyer
