This book grabs you from the very beginning even though it begins in 14th century Timbuktu, Africa. A young man leaps to his death after having stolen gold bars from a mosque in Timbuktu and devising a magic square puzzle showing where he’s hidden the treasure. In the 21st century Danny Temple, British hacking genius, and Moktar Hasim, treasure map thief, race against each other to see who gets to the gold first but they are unaware of each other in the beginning. Along the way, Danny and his best friend Omar Dupont, must avoid a crazy Facebook-created group called the Knights of Okonio Dolo, who also want to find the treasure, and when the pair escape London and get to Timbuktu they must also escape the murderous Moktar. While the Knights of Okonio Dolo close in on them, Danny and Omar use parkour, a series of acrobatic moves for traveling through urban spaces quickly and efficiently, to outwit the group and get to the airport for a plane to Africa. When they get to Mali, the arm of the Knights extends there too and they are pursued by a Knight on a bicycle holiday and finally face Moktar. This is a page turner and a heart-thumper sure to please even the most reluctant reader.
Recommended by Barbara Connolly, Librarian.