The Jaguar and the Cacao Tree (Max and the Code of Harvests)

A sweet, smart story that follows a young American boy on his adventures with a young Maya girl and her family. A very entertaining book--the fantasy aspects reminded me of Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter!I feel like this is the type of book adults can enjoy reading right along their with kids. It teaches you about the history of chocolate, to think about where your food comes from, and to appreciate nature and other cultures. There are a lot of different layers to the story that kept me thinking long after I put the book down.

The perfect combination of history, mythology, culture and chocolate! This book is a magical tale of a young boy who experiences the adventure of a lifetime in the rainforest of Guatemala. I loved the descriptive language and had to appreciate and admire the amount of research that clearly went into writing this book. A story for young and old, get ready to be taken into a colorful world where you will rediscover the wonders of nature. I can’t wait to follow Max on his next adventure!

Fun book. I especially like the Spanish/English translation.

Wonderful story full of imagination and interesting facts! Such a rare combination. Fun, educational, and intriguing!

This is a wonderful book about an American boy and a Mayan girl.Max comes with his parents to Guatemala to study the Cacao tree. There he meets Itzal and Juan, two Mayan kids. Max and Itzel hit it off and she teaches him about the jungle and also shares her secrets with him. As they move through the jungle and Max learns more about the Mayan culture and history, he also learns about himself and what he is capable of.This is an interesting book about chocolate (it comes from the cacao bean) and history of the Mayan people. The way it is written makes you want to read more. Kids and adults alike will love this story and also learn about chocolate and Mayan culture. I like the way the Spanish (Hispanic) e Mayan languages are interspersed in the story--makes it all the more real just as the characters are.I got this book free from the Story Cartel in exchange for my review.

Entertaining, yet educational journey into the Mayan world in the jungles of Guatemala. It's a fun read especially exploring the adventures of Max, an American boy, and Itzel, a Mayan girl. Their experiences in the magical world of the jungle is suspenseful to keep the reader guessing. Once the two kids explore, you don't want to stop reading.Young readers can learn through the two, young protagonists as they discover not only the secrets in the jungle, but learn more about themselves especially as they overcome their fears and push beyond their own self-imposed limitations. It's a story of discovery for many of the characters in the book.It's also a great read for adults too especially if you love chocolate and appreciate nature. Overall, I recommend this book especially if you want a young reader to learn about the Mayan culture and gain an appreciation for conservation in an entertaining way.

This tale of Max, the son of a bee scientist, and his new Mayan friend Ixtel who takes him deep into the rain forest and shows him the ancient secrets of the cacao tree is great fun. With everything from sneaking off from their parents, conflicts with Ixtel's brother, talking hummingbirds, and ancient mysteries, I was captivated from very early on and, as the story deepened, became more and more engaged. I loved the way the socks at the beginning were tied back in at the end.I've given it only four stars, however, because there were too many places where lengthy and awkward sentences threw me out of the story. This happened less after I reached the halfway mark, either because I became so engaged that I ignored them, or because they were only in the first half.I received a free copy of this book from Storycartel, in exchange for my honest review.

This delightful story takes you on a journey with two young people as they explore the rain forests of Guatamala. While their parents study bee research, Max, an American visitor, and Itzel, a Maya girl, befriend each other. Their escapades introduce them to the history of chocolate making with cacao beans, ancient rituals of their elders, intriguing animals of the forest, all intertwined with visions and fantasy. Their accomplice is Luna, a charming humming bird.I read this story with my 11-year old grandson, and it's hard to say who enjoyed the tale more or who was more sorry when it ended. The artwork throughout the book adds a special dimension. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. You will devour your chocolate with new appreciation!