Atlantis: The Accidental Invasion by Gregory Mone

This series-opener promises a clash of civilizations between Earth’s terra firma and the “lost” continent of Atlantis.

Atlantis #1: The Accidental Invasion by Gregory Mone. Amulet Books, 2021, 286 pages

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10-15

Meriweather Lewis Gates owes his adventurous name to his father, but adventures with his father are few. Dr. Richard Gates has become so obsessed with locating the continent of Atlantis he has no time for anything else, including a promised camping trip with his son. After the fourth cancellation, Lewis refuses to take no for an answer. He slips into his dad’s hovercar, intending to guilt-trip him into the camping excursion. Instead, he ends up in a spherical deepwater submarine commanded by his father and steered by Hanna, a brilliant young engineer. Lewis will get his adventure after all, searching for Atlantis in the ocean depths.

We already know Atlantis exists because the story begins there, with a daring young explorer named Kaya. Entranced with forbidden legends of the Sun People who live above the surface, she’s determined to see for herself if they exist. Fortunately for her (because she’d never survive a four-mile ascent even in a high-tech Atlantean dive suit), Kaya’s path collides with Dr. Gates’ deepwater craft at Edgeland, where the border of Atlantis drops off into the abyss. Over the thrill of discovery there’s a strong undercurrent of danger: she’s thrilled, but her father and his superiors might not feel the same way.

The author put serious thought into how an underwater civilization might develop and what its people would look like (see “The Science of Atlantis” author note). Atlanteans and Sun People look strikingly different, but share human emotions and reactions. Lewis is an appealing protagonist, especially when his hyperactive imagination takes over. The story ends on a cliffhanger, so if you like plowing straight through a series, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Overall Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4

Read more about our ratings here.

Considerations:

• There are several references to evolution, but they don’t overpower the story.
• In one desperate situation, Lewis racks his brain thinking of gods to pray to, including the old bearded man in the sky and Mexican deity whose name sounds a bit like “pretzel” (later referred to as the “pretzel god”). This is normal, I suppose, for a non-churched upraising.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Review: Above World is another adventure series that takes place under the sea.
• Review: The Explorer Academy series, published by National Geographic, takes readers to faraway places to with intrepid young explorers.
• Reflection: Much adventure fiction is a reflection of The Hero’s Journey, here explained by Emily.

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