Synopsis
What strange creatures might these be... that guard cacao history?
SYNOPSIS
Max Hammond has a life other science-obsessed boys his age only dream of: he travels the world with his bee researcher dad and science writer mom.
When the Hammond family arrives in Guatemala to study the enigmatic stingless bees of the Maya, Max meets Itzel, a young Maya girl who introduces him to the magic and wonders of rainforest gardens and animal spirit guides. It’s a world that transforms the meaning of all the science Max has ever learned—but its magic is not always benevolent.
One night, Itzel takes Max to an ancient cacao tree tended in secret deep in the jungle by an elite group of Elders. Neither Max nor Itzel are prepared for the forces they unleash when they open the pods of the sacred tree, forces that turn everything they know about the history of cacao upside down, threaten the past and future of the world’s most desirable food, and, worse still, awaken two mythic beasts guarding the very DNA of cacao.
The Jaguar and the Cacao Tree is Book One of the “Max and the Code of Harvests” series.
Features: Includes 32 chapter illustrations and an appreciation by Dr. Allen Young, curator emeritus at the Milwaukee Public Museum and author of “The Chocolate Tree.”
Language: English, with brief Spanish and Itzà Maya dialogue (all with English translations).
Age: Written originally for readers aged 9–13, but all of my adult readers have greatly enjoyed the story as well. Parents and grandparents have read the book together with their children and grandchildren.
Where can you read this enchanting tale dripping with chocolate myth and history? Right here on The Cacao Muse! Here’s Chapter 1 (which will tickle those of you who wear dark green socks). But you must first join the club of the Cacao Trees (monthly subscription)… or rise to become a Cacao Deity (annual subscription).
You can also get a signed physical copy on our website…
…or a regular unsigned copy on Amazon. Of course we authors prefer that readers buy our books directly from us, ‘coz, you know, retailer fees and mysterious admin costs.
If you get a copy from our site, signed or not, you also receive the eBook, FREE, because I don't see why you should pay twice for the same book. Amazon thinks you should, apparently.
One final option is your local library. If they don’t have it, you can have them request it—tell them you’re on a life-critical mission to save the world’s cacao pods from fossilizing forever. Librarians understand that kind of thing more than anyone.