Curse of the Ancients by Matt De La Pena

Infinity Ring Book 4, Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9780545386999.
Recommended reading age - for series fans from 8-11 years. Themes: Time Travel, Central America - History, Mayas, Adventure, Friendship.
Every Infinity Ring novel includes a colourful Hystorian's Guide with hints, secrets and codes that access future adventures that provide the reader with a totally unique, story-driven gaming experience. Prior knowledge of the power of the Infinity Ring, of the game, the clues hidden as riddles and the gadgetry is needed to comprehend the adventurers' new historical adventure.
The three young adventurers Dak, Sera and Riq are quickly embroiled in another action-packed Infinity Ring quest where History is broken and The Cataclysm is coming. They travel back in time to Central America with a mission to keep a special Mayan hand-painted book codex from being burned by the Spanish invaders. If they fail to change the past, the future is affected. They are assisted by the local Mayans, whose helpful behaviour is at contrast with the murderous stereotypes the kids had assumed were true. They are confronted with violent storms, marauding invaders, injuries, the damage to the Infinity ring, catastrophic flashbacks as they race through this adventure.
Matt De La Pena's character development and storyline take Dak, Sera and Riq on a slightly different tangent to the previous books. With different authors for each book in the series the main characters develop additional characteristics. Sera is coming to terms with her Mayan heritage and is stepping up, Dak is more gung-ho which leads to his being injured, whilst Riq takes on a leadership role. The plot is at times confusing and it is difficult to work out their friends from their enemies.
Rhyllis Bignell