Elaine Russell
Martin McMillan Series
Martin takes his skateboard when his parents drag him off to an archaeological dig in Peru. He rides down a secret path to adventure with his new friends Isabel and Pedro. As the excitement unfolds Martin and his friends gain insights into the Incan world and their own lives, while becoming immersed in a new culture that leads to a web of secret activity.
The Secret of the Ruby Elephant is the second installment in the Martin McMillan middle-grade series (ages 8-13). Thirteen-year-old Martin and his friend Isabel skate their way through this fast-paced adventure, traveling from Chicago to Thailand to solve the theft of the Ruby Elephant. The 15th century Thai statue is part of a mysterious legend that holds the secret to a hidden treasure. The friends must decipher a complicated puzzle of clues from Buddhist symbols and ancient ruins, as they track down the thieves and try to stay out of harm’s way.
This is the third installment in the Martin McMillan mystery/adventure series for middle grade readers (ages 9-13). A vacation to Scotland finds thirteen-year-old skateboarders Martin McMillan and his friend Isabel drawn into another exciting mystery. Gaelic verses, recently found in the lining of an old trunk, hold the key to Druid secrets on the windswept Isle of Lewis. Clues lead to the ancient Calanais Standing Stones, which rival the wonder of Stonehenge. Martin and Isabel are determined to uncover the truth before other, less scrupulous parties can beat them to it. But dark forces go to great lengths to keep the island’s secrets from the outside world.