Shikaree

By: M.J. Oelkers
Publisher: Arnstead Press
Publication Date: September 27, 2024
ISBN: 979-8990671430
Reviewed by: Diana Coyle
Review Date: August 24, 2024

Chandra Pattal, a fifteen-year-old, has stepped up to make money to help her family’s farm survive in Shikaree by M.J. Oelkers. Since her mother passed, her dad and three younger siblings have been struggling to survive.

The family is barely making ends meet and her father just keeps leasing more machines to use on the farm. He thinks if they have more machines to do more jobs on the farm, they will have the revenue rolling in faster. Unfortunately, they aren’t raising enough money to pay for the leased equipment they already have. It leaves Chandra no other alternative but to go out to raise money quickly. So she decides she’s going to become a Shikaree who goes spelunking. A Shikaree is a person who goes exploring in caves and the cache of relics they find they sell for money. She’s really too young and not fully experienced enough to become a Shikaree, but her family’s endless debt leaves her no other option than to put her life on the line every time she goes into the caves. Not to mention, there are other Shikarees that belong to groups that will stop at nothing to find relics, even if that means to kill the other seekers and steal their treasures.

During one of her visits to the World Below, she stumbles upon a map that has markings she’s never seen before. She has no idea what the notes are saying, but she has a feeling that if she can find someone to translate the foreign language, since there is a map to a hidden location, it must mean there is something of significance to find there. Through one of her friends, she’s referred to a man named Olu who owns Frontier Finds, and he is fluent in many old languages. She sets her mind on meeting him to see if he can offer her a translation of the strange language. Does Olu know the foreign language on the map? Is this a map that could lead Chandra to a cache that will raise enough money to save her family’s farm?

This reviewer absolutely loved this story! Right from the very first page, I was pulled into this story. The idea of Shikarees going spelunking for priceless treasures piqued my interest and made me eagerly turn the pages quickly to see what was going to happen to Chandra every time she went into the caves in the World Below. The entire idea of the World Below and how there were different Shikaree groups, some good and some bad, that go treasure hunting, was a concept that would entice any reader to keep reading.

Mr. Oelkers created characters that were believable and this reviewer thoroughly enjoyed following Chandra on her escapades into the caves. The descriptions the author wrote had this reviewer feeling like she was seeing everything firsthand. From climbing rock walls, to hoisting down into dark, unexplored places, the scenes were meticulously described enough that the readers will feel as if they are right next to Chandra putting their lives on the line with every move they make. This story had my heart pounding in my chest during every visit Chandra took to the World Below.

One thing to note was that this story was so engrossing it could very well be turned into a high caliber action adventure movie for all to enjoy. The concept of Shikarees going spelunking makes this reviewer want to learn how to go hunting for her own treasures.

Quill says: Shikaree by M.J. Oelkers is one book that will entertain readers of all ages and will have your heart pounding in your chest. It comes highly recommended!

For more information on Shikaree, please visit the publisher's website at: www.arnsteadpress.com/