Review of ARKO

[Martyna Myszograj]

[Following is a volunteer review of "ARKO" by U.W. Leo.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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“ARKO: The Dark Union” by U.W. Leo is the first in an excellent and educational series of science fiction children's books. The action takes place in the colorful and breathtaking natural landscapes of Mexico. The narrative focuses mainly on a group of friendly teenagers who discover ancient Mayan ruins while playing. Together with their parents, who happen to be the world's greatest explorers, the children are about to make a discovery that could change the course of human history.
A definite plus for the novel is its educational message. It is a fun way to introduce children to the basics of scientific terminology, such as explanations of certain physical phenomena (e.g. light transmission) or technology used in research (e.g. different types of MRI). Some aspects of ancient Mayan culture are also introduced. The books also depict an extraordinarily supportive and cooperative relationship between parents and their children, based on communication - they tend to solve problems by sharing their knowledge and ideas.
But even though I really enjoyed the book, there were some flaws. Although the parents are supposed to be great scientists, they don't seem to be. First of all, they jump to conclusions without knowing the facts - that's something a good scientist never does. But that is not all. They want to carry out tests and experiments on the genetic code of the animals they find. This is unethical behavior, which is also strictly regulated by law, so it shouldn't be taken lightly. The other thing is that in some scenes, although I generally liked the kind of relationship that was described, it seemed to me that the parents weren't treating the children the way they should. They should remember that they are just children, not adult scientists, so they should be more protective of them.
And that's why I rate “ARKO: The Dark Union” 4 out of 5 stars. The book is positive and stimulates imagination and curiosity about the world. Despite some flaws, I had a great time reading it and I think it would be a great time for children too.

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ARKO
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