(2.5 / 5)

A treasure map may lead to an amazing find, though it won't be enough on its own. Will the Kidd Family Treasure Hunters be able to decipher the clues, find the extra components, and actually keep any treasure that they find?

The answer to that question is: no, not really. We've really gone from Treasure Hunters to Earth Crusaders here, and while I have nothing against taking care of the environment, that isn't what this series is supposed to be about. Though actually, since they are, indeed, hunting for a treasure in this book (though not to keep), the climate change agenda that popped up suddenly in the previous book isn't even really a detractor in this book. What is, though, is the Kidd parents again keeping their children in the dark about major happenings, when the kids should really be the stars of the book, considering the audience it's written for. Instead, all the kids really do is bicker, spout off useless facts, ignore their parents' instructions, and creepily eyeball every pretty girl (and, what a shock, all girls Tommy's age just happen to be pretty).

The rehashing of a previous plot point involving one of Tommy's "girls" is just one of several things that make this series feel formulaic by this point. I mean, seriously, has no one in this family learned from past experience? Storm probably does the most of use in this story, but even that is getting to be the "same old, same old," as she uses her "photographic" memory to memorize every single thing that she ever sees, smells, or hears, and magically recall it exactly what it's needed. I continue to appreciate the variety of locations in which the series is set, but I really hope that the authors can shake out of the formula, find some fresh villains, and let the Kidds get back to their treasure-hunting beginning. ( )