The Valley of the Lost (Deltora Quest, 7)

Rating:
Summary: The final challenge
Review: Six gems weigh down the Belt of Deltora. Now the three must persue the final challenge, the Valley of the Lost. They know that the great Diamond awaits them. When they arrive, many people who are little more then shadows are there, many from the city they hoped hid the heir - Tora, sister city to Del. Inside, fighting monsters is not their challenge. Instead, several mind games do. Jasmine wishes to take the Diamond by force, but Lief knows better. As they figure out the last puzzle just as their time is gone, they are given permission to take the diamond. But the Guardian had switched the diamond for a different one. They realize that the woman who had followed them and pretended to leave had stolen it. They are told to go get it, so finally the Belt is complete. The Valley of the Lost disappears, and the people within are returned to normal. Now they must find the heir.

Rating:
Summary: Dragonlance for the younger crowd!
Review: This series of books not only made my 4th grader who loves to read disappear into it's pages for days on end by also entranced my 5th grader who thinks comic books are real books. The most wonderful part of this series is it's complete lack of that boy/girl mushy stuff that quite frankly my kids don't need yet another dose of!

Rating:
Summary: Most thought-provoking in the series.
Review: Valley of the Lost has been the best of the Deltora Quest books, because it more than the others encourages readers to solve plot puzzles before the characters do.
For instance, when Barda, Jasmine and Leif reach the guardian's abode of the seventh and final gem, they must undergo certain trials to gain the jewel. Further, each part of answer to the challenge question is another enigma all in itself. Some puzzles I figured out before the book gave them up, others stumped me. I believe even children in junior high would find this a delicious read.
Some very important series-broad plot lines are revealed in this book about Tora's link to Del; don't miss this one!
Plus: Doom's true identity is finally revealed!