Matilda -The Story Mat Trilogy : Book 2

Maximilian seems intent on placing Matilda in more dangerous situations each time she uses the Story Mat. In Book 2, Matilda travels to the City of Diamonds to help defeat The Jaguar; to a divided Chinese Empire with the challenge of uniting two cranky old men; and finally to the Ice Kingdom in an effort, with Maximilian, to solve the mystery of a frozen village and to settle old scores.In Book 2 of the trilogy Maximilian seems intent on placing Matilda in more dangerous situations each time she uses the Story Mat. In "The City of Diamonds" she is given the enormous challenge of helping the peaceful Chuquan people outwit Ocelotl, The Jaguar, who is planning an attack on the island city. Before Matilda can achieve her goal, with the help of a very clever monkey called Zinzabad, she has to face some terrifying experiences at the hands of her cruel enemy. Her task is complicated when she discovers that someone is playing both sides."The Pearl Dragon" involves her in a dispute between two cranky and pig-headed old Emperors who have divided an empire because of a disagreement over who should be ruler. Their stubbornness has disturbed the Yin and Yang of both their empires. It takes an attack by a common enemy, the Vandals, to convince them that Matilda can provide them with a solution to their problem.Maximilian has an old score to settle when he takes Matilda to Frizland in "The Ice Queen". Queen Atalai has created a band of powerful enemies by her actions after the War of Tears. The League of Shamans seek revenge for the queen's cruelty to the people of Darkspear after they were defeated by her army of trolls. When the snow troll, Bladefoot, finds his whole village frozen,Maximilian is called in to reverse the spell but strangely finds himself frustrated. It takes a clever Matilda to uncover the reason for the Shaman's attack so that Maximilian can solve the problem and repair a friendship.Matilda once again shines as she faces the twists and turns in the stories, and has to use her courage and cleverness to overcome them.