Review: The Coordinate by Marc Jacobs

The idea that there are hidden secrets about humanity’s past will continually fascinate readers, and it is done to great effect in The Coordinate. In this YA thriller by Marc Jacobs, two high school students are thrown into the adventure of a lifetime when a school project turns out to be the first step in a mysterious journey into the past.

When Logan is paired up with Emma James for a school project researching an archaeological site in Honduras, he is far more excited by the prospect of getting closer to his long-time crush than he is about solving a puzzle stretching back thousands of years. However, as the pair dig into the research and the Mayan history behind the Chamber of the White-Eyed Star God, they quickly realize that a lot of this story is being hidden from public view.

Thousands of pictures of the interior of the Mayan site have been scrubbed from the Internet, so these two intrepid researchers decide to take a bold, new approach. When Emma and Logan realize they’ve stumbled across a potential conspiracy dating back centuries, the story takes a wild turn. They plan to jet-set across the globe to feast their eyes on rare documents from Christopher Columbus in the Vatican Archives, before being whisked off to another corner of the globe.

The novel is a great work of adventure, as if we’re following a team of Lara Croft and Indiana Jones as teenagers. For two high schoolers, some parts of the book do seem unbelievable, requiring readers to stretch their imagination a bit too far, but it’s also an extremely fun ride. The deepening relationship between the curious heroes also gives the story a lighthearted edge, as the fumbling flirtations of teenage boys are perennially amusing.

Despite the target audience of this book being YA readers, it also holds an appeal for older readers, simply because of its accessibility, rapid pace, and intriguing subject matter. Jacobs does a wonderful job towing the line between a whimsical adventure that is far from reality and an engaging plot that feels relatable to a younger audience. From abducted Harvard professors and cryptic puzzles to FBI raids and secrets hidden in the stars, this relatively fast read will keep you turning pages until the last one.

After the novel’s slow-burning start, the pacing remains somewhat jerky and inconsistent, with certain scenes dragging out, or lacking a clear purpose. Additionally, the dialogue between the main characters often comes across as functional, rather than true to the personalities and maturity of teenagers. That being said, there are few technical errors in the book, though some of the prose could benefit from additional literary devices and more descriptive language.

On the whole, the novel is a highly entertaining read where you rarely see the twists coming. With a story that evolves from simple school project assignments to secret briefings at the White House, The Coordinate is a thrilling adventure from an ambitious and creative author.