The Basilisk's Lair by R. L. LaFevers

LaFevers, R. L. The Basilisk’s Lair, illustrated by Kelly Murphy. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2010. $15.00. Sexual Content-G; Language-G; Violence-G. Nathaniel Fludd’s second adventure is even more deadly than the first (Flight of the Phoenix, 2009), he must help Aunt Phil find and capture a basilisk. Nathaniel’s best friend is an oil-eating gremlin named Greasle, and both are slightly reluctant to go on this new adventure when they read that the basilisk is the most venomous creature on the planet. They travel by plane and boat to a Dhughani village, where they discover that someone purposefully released the basilisk from its cave. They track the basilisk, but Aunt Phil gets knocked out. Can Nathaniel and Greasle capture the basilisk on their own? Will they ever solve the mystery of his parent’s disappearance? Illustrator Kelly Murphy uses ink illustrations to bring to life this historical adventure. This series is sure to appeal to boys and reluctant readers. EL – ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.