Young Indiana Jones and the Tomb of Terror

Young Indiana Jones #2

by Les Martin

In 1913 in Luxor, Egypt, an ancient ring leads Indy to a hidden tomb and into terrifying adventures with a German archaeologist.

Genres: Fiction, Adventure, Action, Young Adult, Childrens, Kids, Juvenile

123 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Les Martin has written dozens of books for young readers, including the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM movie storybooks, and many Young Indiana Jones middle-grade novels. He has also adapted many classic works of fiction for young readers, including THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, EDGAR ALLAN POE'S TALES OF TERROR, and THE VAMPIRE. Mr. Martin is a resident of New York City.

Reviews

[Pedro Plasencia Martínez · Rating 3 out of 5]

La aventura en la que Indy y Sallah se conocieron, justo antes del estallido de la Primera Guerra Mundial, en un Egipto que formaba parte del protectorado inglés. El libro se las apaña para tocar de forma amable e inteligente algún tema peliagudo como el racismo, el robo del patrimonio de un país subdesarrollado o el incipiente nazismo que aún estaba por desarrollarse y extenderse en Alemania, pero que ya había plantado algunas semillas fanáticas y nacionalistas. También se agradecen algunos datos sobre las pirámides, los templos y el más allá egipcio de los faraones que reposan en sus tumbas, pero creo que en ese aspecto se queda un poco corto, no ha saciado por completo mi egiptomanía. La trama del canal de Suez, en cambio, creo que está bien ejecutada.

ENGLISH
The adventure in which Indy and Sallah met, just before the outbreak of the First World War, in an Egypt that was part of the English protectorate. The book manages to touch in a kind and intelligent way on some difficult topic such as racism, the theft of the heritage of an underdeveloped country or the incipient nazism that was yet to develop and spread in Germany, but that had already planted some fanatical and nationalists seeds. Some information about the pyramids, temples and the egyptian afterlife of the pharaohs who rest in their tombs is also appreciated, but I think that in that aspect it falls a little short, it has not completely satisfied my egyptomania. The Suez Canal plot, on the other hand, I think is well executed.

[Kay’s Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I bought this for my spawn thinking it was the same one I had read as a child, but this turned out to be a different Young Indy in Egypt book.
Besides the fact that this was a really fun read, I was shocked at how progressive it was.
Indy is anti-colonial and the blatant racism is pointed out throughout the book.
I like the cheeky bits where the author clearly knows what would happen in history, as an adult this was fun for me. My spawn enjoyed all the other wild adventures they had.
But the anti-colonial and anti-racist parts were a real treat. Really didn't expect that at all!

[Alfred Lorenzo Stine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a solid story. It is fun to follow Indiana Jones on his innocent adventures as a child. The supernatural element of the Pharaoh’s tomb was surprising and it appeared real. Although it was strange how this story in Egypt overlaps with young Indiana’s “The Mummy’s Curse” novel. They both are similar and both take place in a Mummy’s tomb. The idea about an evil German archaeologist also interestingly involved the rivalry between Germany and England during WW1. Overall, it was interesting but could have used more.

[Graham Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Read as a kid, Review from 2024)

It’s weird I liked Indiana Jones as a kid but unlike with Star Wars’ books I didn’t devour Indiana Jones spinoffs (still don’t really). This was one of the only books I did read.
Personally I didn’t care too much for it and felt like the way they defeated the German villain (not a Nazi surprisingly but one of their WW1 precursors) was a bit of a deus ex machina and blind luck. But I did like how this described Indy’s first meeting with Sallah.

[Riley Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Indy seems to forget his previous Egyptian adventures when he was 8 years old (and he met Howard Carter and T.E. Lawrence), this is great because this is when he met Sallah! It’s also the first time he’s left the US (chronologically) since he was on the Titanic, and it could be his first journey with Marcus Brody? Plus it’s got a few classic tropes, starting with real archaeology (in the Valley of the Kings, no less), which then has a possible supernatural element to it (Does or doesn’t it? Despite how often Indy encounters this supernatural stuff, he always ends up back to being skeptical) with mummies and the Osiris Ring, a little bit of subterfuge and adventure, and of course some German antagonists (these ones pre-World War One, but definitely gearing up for conflict).
But overall, this is great!

[Luís Castilho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great young adult adventure and that is above the already great benchmark set by these books. This one takes place in Egipt before the outbreak of the first world war. In addition to the tomb raiding you would expect, it dwells on some of the political tensions that were building up before the first world war (and it is the first time in the series that the Germans really take their place as the evildoers). Great book.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a time in my childhood when discovering a new Indy adventure made any day feel like Christmas. That's why, when I saw this book on the shelf of my local Goodwill, I couldn't resist picking it up. Ah, nostalgia. At my age, I have no business reading YOUNG INDIANA JONES tales, but the book is fine for what it is. You get to find out how Indy first met Sallah, though that's something probably better left to the imagination.

[Aaron Kadkhodai · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not special. But to share Indy with my boy is something.

[Kathryn Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun adventure with the young Indiana Jones. A fun summer read aloud with the boys.

[Nikola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sad thing is that this was better than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, even though this book was way more over the top than the movie. Why is it that dead mummies always have some kind of awesome power that's evil? I guess building the pyramids is still a fresh topic of grief in popular culture.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an action packed adventure and I liked it very much.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book!

[Dushan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jako CTH dobrý... i když děj o mladém Indianovi není zrovna kniha pro dospělého čtenáře. Zajímavé reálie pro děti a trocha fantazie však fungují celkem dobře...