Heart of a Jaguar by Marc Talbert

In this book Balam, a boy who grows up in Mexico, lives in a village outside of Chichen Itza. In his village there has been a major drought for many years. The people have wanted to lift the drought for many a year. As they are preparing for a ceremony to help end the drought and make the gods happy Balam's betrothed has been kidnapped by neighbor villagers. The villagers want to find Ix Bacal before the bandits sacrifice Ix Bacal to end the drought. One night while Ix Bacal is still missing Balam had a dream where he saw his dead twin and dead mother. They showed him where Ix Bacal was kept. Before he could save her the bandits threw her in the well. He then tied a rope around his waist and dived into the well. By time he reached Ix Bacal she was dead. When Balam woke up he had a rope burn around his waist. When the bachelors heard of Ix Bacal's death they went to find the bandits and Balam followed them. While in the woods he lost the bachelors. What he found though was a jaguar. To save his own life he killed the jaguar. Had him killing the jaguar sealed his fate?

Related Books

• Well of Sacrifice
• Secret of the Andes
• Elephant Run