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A few years ago, my husband decided he was going to read novels with the kids a few times a week. They’ve rocked through numerous books for kids in that time and were looking for a new series when I heard about the Explorer Academy by Trudi Trueit. Not only is the Explorer Academy series exactly the kind of books my family loves, we also are big fans of the author herself.
Trudi Trueit is a local Pacific Northwest author, and we’ve been lucky enough to meet her twice now, once at an event and another time at our school. She has over 100 titles published and we have a collection of her books that the kids return to over and over again throughout the years. My daughter is especially drawn to her books and really loved meeting her a few years back and getting some of her books signed.
Go on an adventure with Explorer Academy
Explorer Academy is Trudi Trueit’s newest series for kids, and it’s just as great as we were expecting. I’m only into the first book now, but some of us are reading ahead and already onto the 2nd book. Not only am I loving the story and getting into the Explorer Academy with the kids, I’m so excited that we have four more books to read {and another expected this fall}.
Along with the fun and exciting themes, I really like how strong the characters are in the book – especially the female characters. Even though the main character is a boy, my girls and I love that so many female characters play huge roles in the story and each adventure.
Explorer Academy: adventure, danger, intrigue, and exploration
In Explorer Academy, 12-year-old Cruz Coronado leaves his home in Hawaii to attend the prestigious Explorer Academy, just like his mom did when she was his age. This isn’t just any boring old school; the academy is actually a ship that takes students around the world. Aboard the Orion, he and 23 kids from around the globe begin training to become the next generation of great explorers as it sails from continent to continent.
While exciting all on its own, his training at the academy isn’t just in exploring the world, it will also unlock family secrets that can potentially jeopardize his future. Immediately upon joining the academy, it becomes clear that someone is after him and he’s in serious danger. Cruz thinks it has to do with a secret his mom took to the grave, and he’s determined to find out what that secret is.
Supporting him is his dad and Aunt Marisol {a professor at the Academy}, his new friends, as well as the head of Explorer Academy, Dr. Regina Hightower. With their help, he will unlock secrets, break codes, and solve puzzles as he attempts to complete his quest… all while trying to stay one step ahead of those looking to sabotage his journey.
Interactive and educational storytelling
Not only is the Explorer Academy series fun to read, it’s also very interactive and educational as well. Each book integrates STEM subjects {science, technology, engineering and math}, as well as geography and more to create an action-packed storyline that educates while it entertains. Kids will have so much fun looking for the hidden codes throughout the book, putting together theories, and hopefully solving the mystery with Cruz and his friends.
In addition to the fun puzzles and clues and STEM learning throughout the books, I love that Trudi Trueit included a section called “Truth Behind the Fiction” at the end of each book that profiles real explorers and their work. We’ve had fun learning about explorers together, and it’s opened a whole new subject of interest with my kiddos.
National Geographic Books meets fiction
When you think National Geographic, you probably don’t think “fiction”, right? But, in Explorer Academy, you will realize that the line between fact and fiction is often blurred thanks to countless hours of research and the writing skills of Trudi Trueit. The Explorer Academy series hails itself as a fact-based fiction series, and the author says the stories are partly inspired by real-life adventures of actual National Geographic explorers, which is really cool.
In an interview, Trudi Trueit said. “Research is one of my favorite parts of the writing process, and it’s fun to learn about new places and cultures, as well as research the science behind what the explorers will be doing in each book.”
Fun fact: Trudi Trueit is the first author to publish fiction for National Geographic, which makes the Explorer Academy series even more exciting. It’s this blurring of fact and fiction that made my kids fall in love, and I think your kids will, too.
Are you ready to go on an adventure with Explorer Academy?
Q & A with author Trudi Trueit
FOR ANYONE JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT EXPLORER ACADEMY, CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK OVERVIEW?
EXPLORER ACADEMY revolves around 12-year-old Cruz Coronado, who is excited to be accepted by Explorer Academy, an elite school for young explorers, just the way his mother was when she was his age. Sadly, his mom, a top scientist, died in a lab accident when Cruz was five years old and cannot share in his achievement, but his dad and Aunt Marisol (a professor at the Academy) are there to support him. At the Academy, Cruz soon learns that his mom left behind a special mission for him, and that her death was no accident. As Cruz travels the world with the other explorers, he must unlock secrets, break codes, and solves puzzles to complete his quest, all the time trying to stay one step ahead of those who are out to stop him from completing the journey.
I SEE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE MYSTERY THAT UNFOLDS REGARDING CRUZ CORONADO’S DANGEROUS SECRET SIDE MISSION, THERE ARE CODES TO SOLVE SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT THE BOOK. WHAT DO READERS DO WHEN THEY FIND THOSE?
Cracking the codes and solving puzzles will help reveal to readers more about what Cruz and his friends are up against as they try to complete the mission Cruz’s mom left for him. A secret message might tell readers what to watch for, be wary of, or even give a hint about what is going to happen in the story. Readers will even find subtle messages embedded in the illustrations. All of the codes are meant to point readers to the truth but I have to say that many of the messages aren’t easy to find. So, look carefully!
THERE ARE SO MANY COOL FUTURE-TECH DEVICES IN THIS STORY. WHICH INVENTION WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND USE?
In brainstorming and creating tech gadgets for the Explorer Academy world I discovered that many things that I thought were completely fictional, like shape-shifting materials or teeny tiny drones, actually existed. I would love to have a Universal Cetacean Communicator like Cruz uses in The Falcon’s Feather to be able to talk to whales, or any device that would allow me to talk to animals. That would be pretty cool!
SO, LET’S TALK ABOUT THE BAD GUYS WHO ARE OUT TO GET CRUZ WHO IS JUST 12 WHEN THE SERIES BEGINS …
To me, villains are as important as the main characters—maybe more. They are what supply that vital element of conflict that gives the protagonist the opportunity to shine! Villains are diabolical but they are also hu[1]man and should be created the same way you craft any character, with feelings, thoughts, and experiences. I did something in Explorer Academy I have never done in a novel before: I wrote some chapters from the villain’s point of view. Without giving too much away, I will say that not every hero is all good and not every villain is all bad. That’s human nature. We all have choices to make, lessons to learn, and consequences to live with, no matter who we are—villain or champion.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS IN THIS BOOK.
It was important to me that Explorer Academy be about empowerment, for both boys and girls. I purposely created strong female characters to show girls that they don’t need to shy away from science, exploration, and leadership roles—or anything else for that matter, including becoming a novelist. Our protagonist, Cruz Coronado, is a boy. But those who have the most impact on him are women: His Aunt Marisol, Dr. Hightower (the steadfast Academy president), Taryn (his wise adviser) and Fanchon (Orion’s brilliant tech lab chief, who creates all the great gadgets the explorers use and wear). Similarly, several of Cruz’s close friends, Lani, Sailor, and Bryndis, are independent, smart, confident females. Between family, friends, and faculty, this series has a good gender—and diversity—mix. One of our main goals in creating this series was to inspire all kids with the explorer mindset: Curiosity, courage, and the passion to change the world.
HOW DO YOU GENTLY INTRODUCE KIDS TO SOME OF THE SERIOUS CHALLENGES WE FACE REGARDING ENDANGERED ANIMALS, BIODIVERSITY, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND BEYOND?
As Cruz and his friends travel the globe, I felt it was important to make sure that they, and readers, understood that we are not powerless. Yes, we face challenges, but we can meet them. In Explorer Academy, the explorers restore habitats and reefs, help to free some whales caught in fishing nets, assist in treating sick gorillas, and more. They learn one person can make a difference, and those who are fortunate enough to meet an explorer realize just how significant that one person truly can be. The motto of Explorer Academy is: To Discover. To Innovate. To Protect. That’s what I hope Explorer Academy will instill in kids, a desire to protect the animals they love. And if they can see their way clear to care about protecting animals, then looking after the planet will naturally follow.
ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING ASPECTS OF THE ACADEMY IS THAT THE SCHOOL IS ACTUALLY A SHIP THAT TRAVELS THE WORLD. THE STUDENTS TRAVEL TO SO MANY EXOTIC LOCATIONS, MANY OF WHICH MOST KIDS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF, LET ALONE VISITED. HOW DO YOU MAKE THOSE DESTINATIONS COME ALIVE?
I try to paint a vivid picture of the landscape and its geography. In fact, our illustrations are based on real photography, so there’s a realistic quality to the images featured in every book. And again, animals are key. I introduce several species in each book and try to give readers a sense of the animals’ world in the future—where they live, what they eat, what threats they face, and how we humans are doing stewardship-wise. I like to feature dramatic and distinctive places that will capture readers’ interest, and allow different educational experiences for the characters, such as archaeology, animal conservation, etc. In this book, we travel to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda to help mountain gorillas. Book two travels to the Svalbard Seed Vault in Norway and the ice caves in Iceland. Book three takes readers to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. And of course, there’s always the food, because I am a foodie. The explorers always get a chance to go beyond their favorite grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup to eat something native to the area they’re visiting.
THAT BRINGS ME TO MY LAST QUESTION. WHERE DOES EXPLORER ACADEMY GO NEXT?
Well, that’s still top secret, but I can tell you that by the final book, book seven, Orion will have traveled to every continent, and we kind of come full circle.
I’LL TAKE THAT AS A CLUE! THANKS, TRUDI.
If you’re ready to go on an adventure with Explorer Academy books, you can find the series at shopdisney.com, and most local and independent bookstores.
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