Heidi Hauser Green (Children's Literature)
Carlo Chuchio is a bumbler. A slacker. A dolt. Now, in the course of his work, Carlo has committed an act of such negligence that his uncle must let him go. Thanks to Uncle Evariste’s generosity, Carlo has some money, but he has no plan. He has only a book of stories and a strange map he has just received from an odd bookseller at the marketplace. The map promises treasure and like any other young adventure-minded fellow, Carlo knows he would like that. So he sets off for the Road of Golden Dreams. Before long, Carlo is joined by a shady camel-puller named Baksheesh, a determined girl named Shira, and a wise man named Salamon. Together they face an assortment of hair-raising dangers, from high seas and barren deserts to wild-eyed killers, slave traders, and the terrible “Greek fire.” Lloyd Alexander has created a delightful cast of characters for this enthralling Arabian tale. Carlo is the perfect “everyman” who wants more from life and struggles to reach his goals. His friends are reliable (in their own ways), essential, and wonderfully eccentric. It is hard to imagine the reader who would not find something engaging in this book. It would be a good addition to any personal, classroom, or library collection. 2007, Henry Holt, $18.95. Ages 12 to 16.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 15))
Fourteen-year-old orphan Carlo's daydreaming wreaks havoc in his uncle's warehouse in the port of Magenta. Sent off in disgrace, Carlo follows a treasure map he's discovered in a book. Through a semi-identifiable Middle East of The Arabian Nights, he picks up disreputable companions who together fumble through dangers to discover treasures they never expected. Masterful storytelling tinged with romance and humor makes this an engaging read. Alexander's characters, as always, are classically heightened stereotypes, and the narrative and emotional arcs will be familiar to readers of his other books. Though not his strongest, and adding little to his body of work, this may nevertheless please fans looking forward to one last adventure from the late author. 2007, Henry Holt, 320p, $16.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 9 to 13. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Janis Flint-Ferguson (KLIATT Review, July 2007 (Vol. 41, No. 4))
Alexander was a master storyteller, and his story of orphaned Carlo Chuchio is no exception. After failing to rise to the work assigned to him by his uncle, Carlo meets a bookseller who sells him a book with a map to a treasure. With a little money from his uncle, Carlo takes off on his adventure. Camel puller Baksheesh meets the young man and though he seems to be taking advantage of him, he proves to be a worthy traveling companion. As is Shira, the young woman who had been kidnapped from her home by the villain Charkosh. Their adventures take them into bustling bazaars where they meet a dream seller, into the desert where they meet a hermit painting scenes on the cave wall, and on to the feisty tribe of Bashir who takes Carlo in as a brother, after a fight to the death where nobody dies. Finally they return to the former caravan stop that is Shira’s home, only to come face to face with Charkosh. The fight to the death here has more serious consequences. Carlo realizes his love for Shira and both realize their love for adventure. Though the novel ends happily, there is a hint of more adventures to come; although sadly, with the death of Alexander, this may be the only adventure of Carlo Chuchio. The novel is beautifully written with exotic locations, colorful characters and clever chapter endings. The suspense mounts and the story builds to its satisfying conclusion. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: J--Recommended for junior high school students. 2007, Henry Holt, 320p., $16.95. Ages 12 to 15.

Jan Aldrich Solow (Library Media Connection, February 2008)
Daydreaming orphan Carlo is convinced that the map that falls from an ancient book of tales will lead him to his fortune, buried in far-off Marakand. Gullible and rash, he hires Baksheesh, a most unreliable, but fast-talking camel-puller, to help him lead his caravan along the Road of Golden Dreams. They are joined by the beautiful Shira, who is trying to elude a kidnapper by disguising herself as a boy, and by the enigmatic, yet perceptive, old Salamon. Together they encounter thieves, storytellers, war refugees, a cave artist, a seller of dreams, quicksand, and a mirage. There is also bloodshed and death along the way, but enough comical trickery to buoy the story. Just when it appears that the entire journey has been for naught, Carlo solves the mystery of the treasure map. However, he has gained enough wisdom in his travels to forego monetary fortune in order to journey on with the girl of his dreams, Shira. The entertaining characters, hilarious dialogue, twisted logic, and inventive, swiftly paced plot will captivate readers. This is a natural for reading aloud. Recommended. 2007, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 320pp., $18.95 hc.. Ages 9 to 12.

April Spisak (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, October 2007 (Vol. 61, No. 2))
Carlo, an inveterate dreamer, is lucky: an extraordinary coincidence finds him stumbling onto a treasure map at the same time that his uncle unceremoniously kicks him out of his home. Armed with a little money and boundless visions of riches, Carlo sets off down the Road of Golden Dreams with a motley crew of opportunistic employees who soon become close friends and allies. Although he does indeed find the location of the much-longed-for gold, several twists and obstacles have changed him for the better, and his shallow goal of showing up his uncle is replaced with wiser and more nuanced dreams of finding a place to call home and honoring the necessary sacrifices (both large and small) that accompany friendships and romances. Whether youthfully flippant or wryly reflective, Carlo’s narration of his adventures (replete with sarcastic remarks and self-disparaging insights) keeps the pace snappy and the tone relatively light-hearted, even when the characters find themselves in life-threatening situations. His particular brand of sardonic wit and his knack for attracting odd companions, combined with elements that will be familiar to fans of the author (Carlo grows up on Magenta, an island in close proximity to the setting in The Rope Trick, BCCB 1/03), form a perfect blend of revisited elements and fresh characters for readers seeking one more memorable novel by the late author. The ability to find love and true contentment in a world as complex and unfriendly as the one in which Carlo lives is a feat; the remarkable talent that can convey this quest in a way that is genuine, moving, and enthralling is in full effect here in this posthumously published novel Review Code: R* -- Recommended. A book of special distinction. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2007, Holt, 306p., $18.95. Grades 7-9.

Lucy Schall (VOYA, October 2007 (Vol. 30, No. 4))
Accompanied by a charming rogue, a beautiful maiden, and a wise man, orphan Carlo Cuchio, thrown out of his uncle's house and business after ruining the accounts, seeks gold, defeats a villain, and finds true love. Carlo discovers a treasure map in an adventure book, begins his quest, and is robbed by a man who becomes Carlo's camel puller. The robber's assistant, a runaway slave named Shira, seeks revenge for her parents' murders. The three constantly encounter threats. Should they attack, flee, or outthink their opponents? Joining them, the wise man counsels Carlo in choosing his reaction and advises them that wandering is better than arriving. The original bookseller magically reappears throughout the novel as a storyteller, clairvoyant, and dream seller who inspires, guides, and reveals the characters. Eventually, the four return to Shira's village and encounter the man who killed her parents. The killer attempts to burn Carlo alive, but a nomad band, Carlo's allies, attacks. Carlo capitalizes on the diversion, and the killer dies by his own evil weapon. The gold Carlo seeks lies under Shira's home, but he decides to leave the village in peace and journey with Shira, his true treasure. Filled with wit, charm, suspense, humor, and stock characters, this Arabian Nights tale shares many themes with the more solemn The Legend of the Wandering King (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2005) and will appeal to a broad range of middle, teen, and adult readers. [Editor's Note: This prolific author of The Chronicles of Prydain finished this last book before he died at the age of eighty-three in May 2007 after a long illness. He said of this book before passing, "I have finished my life work."] VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2007, Henry Holt, 320p., $16.96. Ages 11 to 18.