Voigt, Cynthia

When hard times among the People revive the old stories of the hero Jackaroo, an innkeeper's daughter follows her own quest to unlock the secret reality behind the legend.

Max Starling, a twelve-year-old detective and problem solver, travels around the world to rescue his parents who have become involved in a political power grab. However, to save them, he will need help from both his friends and his enemies.

"Mister Max, Solutioneer, helps the mayor investigate a string of mysterious fires, while attempting to solve the mystery of his parents' disappearance on the side"--Provided by publisher.

Since he was little, Oriel has lived on the Sixth Damall's island, where all the boys are terrorized and trust is a luxury that no one can afford, so even though he has been chosen as the Seventh Damall, Oriel takes the most prized gemstone, a beryl, engraved with a falcon, and leaves the island with his only friend, Griff -- but the Kingdom on the mainland has its own dangers, which the two must face.