Winner of the Gold IPPY in Juvenile Fiction!
Twelve-year-old AZ dreams of becoming the world's greatest explorer. Instead he's stuck in summer school with just Odd Uncle Arthur for company.
Little does AZ know that this summer will be his most thrilling-and dangerous-adventure yet. After a time-traveling mishap AZ finds himself in Ophir a lost city full of wonder secrets . . . and cursed tombs.
AZ must rely on his new friends and his gut to get him home. But first he must summon the courage to guard magic artifacts from a repulsive villain. Will blood-thirsty crocodiles turbulent rapids and a stomach-churning feast stand in his way? Or does he have what it takes to join the Alliance of World Explorers?
Andrew Zimmern is a world-renowned chef, writer, teacher, and television personality. He has won four prestigious James Beard Awards for Outstanding Television Food Personality and for his hit show Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel. When not in airplanes, buses or hovercraft transport stations he lives in Minneapolis MN with his family.
"AZ and the Lost City of Ophir is the best kids' adventure book you'll read anywhere anytime. I know this because the level of jealousy I have for the author Andrew Zimmern can be detected from space. That's how good this book is. I know this is not a healthy way to evaluate the quality of things in one's life but the result is the same. AZ is OUTSTANDING." -Joel McHale, actor, comedian, tall sock wearer
"To be ten again! I wish this book was around when I was kid. Andrew Zimmern extracted all the travels and flavors from his real life and embedded them onto the pages of this wonderful story. A true gift." -Bobby Flay, chef and host of multiple shows on Food Network and Cooking Channel
"My friend Andrew is probably the most interesting man in the world. He looks at the world with childlike wonder and a completely open mind. Not only does his curiosity lead him all around the world to learn about cultures he also is an amazing storyteller with the power to reach everyone-women men and children. I cannot wait to see where little AZ goes next!" -José Andrés, chef and humanitarian
"This book is pure Zimmern-it brings a strange and beautiful world into focus and offers equal parts adventure fun and information. I'd follow Andrew and H.E. McElhatton anywhere especially into a lost city with terrifying feasts! It's exactly the type of book I devoured as a nine-year-old and it's perfect for anyone today who loves mystery mischief and suspense." -Dana Cowin host of Speaking Broadly and longtime former editor-in-chief of Food & Wine magazine
"Andrew Zimmern's work has always been about connection love and exploration of worlds amazing and new. AZ and the Lost City of Ophir gives you all that. Zimmern is an exceptional storyteller who leads from his big open heart and the deep desire to understand and share the mysteries of humanity. What a joy to read this fine book." -Brian Koppelman co-creator and showrunner of Billions and co-writer of Rounders and Ocean's Thirteen
