MANHUNT by Kate Messner

Anna, Henry and Jose are back in this third book in the Silver Jaguar Society series (following Capture the Flag and Hide and Seek). After a coordinated series of art thefts take place all over the world, the kids and their families in the Secret Jaguar Society head to Paris to try to get some leads on the stolen goods and save the Mona Lisa. But when the adult members of the SJS don't check in, the kids head out into Paris to try to solve the mystery on their own.

I loved book one in this series but had a harder time connecting with book two. But I was back in rhythm for book three! Henry is the focus character this time, and I really connected with his story outside the core story of the mystery. He has some mixed feelings about things happening with his family back in the States, and while the kids try to solve the mystery, Henry is really trying to sort out his feelings. He really gets to shine in this book. It makes me want to go back and read book one! This is a series best enjoyed in order. I think Capture the Flag would make a great classroom read-aloud.

4 out of 5 stars
No AR reading level at the time of this writing.

ALA Week: WAKE UP MISSING by Kate Messner

One of the highlights of my summer was our trip to Chicago for vacation and for the American Library Association annual conference. Publishers graciously provided Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of some of their upcoming books and I have been slowly working through my pile of these treasures. For the next couple weeks I'll be reviewing some of the books I picked up at ALA. If a book hasn't released yet, I'll post the release date in the review.  Enjoy!!

Cat fell out of a tree while bird watching, and it left her with post-concussion issues like debilitating headaches and confusion. But she's going to I-CAN for a revolutionary treatment. In the Florida Everglades with five other kids and the program stuff, far from her home and parents, Cat starts to suspect that the treatment at I-CAN is not what everyone thinks it is.

Great suspense/adventure story. It references science as well as historical figures like Einstein and Edison, but not in a heavy handed way. The author includes information on websites kids can go to for more information on the science and history portions of the story. I would recommend this for kids in 4th grade and up. In fact, I already have my copy for the library on order. It should release on Tuesday, September 10th in stores and online.

4 out of 5 stars
No AR rating at this time

CRANKEE DOODLE and SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAY

  

Two great picture books for the new school year!! Crankee Doodle is the story of Yankee Doodle and his horse talking about making a trip to town. Yankee Doodle is irritable and uncooperative while the horse is sweet and longsuffering, suggesting they go to town and maybe buy a feather for Yankee Doodle's hat. The whole thing is a hoot! I can't wait to share this with students. We'll be singing the Yankee Doodle song for days afterwards! This book is written by Tom Angleberger, the author of the Origami Yoda books and it is illustrated by his wife, Cece Bell.

Sea Monster's First Day is a sweet first day of school story starring Ernest the sea monster. Ernest, like most new students, is eager to fit in and find his way in a new place, and he triumphs with a good dose of imagination and a good attitude. This book is written by Kate Messner, the author of Capture the Flag.

These will both be books I am sharing with students early in the school year - I can't wait! Both of these picture books are written by authors my students already love.

4 out of 5 stars for both
AR reading level for both is 2.4

CHAPTER BOOK: Hide and Seek (A Silver Jaguar Society Mystery) by Kate Messner

Anna, Jose, and Henry are back, a little more famous for their role in the recovery of the Star-Spangled Banner, and a little more involved in the work of the Silver Jaguar Society (a secret society charged with caring for the world's treasures). When the kids' family members discover a Jaguar artifact recovered in Costa Rica is a fake, the families fly to Costa Rica so the adults can investigate while the kids enjoy the cultural experience of the rain forest. But, of course, the kdis can't stay away from this mystery! Soon they are hunting down clues of their own.

This was an interesting chapter to the overarching story, although the setting of book one appealed to me personally more than the rain forest setting of this story. Hide and Seek is told mostly from Jose's perspective as he struggles with a secret and some increased insecurity about his contributions to the team and his ability to put clues together and find answers. The action and adventure in this story are great and will appeal to readers looking for that in their stories. Great information about rain forest creatures, including fun notes from the author about her research trip to Costa Rica. A major villain in the story is revealed which amps up the tension and the draw to the next book in the series (Manhunt, debuting in Spring, 2014).

4 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 5.0

Recommended for: fans of Capture the Flag, fans of mysteries or adventure stories

Cautions: none

CHAPTER BOOK: Capture the Flag by Kate Messner

I read about this book in one of my magazines and immediately put it on my upcoming releases list with stars and exclamation points. I was not disappointed.

Anna, Jose and Henry are stranded in an airport in a snow storm. All three kids had been together the night before at the Smithsonian American History Museum, but they didn't know each other yet. At the museum, they didn't know that they all came from families that were part of a secret society. At the museum, they didn't know someone was about to steal the Star-Spangled Banner. Once they do meet, at the snowed-in airport, and they hear about the theft, Anna is convinced that they should go looking for the flag at the airport. Maybe the thief is stuck in the snow like everyone else. Maybe, if they solve the crime, they could be part of the secret society and help protect our nation's most precious artifacts.

Review - I loved this story! The three main characters were fantastic. They make a young friend at the airport who is also a delight. Each child's situation at the airport makes it believable (in that stretchy kind of way a lot of kids fiction works to get kids into unusual situations and places) that they could disappear from their respective grown up for hours and get into some of the places they end up. The mystery was pretty basic and the clues to the culprit fairly clear (at least to an adult reading the story), but the journey was what made the story. Having visited The Star-Spangled Banner last month made this extra fun to read. I hope there are going to be more adventures for Anna, Jose and Henry (and maybe Sinan). I can't wait to share this one with my students this year. It's a treat!

4.5 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 4.5