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“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.”
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Summary: Bianca (9) and her sister Alyssa (5), live with their parents in San Marcos, California. Just as school was ending for summer, the girls learned they would be visiting their grandmother on her farm in Missouri. The girls were excited,but a little nervous. This would be their first time traveling without their parents, AND they had never been on a plane before. They had not seen Grandma in more than two years and had never been to Willow Springs Farm. Grandma had planned a weekful of wonderful activities for them to enjoy, but Bianca and Alyssa wanted to hunt for the treasure supposedly buried on the farm. The girls found clues that pointed to the existence of the treasure but they also found out that someone else was searching too, someone who would stop at nothing to locate it. Will they find the treasure and more importantly, will they live to tell about it? This is an adventure mystery that takes place at Grandma's house.
Type of Reading: bedtime story, family reading, anytime reading, read aloud book, advanced reader
Recommended Age: read together: 8 to 12; read yourself: 10 to 12
Big Kid Reaction: This is a wholesome preteen mystery, and the author’s first book in a series of titles about summer vacation adventures for Bianca and Alyssa. Each title is self-contained, and reading this first book after the others was not a problem. These are fun reads and re-reads for the audience at which the books are targeted.
Pros: This is a mystery/adventure story, whose characters are engaging and believable. Altthough the plot is a familiar one - searching for buried treasure - the author keeps the reader engaged and turning the pages.
Cons: None.
Borrow or Buy: Buy. This is a book that will likely be read more than once. Although boys may enjoy the buried treasure element of the book, it will resonate most strongly with adolescent girls.
Educational Themes: There are no outstanding educational themes to be drawn from the book. This is a good wholesome story that young teens will enjoy reading … a couple of times or more.
Notes: Flesch Kincaid reading level 4.5
Literary Categories: Fiction - adventure, series book, young adult
Date(s) Reviewed: October 2007
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