Tag: logic puzzles

REVIEW: The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten by Krista Van Dolzer

REVIEW: The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten by Krista Van Dolzer

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Bloomsbury Children’s Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Esther’s step-dad is driving her to Camp Vermeer for a week of art camp festivities. Unfortunately, he’s directionally challenged. They end up on the wrong mountain in a torrential rainstorm with a wrecked truck. When they finally cross a flooded road and hike through the muck to a campground, they discover his mistake. They are at Camp Archimedes – a math camp.

The camp director is very welcoming. She makes sure Esther and her step-dad get food and dry clothes. And she has space for them to stay until the rain stops and the truck gets fixed. All Esther cares about is getting to Camp Vermeer. But it would be nice if these math kids would stop giving her the side eye like they know she doesn’t belong.

So Esther sets out to solve the camp’s big math challenge question. And she does – in less than 24 hours and before any of the other campers can solve it. So Esther’s already in problem solving mode when she stumbles onto the weird riddle. It almost sounds like if the riddle isn’t solved, someone is going to die! But Esther thinks that’s pretty crazy. Until her roommate disappears.

Review

Check out that cover! I love it. This is a fun puzzle story/mystery along the lines of The Westing Game or The Puzzling World of Winston Breen. It also reminded me of Capture the Flag. I love books like this, so I was excited to get to read about Esther’s adventures at math camp.

I love how Esther got sucked into this unexpected math camp, first because she has something to prove, but later because she cares about the people she has met. The puzzles are a nice plot point – and Esther gets to learn about them along with the reader. She’s not an expert already. But her creative thinking is a big help.

I think readers are going to love this – there’s art, math, family, friends, puzzles, adventure and a great mystery. While the major puzzle sounds dangerous, this story is still completely middle grade appropriate. Be sure to check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Eagle of Rome by Dan Metcalf

REVIEW: The Eagle of Rome by Dan Metcalf

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

It’s 1928. Lottie Lipton lives at the British Museum with her Uncle Bert who is the Curator of Egyptology there. One day adventurer extraordinaire, Lady Viola, shows up at the museum, announcing she is off to find the Eagle of the Ninth Legion. She’s at the museum to check their library for clues.

Lady Viola is one of Lottie’s idols. But once the reporters are gone, Viola turns from gracious and sophisticated to rude and ruthless. While Lottie would put the missing Eagle into the museum so everyone could enjoy it, Viola wants it so she can sell it to finance her vacations. So Lottie vows to find it first.

Lottie, Uncle Bert and Reg, the museum’s caretaker, will have to solve several logic puzzles if they’re going to beat Lady Viola to the Eagle!

Review

This is a cute, simple book with puzzles embedded into the story (with solutions). Lottie is sweet and values learning and art for the masses. The fast story means we don’t get to know her very well, but she is likable from the start.

The puzzles are fun and appear to be set up so the reader doesn’t see the solution until he/she turns the page (I saw an early electronic arc, so I don’t know what the final version will look like). There are bonus puzzles in the back matter along with vocabulary and facts related to the book.

Good for early elementary elementary classrooms and readers starting to test out short chapter books.

Thanks to Netgalley and Darby Creek Publishing for providing and electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥