Monday, May 25, 2015

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Emily is twelve and addicted to the Book Scavenger game.  She's working her up through the levels trying to get to the top.  She gets points for books she finds by following clues and by leaving books for others to find.  When her family moves to San Francisco, she's happy.  That's where the creator of her game lives!

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 2nd, so grab a copy then.

The first person Emily meets is a boy about her age that lives in the same apartment house they are moving into.  The house belongs to his family.  He also likes to do puzzles.  She's never really had a friend before; they move so much it isn't really possible.  She likes the idea though.  And James likes ciphers and puzzles as much as she does.  She thinks she'll really enjoy her time here in San Francisco.

When Mr. Griswold gets shot on his way to a presentation, the book he is carrying is tossed towards the garbage cans because his assailants thought they were looking for an old book.  Emily and James come to the scene of the crime hoping to find something out about the mugging.  What they find is the book.  Emily leaves her Book Scavenger card to show she picked it up and on they go.  

She finds that the book is a clue in a brand new game and she can't resist playing it.  But someone else wants that book...

There's lots of action and excitement, some conflict between Emily and her new friend, James, and lots of book lore in this tale.  I liked how James named his cowlick "Steve".  Maybe I should name mine.

This was a fun tale, with lots of challenges and an unusual prize at the end.  Whether you like books or adventure, there's some of both in this book for you.

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