Review by Booklist Review
The adventure begins with middle-schoolers Sam and Martina on a plane headed for Death Valley when the pilot, co-pilot, and two other passengers lose consciousness, but the premise reaches way back to the American Revolution. The first volume of the Secrets of the Seven series supplies the setup: seven of America's founding fathers hid important keys and entrusted clues for finding them with family members to pass down through the generations. Strangers when the modern-day story opens, Sam, Martina, and Theo join forces on the perilous trail leading toward Ben Franklin's key. They use their intelligence and specialized knowledge to solve puzzles and codes, while attempting to outrun, outswim, and outwit their murderous rivals, led by the ruthless descendant of Benedict Arnold. In addition to learning bits of American history, readers will be challenged by the codes and riveted by Thomson's account of the kids' episodic, death-defying journey. A fast-paced quest narrative with plenty of action and a gradually developing bond among the three main characters.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-This accessible series starter involves two children who win a contest and are awarded a summer trip around the United States. Puzzle whiz Sam and history expert Martina join another student, the mysterious Theo, and an evasive adult named Evangeline at the airport. Things immediately take a dangerous turn when everyone on board the small plane is drugged except Sam and Martina. They manage to land the plane, but the danger only increases from there. Ultimately, they discover that the "contest" is something much greater and more dangerous than a simple trip. Puzzle-solving is a key component of their adventures. Readers will enjoy the deductive reasoning involved and the high-stress situations the kids find themselves in as they try to stay one step ahead of the deadly bad guys. This story has the feeling of a computer game that relies on knowledge of American history to advance. VERDICT This title will appeal to history buffs, puzzle fans, and reluctant readers.-B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
After winning a puzzle contest, three young people find themselves in the middle of a dangerous treasure hunt for hidden national artifacts. An exciting vacation turns deadly when tainted water overcomes the flight crew on their trip to Death Valley. Thankfully, Martina's knowledge and Sam's problem-solving abilities are enough to help them pilot their plane to safety. However, neither their chaperone, Evangeline, nor their other companion, Theo, seems surprised at the turn of events. The danger intensifies when Martina, Sam, and Theo are captured during a desert hike and forced to solve a series of puzzles that take them deep beneath the sands. Theo finally confesses that their trip's true purpose is to find treasures left behind by the Founding Fathers of the United States before an evil descendent of Benedict Arnold does. Nonstop action is punctuated by a series of puzzles that require knowledge of trivia, strength, and creative thinking to solve. Sam is the most intriguing of the three adventurers. He is part headstrong rebel and part genius, and his quirkiness is enough to keep know-it-all Martina and bland Theo (apparently the only character of color among them) from robbing the story of life, but it's not enough to compensate for the tired setup and plotting. Unfortunately, this series opener feels far more formulaic than fresh. (Adventure. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
