Review by Booklist Review
Benjamin's older brother, Ethan, is heading off to college. The two have never been close due, in part, to their six-year age difference, but their dad has a scheme to foster a bond between them. Having fond memories of a trip he and his brothers took when they were younger, their dad gifts Ethan a truck in exchange for taking Benjamin on a trip to see the Grand Canyon. Plans are semi-derailed when puzzle-lover Benjamin finds a clue to Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest. Though still on their road trip, the brothers are now working together to solve clues in a competition against other pairs to win a million dollars. Grabenstein delivers the humor and puzzle-driven adventure fans have come to expect, this time with a somewhat cheesy side of family bonding. An unexpected twist wraps everything up neatly, and the pacing remains fast through the end. A small warning that Benjamin's weight and eating habits are often negatively discussed.High-Demand Backstory: Young readers may have escaped from Mr. Lemoncello's library, but they're still in Grabenstein's clutches. He's a bestselling author for a reason, so expect lots of requests for this one.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Two white-cued brothers who are total opposites team up to win a cash prize in this The Amazing Race--flavored adventure by Grabenstein (the Mr. Lemoncello series). Puzzle-loving Benjamin Broderick, 12, often finds himself at odds with his athletic 18-year-old brother Ethan. When the siblings' parents persuade them to take a summer road trip together for some much-needed bonding, it looks like a recipe for disaster. Then the boys receive an invitation to participate in a cross-country race for $1 million, hosted by infamous enigmatic puzzle enthusiast Ms. Pennypickle. Ben and Ethan prove ready for the challenge, which takes them on a journey to various iconic stops along Route 66, where puzzles and riddles await them. As they strive to outrace, outwit, and outlast their fellow competitors, the youths gain a greater appreciation of each other's skills, but their newfound camaraderie may not be enough to see them across the finish line. In this clever and comedic homage to code breaking and treasure hunting, Grabenstein highlights quirky and historic roadside attractions such as the World's Largest Catsup Bottle and the automotive Stonehenge of the Cadillac Ranch, while offering assorted riddles and puzzles for readers to solve alongside the Brodericks, making for a thoroughly entertaining, lighthearted romp. Ages 8--12. Agent: Carrie Hannigan, HG Literary. (Oct.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two brothers set off down old Route 66 on a treasure hunt orchestrated by an eccentric puzzle maker. The former closeness between 12-year-old Ben, who's self-conscious about his weight, and his athletic 18-year-old brother, Ethan, may be long gone, but the prospect of a $1,000,000 reward offered by renowned puzzle queen Penelope Pennypickle is enough to get them heading off together in search of clues deposited at roadside attractions along the historic highway. Ms. Pennypacker's dictum that "The family that puzzles together stays together" proves to be the main clue to what Grabenstein is up to. While joined by competing pairs in a series of elimination rounds, the siblings work to solve a series of riddles and challenges while stopping at sites from the Pops 66 Soda Ranch to Cadillac Ranch and Petrified Forest National Park--and, in the process, the bond between them regains its old strength. The puzzles offer readers something fun to engage with, and the local color, plus the author's affirmation of the importance of family ties and the vigorous way he deals with the fat shaming that Ben receives, are worthy. But his bid to recapture some of the Mr. Lemoncello magic falls afoul of an overly contrived plot and minimally developed character interactions. Readers may also feel cheated by the resolution, which falls flat. Most characters present white. Bland and disappointing.(Fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
