Review: Fantastic!!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 17, 2014
This book is set in the 1950’s in Britain.  Joe and his two younger sisters, Sarah and Amy, team up with their friend Will to fix up an old sail boat and go off to an island off the coast of Britain, where rumors have it that the leader of a now defunct religious group haunts anyone who comes to the island. The four young sleuths do not find the ghost, but a high priced painting rings of thieves, which make their trip a real adventure.  As an adult, I wondered how any youngsters could get the permissions they do from their parents to go exploring the way they do, but I stopped to remember that this is a series similar to the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries I eagerly devoured as a pre-teen, where things that might not always make sense can and do happen and parents are not like parents today.  The book is a must for readers ages 9-12—they won’t question how the parents let their children go on such an adventure, but will only be caught up in the adventure itself as well as the mystery surrounding it.  In addition, the 1950’s were a very different era, when things were definitely quieter and less violent, and when parents let their children do things no parent would today. Once they arrive, the four sleuths set out exploring the island and inadvertently discover gang of robbers, who are using the island to hide away and store the stolen paintings. I won’t go into much more of the story, as I do not want to give it away. The author has definitely produced a fantastic novel, which I am sure all youngsters 9-12 will eagerly devour, and, once done with this book, will seek out others in this or similar series the author has written. The story covers the mystery, but also brings home the meaning of friendship and sibling caring for one another and friends.  In addition, the author has infused a genuine creativity and intelligence into all four characters, who come up with pretty good ideas to thwart the ring of robbers while managing to stay out of their clutches.  Nevertheless, there are still exciting times when I wondered whether or how they would ever pull off what they set out to do. I think most youngsters in this demographic who enjoy a good story will enjoy this book.  The book is also suitable for all audiences, as there are scary parts that are not too scary, no real violence or adult themes or language and nothing that could offend. I was not familiar with the author before reading this, but I now will recommend this to my grandchildren and their friends, who fall within the intended demographic. I received this from Library Thing to read and review.