Parents' Guide to

Book Scavenger

By Tracy Moore, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Fascinating mystery nurtures a love of puzzles and codes.

Book Jennifer Chambliss Bertman Mystery 2015
Book Scavenger Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 1 parent review

Melanie M.
Melanie M. Adult
February 28, 2017
age 9+

Suspenseful

This book is a page-turner. It never stops. The 2 main characters are unlikely friends, and they show some cool characteristics of friendship throughout -- supporting each other at all costs, but also getting in an argument for not supporting each other at the right time. The puzzles and ciphers add a great piece of brain building. The gun shot scene at the beginning seems a little too much for the younger kids. And the kids getting chased by the bad guys, and the end when the gun is present again are both pretty intense. It all turns out great, so it leaves everyone with a positive mindset, but it could scare some kids, especially any kids who've ever been around guns or bad guys.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Twelve-year-old Emily is used to moving around; her parents are on a mission to eventually live in all 50 states. But when she moves to San Francisco, she's particularly thrilled because it's the home of her favorite author, Garrison Griswold, the creator of Book Scavenger, a game that involves hiding books, finding clues, and tracking them down for points and bragging rights. The trouble is, Griswold has been shot, and a rare book in his possession has been lost. Emily gets her hands on it, but she still has to crack the code before the thieves who attacked Griswold do it first.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (9):

BOOK SCAVENGER is a book lover's delight: It weaves in mysteries, puzzles, and secret treasure with the real histories of beloved authors. Emily is an admirable and relatably flawed character for book worms. She gets caught up in the stories she loves, sometimes to the detriment of her real-world relationships. Here, readers are encouraged to break codes and solve puzzles alongside the protagonist, consider the history of famous authors in a new light, and navigate relationships with friends and loved ones as they move in and out of the world of books and the world we inhabit every day.

The book could engage otherwise reluctant readers, as it shows that the life of the mind can be plenty exciting in real life while reinforcing the engrossing escape books can offer. It also features definitions in the back, with resources for real-life Book Scavengers that readers can participate in.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the book's format of puzzles and codes. Could you solve the codes? Were they difficult or hard for you?

  • Was the history of Edgar Allan Poe what you expected? How was it different from what you've learned in school?

  • Have you ever solved a mystery? What was it? How did you figure it out?

Book Details

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