Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fascinating mystery nurtures a love of puzzles and codes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Based on 10 kid reviews
Kids say this book is captivating and engaging, appealing to readers of all ages with its clever puzzles and mystery elements. Many enjoy the adventure and educational aspects, particularly the lessons about friendship and problem-solving, although some mention mild violence that may surprise younger readers.
- captivating story
- clever puzzles
- friendship lessons
- mild violence
- suitable for young readers
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
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
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date : June 2, 2015
- Number of pages : 348
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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