The Hawthorne Legacy: The Inheritance Games, Book 2
Intrigue, puzzles, new locations in exciting continuation.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Hawthorne Legacy is a mystery adventure that continues the story begun in The Inheritance Games by popular YA author Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Reading the books in order is recommended for a better understanding of the characters and the events leading up to this installment. Characters investigate attempted murder, kidnapping, arson, and mysterious deaths. Actual violence expereinced in the story include a bomb exploding; being shocked with a defibrilator; being drugged, tied to a chair, and threatened with a gun; online threats; and a bloody sheet with an animal heart with a knife through it left as a threat. Sexy stuff includes some kissing (same-sex and opposite-sex), a stripping game with no body parts described, and lots of romantic tension and dynamics. Strong language includes "bitch" and "slut." Teens are overheard on the phone sounding drunk after playing a drinking game. An adult gets drunk and causes a scene. Pills, alcohol, and powder are found in a missing adult's room.
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What's the Story?
In THE HAWTHORNE LEGACY, it's been just a few weeks since 16-year-old Avery's life changed forever. That was when she learned that she'd inherited biliions from a man she'd never even heard of, and was whisked away from her home in Connecticut to live in the mansion of deceased Texas billioinaire Tobias Hawthorne, alongside his disinherited daughters and grandsons. It seemed like they'd followed Tobias's clues and solved the mystery of why Avery had been brought there, but a lot of questions still remained. And another puzzle from Tobias himself. This one pointing even farther back into the past, and seeming to hinge on the death of Tobias's only son. This time, the puzzles and clues will take Avery and the four Hawthorne grandsons to new rooms in the mansion, a luxury vacation home in the Colorado Rockies, and a desolate island off the coast of Oregon. And no one needs to solve any puzzles to realize that there's still someone out there, and possibly more than one, who will do anything to get Avery out of the picture, permanently.
Is It Any Good?
This second installment of a mystery series keeps the puzzles coming but adds travel to exciting new locations and adventure to keep the pages turning. The Hawthorne Legacy is full of twists and turns, and even more surprises than in the first volume. Plus a love triangle that continues to pull Avery between two swoon-worthy brothers adds to the suspense. Readers will enjoy immersing themselves in the fabulous jet-setting lifestyle as much as in the mystery and intrigue, and they can admire the way Avery keeps a level head on her shoulders through it all. Favorite characters from the first book return, and colorful, well-realized new ones are introduced, too. The ending's satisfying, but fans will be happy to know that a third installment is planned.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about role models in The Hawthorne Legacy. Is Avery a positive role model? What are her character strengths and weaknesses?
Did you read The Inheritance Games first? If you did, which book do you like better? If you didn't, would you like to now?
Why are mysteries so popular in books and other media? Why do we love them? What are some of your favorite mystery books or series?
Book Details
- Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- Genre: Mystery
- Topics: Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
- Publication date: September 7, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 18
- Number of pages: 368
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: October 1, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
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