Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting sequel pits tweens against fake news, unseen foe.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Things get complicated in the wake of Book 1's triumph, as brainy tweens Gina, Elena, Edgar, and Kevin (aka the GEEKs) are unexpectedly put to THE TREASURE TEST to preserve their hard-won victory and reputation. They may have saved the town of Elmwood, but they seem to have made some unknown enemies in the process. Now they've been assigned a new quest to prove the whole thing wasn't a hoax, or a scam, or worse. The puzzles and riddles are a huge challenge. Likewise the siren song of fake news as a blogger spreads falsehoods about them, and the hard-won discovery that, as Elena exclaims, "people want to think they're right more than they want to know the actual truth!" Will the town and their friendship survive? And who's behind all this trouble, anyway? Also, why?
Is It Any Good?
Things often aren't what they seem in this exciting, nuanced tale, as 11-year-old BFFs solve puzzles and riddles, unearth long-lost tales of estranged families, and try to repair town rivalries. The Treasure Test puts the GEEKS to the test with mysteries and tight deadlines, made worse by the fact that a blogger is putting a bad spin on the true stuff and making up lies about them along the way. There's never a dull moment as the story unfolds -- but plenty of opportunity to see what happens when people believe what they like instead of what's actually true. Teamwork, problem-solving, and making amends all matter here.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like The Treasure Test that involve solving puzzles. Do you enjoy the challenge of seeing if you can solve the puzzles ahead of the heroes, or are you happy to just watch as they work it all out?
The author Mark Twain remarked, "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." What do you think he meant by that? How does it relate to the events in The Treasure Test? Do you see it happening in your own life?
Have you ever made friends with someone who betrayed you in some way? What happened? Were you able to put the friendship back together, or was that the end?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Empathy , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : February 14, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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