Finders Keepers

August 17, 2015
What do a tough 10-year-old girl, a lonely 11-year-old boy, and a grumpy grandfather do when they're thrown together for the summer? Look for treasure, of course! Al Capone's hidden loot is a Northwoods legend, but Christa, Alex, and Alex's grandfather, "Grumpa," have reason to believe the money is no myth. What's more, Christa feels certain she can save her family's beloved lake cabin if she can find the hidden mob money. Sharp, earnest dialogue among the engaging, multigenerational cast keeps the plot moving briskly as what starts as a quiet story of summer friendship and a family's financial struggle builds to a dramatic conclusion with collapsing tunnels, near-drownings, and even a death. Christa and Alex are the foundation of Tougas's (The Graham Cracker Plot) imaginative adventure, quick friends and determined detectives, building a friendship fueled by Grumpa's steady stream of orange soda and the comforting realization that they are the same kind of weirdâtheir imaginative roleplaying as adventurers Chase Truegood and Buck Punch is almost as fun as their actual treasure hunt. Ages 8â12. Agent: Susan Hawk, The Bent Agency.

July 15, 2015
A 10-year-old searches for Al Capone's lost treasure. It's Christa's last summer in the north woods of Wisconsin: her teacher father has lost his job, and the family cabin is for sale. Everything's different-her parents are working temp jobs instead of relaxing, her 16-year-old sister is too busy waitressing to be any fun, and their grumpy neighbor has retired (thus able to bear witness to Christa's many escapades) and now has his 11-year-old grandson, Alex, living with him. When Alex proves to have a quirky sense of humor that matches Christa's, they imagine fantastic adventures until a real one-finding the stash of money Al Capone supposedly stored somewhere nearby-absorbs their attention. Could the money be enough to save the cabin? Tougas' first-person narration seems stiff at first, as Christa starts out as a whiny one-note character. Eventually, however, the characterization deepens as well as the intrigue, and the fast-paced ending has enough bite to satisfy. The premise will cause inevitable comparisons to Gennifer Choldenko's Alcatraz tales, but the story stands on its own. Entertaining and humorous; good light fare for middle graders. (Fiction. 8-12)

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August 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-Blessed with an active imagination, 10-year-old Christa Boyd-Adams and 11-year-old Alex Clark take to the outdoors, pretending to climb Mount Everest with plastic cup oxygen masks, butter knife ice picks, duct-taped fork boot spikes, and walkie-talkie cassette tapes. Life at the summer cabin is Christa's favorite place to be, but things change when her father loses his job as a history teacher and the cabin goes up for sale. The friends plot to undermine any attempt to sell it. During one of their escapades, the duo unearths money hidden long ago, and old stories of Al Capone burying his loot start to surface. Christa and Alex want to find the cash to save the cabin, but they discover others have joined the game. Readers will enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor and fast-paced story that revels in outdoor summertime fun. Family issues drive the heart of the narrative, and Christa, described as immature by her family, must face events as they unfold. Lovable and somewhat prone to mishap, Christa learns about the angst a struggling family must endure and the dynamics of true friendship from young and old. VERDICT Lighter than Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone Does My Shirts (Putnam, 2004), this is an entertaining middle grade mystery.-Robyn Gioia, Antilles Middle School, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2015
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* The only time 10-year-old Christa feels she belongs is when she is at her family's cabin in Wisconsin. But to her dismay, this will be their last summer on Whitefish Lake, because her father has lost his job and they cannot afford to keep the cabin. Next door, a boy named Alex has just moved in, and the two team up to do some sleuthing and treasure hunting. Rumor has it that Al Capone once hid a suitcase of cash in the area, and if they can find it, Crista's family might be able to hang on to their cabin. Tougas, known best for her historical nonfiction (Little Rock Girl, 1957, 2011), has crafted a charming story of family history and personal connections (both lost and found) that is reminiscent of Blue Balliett and the Penderwicks' adventures. Christa is a delightful protagonistspunky, witty, and self-confident, in spite of her lack of social gracesand her companionship with Alex is well drawn. More thoughtful than most mysteries, this novel addresses serious issues (financial challenges and strained family relationships, in particular) without bogging down the narrative, and its resolution is both rewarding and poignant. Christa and Alex prove a winning duo, whose quest for Capone's lost loot will keep readers glued to the page.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)