Hide and Seek

March 1, 2013
Three young members of the Silver Jaguar Society team up with a Costa Rican 10-year-old to find the stolen Jaguar Cup, a pre-Columbian gold artifact hidden at a rain-forest ecolodge. Anna, Jose and Henry, fresh from their rescue of the Star-Spangled Banner, described in Capture the Flag (2012), are sent to wait at the lodge Sofia's father runs not too far from the Costa Rican capital, San Jose, while the adults responsible for them plan to begin their search for the priceless object. But the thief and his even more dangerous pursuer are staying at this same out-of-the-way sanctuary. This fast-paced mystery makes good use of the rain-forest setting as the young people encounter venomous snakes, biting ants and endangered great green macaws. A hanging, swaying bridge and a long zip line play important parts in suspenseful chase scenes. While the episode resolves satisfactorily, the ringleader of a gang of international art thieves, who now knows and hates them personally, has escaped. There's plenty of room for a third book in this gripping series. Readers who care to know more about characters may want to start with the first title; this one is all plot and setting, a gratifying page-turner. Aptly titled, this energetic treasure hunt is sure to find an enthusiastic audience. (Mystery. 8-12)

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May 1, 2013

Gr 4-6-In this follow-up to Capture the Flag (Scholastic, 2012), Anna, Henry, and Jose reconnect in Washington, DC, a few months after having tracked down the thieves of a precious historical artifact. As the three preteens are honored for their work, their adult relatives, who are members of the Silver Jaguar Society, learn that the golden Jaguar Cup has been stolen. All three families board the next flight for Costa Rica, where the adults plan to hunt down the thief while Anna, Henry, and Jose remain in the care of their friend at his "rain forest eco-lodge." Not content to sit idly by, the kids track down any clues that they can find, and they end up having wild and breathtaking adventures. While Capture the Flag focused on Anna, this installment follows Jose as he deals with feeling left out and tries to solve the mystery on his own. Although the story line is complex and includes many characters, it is easy to follow, and readers will find themselves caught up in the action, especially in a gripping chase scene toward the end. Messner does an admirable job of taking her readers to the rain forest, and she provides a few helpful photos and an author's note at the end of the book. Hide and Seek is a great read for students who enjoy mysteries and action-packed adventures.-Sarah Reid, Broome County Public Library, Binghamton, NY

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