What do you think?
Rate this book
Book Scavenger #2
Zloty szyfr
Ukryta mapa. Legendarny skarb. Niebezpieczna tajemnica.
Emily i James znów trafiają na trop zagadki, w której kluczem do rozwiązania są książki.
Emily i James znów trafiają na trop zagadki, w której kluczem do rozwiązania są książki.
360 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2017
About the author
Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
12 books663 followersJennifer Chambliss Bertman is the New York Times bestselling author of the Book Scavenger series and SISTERHOOD OF SLEUTHS, forthcoming in Fall 2022. Book Scavenger was an Indie Next Top Ten pick, an Amazon Book of the Year, a Bank Street College Book of the Year, an NCTE Notable Book, and has been nominated for over twenty state award and honor lists, among other accolades. The series is being translated into more than a dozen languages. Jennifer’s debut picture book, A GOOD DEED CAN GROW, illustrated by Holly Hatam, will be published in 2023. She holds an MFA in creative writing and has worked in a variety of roles with children and in publishing. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer now lives in Colorado with her family. More information can be found about her and her books at jenniferchamblissbertman.com and bookscavenger.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 425 reviews
December 20, 2020
I hope fans of Book Scavenger like this sequel as much as I do! I turned in the copyedits for this book yesterday and am so happy with how the story came together. (I'm the author of this book, in case that wasn't obvious.)
June 26, 2018
4-1/2 stars
I think I liked this one better than the first book. As with the first book it would have been a 5 star book, and a favorite, had I read it at ages 9-12.
When I started this I thought I’d made a mistake and that I should have let more time elapse between reading books in this series, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it, and I’ve reserved book 3 at the library; it’s currently on order. I was in the mood for a light and fun book and that’s what these books are, but they also have some substance to the and I appreciate that.
It’s a great San Francisco series. I love the multiple places mentioned, especially the real places, but the made up places too. Great San Francisco and area scenes!
I did find this a bit scary and at one point wondered whether there was going to be a too dark sociopath character for a middle grade mystery, but it never gets too, too dark.
I could do without “Steve” and don’t think I’d have much liked that aspect of the book at 9-12 either, though Steve didn’t seem to be mentioned as much as in the first book and I hope will be mentioned even less in the third book.
I love spending time with these people, particularly Emily, James, and Hollister, but experiencing reading time with almost all the characters is interesting and enjoyable.
The author’s notes at the end are wonderful. She explains what is real and what is made up for the story, and gives a bit of a mini history lesson at the same time, and I learned quite a bit, even though I’m a San Francisco person. I love learning new to me things about the city.
Something I think I neglected to mention in my review of the first book is that the illustrations are charming. I loved them and I’m happy that they’re included. Story and pictures together make for a fun romp. It’s a great children’s mystery series!
I think I liked this one better than the first book. As with the first book it would have been a 5 star book, and a favorite, had I read it at ages 9-12.
When I started this I thought I’d made a mistake and that I should have let more time elapse between reading books in this series, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it, and I’ve reserved book 3 at the library; it’s currently on order. I was in the mood for a light and fun book and that’s what these books are, but they also have some substance to the and I appreciate that.
It’s a great San Francisco series. I love the multiple places mentioned, especially the real places, but the made up places too. Great San Francisco and area scenes!
I did find this a bit scary and at one point wondered whether there was going to be a too dark sociopath character for a middle grade mystery, but it never gets too, too dark.
I could do without “Steve” and don’t think I’d have much liked that aspect of the book at 9-12 either, though Steve didn’t seem to be mentioned as much as in the first book and I hope will be mentioned even less in the third book.
I love spending time with these people, particularly Emily, James, and Hollister, but experiencing reading time with almost all the characters is interesting and enjoyable.
The author’s notes at the end are wonderful. She explains what is real and what is made up for the story, and gives a bit of a mini history lesson at the same time, and I learned quite a bit, even though I’m a San Francisco person. I love learning new to me things about the city.
Something I think I neglected to mention in my review of the first book is that the illustrations are charming. I loved them and I’m happy that they’re included. Story and pictures together make for a fun romp. It’s a great children’s mystery series!
April 12, 2021
انقدر که این کتاب دلبری سانفرانسیسکو رو کرد که من الان از نظر روحی یک شهروند سانفرانسیسکو هستم🤧💜
March 27, 2021
3.5 STARS
I enjoyed this more than the first book in the series. It felt like more of a “mystery” story in that there were suspects and clues and we could kind of play along to find out who the arsonist was and what his connection might be with the “unbreakable code” that, if solved, is supposed to lead to a Gold Rush era treasure. I liked the backstory behind the unbreakable code and the connection to Mark Twain (growing up in the California Gold Country, and having visited San Francisco many times, I was familiar with many of the references, which was fun). A few times, I thought the arsonist might be too creepy a “bad guy” but, fortunately, it never got too dark for me. As with the first book, the writing style was engaging and I enjoyed reading it. It contains some great little nuggets of wisdom, too.
That said, the mystery wasn’t exactly robust. We had only a few potential suspects and it was easy for me to guess whodunit fairly early on. The “Unbreakable Code” also seemed rather unremarkable – it supposedly baffled people for over 150 years (including great puzzle masters like Garrison Griswold and wits like Mark Twain) and yet
I did appreciate the inclusion of the Chinese history in San Francisco area, most poignantly with Emily’s class trip to Angel Island (if you don’t know about Angel Island, be sure to google Angel Island Immigration Station to learn the sad history as many Chinese immigrants of the early 1900s were detained there for months and months in very poor conditions) I appreciate that it didn’t shy away from showing the difficulties encountered by the Chinese immigrants in the Gold Rush and beyond but also showed the hope that they felt for a better life in California.
The book was enjoyable to read and I like most of the characters. Even though the mystery seemed pretty humdrum to me, I did enjoy reading most of the chapters. The bits with the middle school dance kind of dragged for me and seemed like filler but it did show how Emily is now able to be more involved with her school (since she is staying more than a few months) and make more friends. The plot had some pacing issues, too. It almost felt like the main storyline was the part with trying to figure out the arson activities and Mister Quisling’s involvement in them, and the Unbreakable Code bit was tacked on (which, if you read the Author’s Note, may very well have been the case). I also had trouble with some of Emily’s behavior this time around (as with the first book). Admittedly, she was less self-centered this time -- I appreciate her desire to help her parents out financially so they can remain in San Francisco; I appreciate her desire to help a friend out when an unfortunate situation befalls him; and I appreciate that she began to see her teacher as someone other than just an enemy and as a real human being with hopes and struggles of his own. That said, she also did some pretty unacceptable things, IMO, which went beyond just spying and snooping to actually impersonating other people (including an arsonist!) and withholding important information about potential arson activities from the authorities and her excuses for keeping these to herself were flimsy. I also realize that iPhones are the bane of mystery writers of this generation but it just drove me nuts that Emily and James didn’t have a phone to video certain suspicious behaviors. Even without one of their own, it just didn’t ring true that you wouldn’t contact the authorities when you witness an arson event even if you had to run into a local shop and ask to use the phone there for an emergency. (Speaking of, as a parent, I really wonder at their parents not giving them a cell phone at least for emergency use – if they are old enough to be roaming around San Fransicso on their own, then I think they are old enough to be trusted with at least a “dumb phone” for emergencies!)
For all my complaints, I was happy with the way things turned out for Emily and her friends and enjoyed the ending a lot. Below is a quote from Garrison Griswold that I really enjoyed:
“There is wonderful potential for a treasure hunt to bring people together in collaboration. I love that. A treasure hunt also forces you to slow down, but with all your senses engaged. […] I love the idea of something precious being hidden in plain sight, of noticing the potential for something amazing in something bland.
It’s not what’s at the end of the treasure hunt that motivates me. It’s really not. Some people talk about what they would do with sudden riches – I’m not interested in that. Anyone who focuses on the outcome instead of the journey is missing the point, not to mention setting themselves up for disappointment.
You can’t control the outcome. To any endeavor, whether it be a treasure hunt or something else, a friendship or a business venture. The only thing you can control is yourself. Your actions and reactions determine the type of journey you will have. Will it be magical? Joyful? Fearful? Will you be the victim, or will you be the hero? That’s up to you.
[A treasure hunt isn’t a diversion from the struggles and stresses of the real world.] It’s a remedy. Anything we pursue with passion and curiosity can heal us. It’s not unlike my philosophy behind starting a publishing company. I want to populate the world with jewels. Finding that book you connect with is a type of treasure hunt. I want to create things for others and be a force of good and fun and positivity in this world.” (--Garrison Griswold)
I enjoyed this more than the first book in the series. It felt like more of a “mystery” story in that there were suspects and clues and we could kind of play along to find out who the arsonist was and what his connection might be with the “unbreakable code” that, if solved, is supposed to lead to a Gold Rush era treasure. I liked the backstory behind the unbreakable code and the connection to Mark Twain (growing up in the California Gold Country, and having visited San Francisco many times, I was familiar with many of the references, which was fun). A few times, I thought the arsonist might be too creepy a “bad guy” but, fortunately, it never got too dark for me. As with the first book, the writing style was engaging and I enjoyed reading it. It contains some great little nuggets of wisdom, too.
That said, the mystery wasn’t exactly robust. We had only a few potential suspects and it was easy for me to guess whodunit fairly early on. The “Unbreakable Code” also seemed rather unremarkable – it supposedly baffled people for over 150 years (including great puzzle masters like Garrison Griswold and wits like Mark Twain) and yet
I did appreciate the inclusion of the Chinese history in San Francisco area, most poignantly with Emily’s class trip to Angel Island (if you don’t know about Angel Island, be sure to google Angel Island Immigration Station to learn the sad history as many Chinese immigrants of the early 1900s were detained there for months and months in very poor conditions) I appreciate that it didn’t shy away from showing the difficulties encountered by the Chinese immigrants in the Gold Rush and beyond but also showed the hope that they felt for a better life in California.
The book was enjoyable to read and I like most of the characters. Even though the mystery seemed pretty humdrum to me, I did enjoy reading most of the chapters. The bits with the middle school dance kind of dragged for me and seemed like filler but it did show how Emily is now able to be more involved with her school (since she is staying more than a few months) and make more friends. The plot had some pacing issues, too. It almost felt like the main storyline was the part with trying to figure out the arson activities and Mister Quisling’s involvement in them, and the Unbreakable Code bit was tacked on (which, if you read the Author’s Note, may very well have been the case). I also had trouble with some of Emily’s behavior this time around (as with the first book). Admittedly, she was less self-centered this time -- I appreciate her desire to help her parents out financially so they can remain in San Francisco; I appreciate her desire to help a friend out when an unfortunate situation befalls him; and I appreciate that she began to see her teacher as someone other than just an enemy and as a real human being with hopes and struggles of his own. That said, she also did some pretty unacceptable things, IMO, which went beyond just spying and snooping to actually impersonating other people (including an arsonist!) and withholding important information about potential arson activities from the authorities and her excuses for keeping these to herself were flimsy. I also realize that iPhones are the bane of mystery writers of this generation but it just drove me nuts that Emily and James didn’t have a phone to video certain suspicious behaviors. Even without one of their own, it just didn’t ring true that you wouldn’t contact the authorities when you witness an arson event even if you had to run into a local shop and ask to use the phone there for an emergency. (Speaking of, as a parent, I really wonder at their parents not giving them a cell phone at least for emergency use – if they are old enough to be roaming around San Fransicso on their own, then I think they are old enough to be trusted with at least a “dumb phone” for emergencies!)
For all my complaints, I was happy with the way things turned out for Emily and her friends and enjoyed the ending a lot. Below is a quote from Garrison Griswold that I really enjoyed:
“There is wonderful potential for a treasure hunt to bring people together in collaboration. I love that. A treasure hunt also forces you to slow down, but with all your senses engaged. […] I love the idea of something precious being hidden in plain sight, of noticing the potential for something amazing in something bland.
It’s not what’s at the end of the treasure hunt that motivates me. It’s really not. Some people talk about what they would do with sudden riches – I’m not interested in that. Anyone who focuses on the outcome instead of the journey is missing the point, not to mention setting themselves up for disappointment.
You can’t control the outcome. To any endeavor, whether it be a treasure hunt or something else, a friendship or a business venture. The only thing you can control is yourself. Your actions and reactions determine the type of journey you will have. Will it be magical? Joyful? Fearful? Will you be the victim, or will you be the hero? That’s up to you.
[A treasure hunt isn’t a diversion from the struggles and stresses of the real world.] It’s a remedy. Anything we pursue with passion and curiosity can heal us. It’s not unlike my philosophy behind starting a publishing company. I want to populate the world with jewels. Finding that book you connect with is a type of treasure hunt. I want to create things for others and be a force of good and fun and positivity in this world.” (--Garrison Griswold)
January 20, 2022
Once again, I wish the book scavenger game was real. It sounds kind of like geocaching but exclusively with books and I want to play so badly. It was nice seeing Emily and James solve another puzzle, they're a great team and cute friends. This time there's an arsonist to catch, along with a 150 year old code to break and a teacher to help. I found this well paced and fun and I'm excited for the third book!
I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery of who the arsonist was along with solving the Unbreakable Code. There was also a small side story about Mr. Griswold being afraid to leave his house after the attack and the kids trying to help him gain his confidence back. There are a few adults in this that are great with the kids and I like seeing these positive relationships.
I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery of who the arsonist was along with solving the Unbreakable Code. There was also a small side story about Mr. Griswold being afraid to leave his house after the attack and the kids trying to help him gain his confidence back. There are a few adults in this that are great with the kids and I like seeing these positive relationships.
April 9, 2024
➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
i didn’t like this one as much as the first one but i still had fun and enjoyed the adventure these kids went on—i’m so glad i continued with this series ✨
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
i didn’t like this one as much as the first one but i still had fun and enjoyed the adventure these kids went on—i’m so glad i continued with this series ✨
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
January 19, 2021
3.75/5 stars
September 1, 2020
I rated this book one star lower than the first one, which might be unfair, since I think a lot of aspects of this book improve upon the first. It just didn't click for me as well.
This sequel provides a tighter plot than its predecessor, both because the book is shorter (always a win) and the mystery involves more than a prearranged game. The stakes felt much higher, and I was a lot more invested in the puzzles this time around. The inclusion of literary history succeeded again as well, and I was equally invested even though I don't like Twain as well as Poe.
I also felt like the personal lives of the characters were more smoothly integrated into the plot. Character scenes didn't feel like a break from the action, but a relevant progression of events that just so happened to progress characterization as well.
Unfortunately, the characterization was also where this book lost me. I just couldn't get on board with what Emily and James were doing. The first book involved some questionable decisions and childish mischief, but I understood why they made the choices they did. Here, I couldn't forgive them as easily.
This sequel still provides the literary, puzzly fun of the first book. I just couldn't get past the way the protagonists acted.
This sequel provides a tighter plot than its predecessor, both because the book is shorter (always a win) and the mystery involves more than a prearranged game. The stakes felt much higher, and I was a lot more invested in the puzzles this time around. The inclusion of literary history succeeded again as well, and I was equally invested even though I don't like Twain as well as Poe.
I also felt like the personal lives of the characters were more smoothly integrated into the plot. Character scenes didn't feel like a break from the action, but a relevant progression of events that just so happened to progress characterization as well.
Unfortunately, the characterization was also where this book lost me. I just couldn't get on board with what Emily and James were doing. The first book involved some questionable decisions and childish mischief, but I understood why they made the choices they did. Here, I couldn't forgive them as easily.
This sequel still provides the literary, puzzly fun of the first book. I just couldn't get past the way the protagonists acted.
October 24, 2018
Aww, Emily's mom's favorite bookstore is Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville; I bought my Kobo ereader there. :)
You might also enjoy:
✱ York series
✱ The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series
✱ The Blackthorn Key series
✱ Mr. Lemoncello's Library series
✱ Ajax Penumbra 1969 (This short story also features books and a )
You might also enjoy:
✱ York series
✱ The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series
✱ The Blackthorn Key series
✱ Mr. Lemoncello's Library series
✱ Ajax Penumbra 1969 (This short story also features books and a )
Read
October 17, 2022My kids and I recently finished this book—the second in a series. It was another fun adventure through San Francisco with a mystery dating back to the days of the gold rush.
November 3, 2022
3,75
"Złoty szyfr" to kontynuacja, która trzyma poziom.
Po raz kolejny nieustraszeni bohaterowie rozwiązują liczne, trudne zagadki i stawiają czoła złym postaciom. Tym razem muszą walczyć nie tylko z czasem, ale również z pożarem i próbą zamachu. Dzieje się!
Po raz kolejny autorka super powiązała rzeczywiste wydarzenia z tymi mającymi miejsce w książce. San Francisco stanowi ciekawe tło wydarzeń i charakterystyczny element tej serii.
"Złoty szyfr" to kontynuacja, która trzyma poziom.
Po raz kolejny nieustraszeni bohaterowie rozwiązują liczne, trudne zagadki i stawiają czoła złym postaciom. Tym razem muszą walczyć nie tylko z czasem, ale również z pożarem i próbą zamachu. Dzieje się!
Po raz kolejny autorka super powiązała rzeczywiste wydarzenia z tymi mającymi miejsce w książce. San Francisco stanowi ciekawe tło wydarzeń i charakterystyczny element tej serii.
April 13, 2020
The Unbreakable Code
This book was just as good as the first, so much more suspense and mystery was added in when trying to figure out who the antagonist really was and so many life lessons are shared through the words of Mr Griswald. You can change the way you look at your life, even in the darkest of times it's your choice to stay strong and bounce back or let yourself stay down in the dumps. Everything is up to you.
This book was just as good as the first, so much more suspense and mystery was added in when trying to figure out who the antagonist really was and so many life lessons are shared through the words of Mr Griswald. You can change the way you look at your life, even in the darkest of times it's your choice to stay strong and bounce back or let yourself stay down in the dumps. Everything is up to you.
May 26, 2017
This was such a fun story, and I liked as much as I liked the first book in this series. The puzzles and the mystery were quite fun, especially the puzzles. I'm not a fan of the west coast, especially California, so the setting didn't excite me. I did like the characters, though. I liked that their relationships have grown, especially Emily and Matthew. I like that they were voluntarily spending time together. I hope that there will be another book in this series soon.
Read
July 10, 2018While I found the first book in this series enjoyable enough, this one seemed to drag for me. After reading over 100 pages I decided to call it quits as it just wasn't working for me.
August 6, 2017
The Unbreakable Code by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman is the second of the Book Scavenger series. Emily and James get pulled into a challenge to break the cursed unbreakable code — a cypher associated with a number of mishaps, including the sinking of the Niantic. While they are hunting down clues to break the code, an arsonist who calls themselves the Phoenix is starting fires around San Francisco and someone is bound to get hurt.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...
Read
February 7, 2019Very good mystery and adventure book
July 4, 2022
Emily, James and Matthew are excited to be on the Book Scavenger teen advisory committee but Mr. Garrison seems a shadow of his former self since he was shot and won’t listen to any of their ideas. Emily and James become involved in planning their school’s February school dance. No one can agree on a theme so the students combine Valentine’s Day and President’s Day with a game challenge. It should be interesting if they can pull it off but what’s more interesting for Emily and James is the mysterious “Unbreakable Code” won by Mark Twain in the 1850s and given to his friend, Tom Sawyer (no, not the fictional one!). The code is said to be cursed by fire and anyone who tries to solve it will suffer. That doesn’t stop Emily and James as they travel across the city looking for buried treasure. They discover a lot about San Francisco history including a news clipping showing their teacher, Mr. Quisling, and several others at the discover of the Gold Rush era shipwreck Niantic. Now it seems like Mr. Quisling might be trying to solve the Unbreakable Code himself. Emily NEEDS that money if she’s going to stay in San Francisco. She’s determined to get one step ahead of her teacher. Then when Emily is present for some unexplained fires, it feels like the code really is cursed! What’s worse is the fires are linked to a Book Scavenger member who may or may not be Mr. Quisling! Can the tweens figure it out before it’s too late? Will they find the buried treasure?
This was another fun adventure. It was a little too slow to start and sometimes went off on tangents like the school dance but once the kids learned about the Unbreakable Code, I got more into it. I enjoyed trying to solve the code along with the kids and figuring out the treasure map. I especially enjoyed learning more about San Francisco history and landmarks. I knew about the ships from Avi’s Gold Rush Girl and I knew about Angel Island but not Treasure Island, the wave organ or it’s its! That was fun. The mystery of the firebug (more fire bug than arsonist as nothing burns down) was a little obvious. There were only two new male characters! I thought there were two different mysteries going on and was surprised by the identity of the fire starter.
As in the previous book Emily is rather careless and clueless about her personal safety. In once instance yes she was frozen with fear but in the second, the kids do something stupid and reckless. Neither of them apparently has a phone yet they’re running around a large city chasing criminals! James isn’t much better. I like James because he’s normally more level-headed than Emily and usually has more of a sense of humor. James constantly has to remind Emily he’s not a San Francisco wiki. I know the feeling! I appreciated the connections to James’s Chinese heritage. In acknowledging his history and heritage it makes him specifically a Chinese-American character and not just a boy with a cowlick named Steve. Matthew doesn’t play as a big a role in this story but he’s come around more to the idea of staying in San Francisco and hanging out with his little sis sometimes. Maddie still isn’t a fleshed out character but she explains some of the reason why she was so nasty to Emily earlier in the school year. We get to know Vivian, class president, a bit too. She’s neurotic and likes to be in control. James’s friends, the twins, Kevin and Devin, are goofy and crazy but they have some great ideas and share a passion for food science. If I were the teacher, I’d encourage their lemonade experiments and any others they wanted to do. After all, it worked for Alton Brown on the Food Network!
A newcomer to the story, Charlie, is an older teen/young adult who works for Hollister at the bookstore. Charlie is rude, emo and mysterious. He’s up to no good if you ask me.
The adult characters are more nuanced than the kids but not by much. Emily and James’s families seem to be getting along well now and we meet his dad. James’s dad travels a lot for business. Money has been tight and James really misses his dad. I get the impression he fears his dad doesn’t love him by his reaction when his dad suddenly and unexpectedly appears just when James needs his dad the most. Mr. Quisling is confusing. Sometimes he’s a tough teacher but one of those tough but memorable teachers. Other times he’s lost in his own thoughts and can’t be bothered. What’s going on with him? I HATE how Emily meddles in her teacher’s personal life. That could go horribly wrong. Mr. Sloane wants to substitute teach for Mr. Quisling. He seems to know Mr. Quisling from somewhere long ago, probably teaching. Mr. Sloan seems affable and jolly on the surface but the kids don’t quite trust him and neither do I. I’m certain he’s after the unbreakable code and wants Mr. Quisling to solve the clues for him for nefarious purposes. One adult I really enjoyed is the librarian, Ms. Linden. She’s cool but I don’t trust her. She seems especially interested in what the kids figure out about the treasure map and is eager to see what they discovered. I think all the adults know about this buried treasure and are after it for their own purposes. I would hope a librarian would use it to donate to the library and History Center to better preserve antique documents because I was cringing at how the characters treated the manuscript. NO pens allowed, keep the map flat on the table. DO NOT place it on the window, do not trace over it pressing down on the paper!
Who is The Phoenix? The mysterious person has been setting fires all over the city. They aren’t totally dangerous at first or reported by the media but they seem to become more frequent and more devastating as time goes on.
Mr. Griswold isn’t much fun anymore. He’s lost his Willy Wonka playfulness. He’s scared of everything now, understandably, and doesn’t like to leave home. This man seems to only have extremes because he goes from crazy to fearful and back again with no in-between! I’m not sure I really like him. His next plan sounds bonkers!
Even so, I can’t wait to read it!
I listened to some of this on audiobook. I liked the narrator. Her voice is pleasant and she pitches it to sound like a tween girl, tween boy, young teen boy or adults. I would not recommend the audio though because you need to see the codes and the map to get the full experience.
This was another fun adventure. It was a little too slow to start and sometimes went off on tangents like the school dance but once the kids learned about the Unbreakable Code, I got more into it. I enjoyed trying to solve the code along with the kids and figuring out the treasure map. I especially enjoyed learning more about San Francisco history and landmarks. I knew about the ships from Avi’s Gold Rush Girl and I knew about Angel Island but not Treasure Island, the wave organ or it’s its! That was fun. The mystery of the firebug (more fire bug than arsonist as nothing burns down) was a little obvious. There were only two new male characters! I thought there were two different mysteries going on and was surprised by the identity of the fire starter.
As in the previous book Emily is rather careless and clueless about her personal safety. In once instance yes she was frozen with fear but in the second, the kids do something stupid and reckless. Neither of them apparently has a phone yet they’re running around a large city chasing criminals! James isn’t much better. I like James because he’s normally more level-headed than Emily and usually has more of a sense of humor. James constantly has to remind Emily he’s not a San Francisco wiki. I know the feeling! I appreciated the connections to James’s Chinese heritage. In acknowledging his history and heritage it makes him specifically a Chinese-American character and not just a boy with a cowlick named Steve. Matthew doesn’t play as a big a role in this story but he’s come around more to the idea of staying in San Francisco and hanging out with his little sis sometimes. Maddie still isn’t a fleshed out character but she explains some of the reason why she was so nasty to Emily earlier in the school year. We get to know Vivian, class president, a bit too. She’s neurotic and likes to be in control. James’s friends, the twins, Kevin and Devin, are goofy and crazy but they have some great ideas and share a passion for food science. If I were the teacher, I’d encourage their lemonade experiments and any others they wanted to do. After all, it worked for Alton Brown on the Food Network!
A newcomer to the story, Charlie, is an older teen/young adult who works for Hollister at the bookstore. Charlie is rude, emo and mysterious. He’s up to no good if you ask me.
The adult characters are more nuanced than the kids but not by much. Emily and James’s families seem to be getting along well now and we meet his dad. James’s dad travels a lot for business. Money has been tight and James really misses his dad. I get the impression he fears his dad doesn’t love him by his reaction when his dad suddenly and unexpectedly appears just when James needs his dad the most. Mr. Quisling is confusing. Sometimes he’s a tough teacher but one of those tough but memorable teachers. Other times he’s lost in his own thoughts and can’t be bothered. What’s going on with him? I HATE how Emily meddles in her teacher’s personal life. That could go horribly wrong. Mr. Sloane wants to substitute teach for Mr. Quisling. He seems to know Mr. Quisling from somewhere long ago, probably teaching. Mr. Sloan seems affable and jolly on the surface but the kids don’t quite trust him and neither do I. I’m certain he’s after the unbreakable code and wants Mr. Quisling to solve the clues for him for nefarious purposes. One adult I really enjoyed is the librarian, Ms. Linden. She’s cool but I don’t trust her. She seems especially interested in what the kids figure out about the treasure map and is eager to see what they discovered. I think all the adults know about this buried treasure and are after it for their own purposes. I would hope a librarian would use it to donate to the library and History Center to better preserve antique documents because I was cringing at how the characters treated the manuscript. NO pens allowed, keep the map flat on the table. DO NOT place it on the window, do not trace over it pressing down on the paper!
Who is The Phoenix? The mysterious person has been setting fires all over the city. They aren’t totally dangerous at first or reported by the media but they seem to become more frequent and more devastating as time goes on.
Mr. Griswold isn’t much fun anymore. He’s lost his Willy Wonka playfulness. He’s scared of everything now, understandably, and doesn’t like to leave home. This man seems to only have extremes because he goes from crazy to fearful and back again with no in-between! I’m not sure I really like him. His next plan sounds bonkers!
Even so, I can’t wait to read it!
I listened to some of this on audiobook. I liked the narrator. Her voice is pleasant and she pitches it to sound like a tween girl, tween boy, young teen boy or adults. I would not recommend the audio though because you need to see the codes and the map to get the full experience.
December 20, 2016
Jennifer Chambliss Berryman has done it again! I can't begin to imagine the anxiety an author faces when thinking about, then actually writing a sequel. However she may have felt before, during, and after, the writing in this story is engaging and I know it will be a hit with children again. Putting that into context, I'd take one of the many memorable passages from her book like "...the energy we put into the world is infectious. There is a ripple effect, whether you are fostering fear or fun, cruelty or kindness." Jennifer's books foster fun and creativity all while teaching you gems about the history of the San Francisco landscape and its people.
Come April, you will most definitely want to check out this sequel. I highly recommend this and any book by Jennifer.
Come April, you will most definitely want to check out this sequel. I highly recommend this and any book by Jennifer.
January 8, 2017
I wasn't sure that any sequel could possibly top Jennifer Bertman's dazzling debut novel, Book Scavenger, but this one did. Once again, she delivers a mixture of lovable characters, puzzle-solving challenges, heart-stopping dramatic action, and abundant humor, all set against the backdrop of an enticingly presented San Francisco. I was particularly struck by the gently delivered tidbits of true philosophical wisdom that are sprinkled throughout the story, especially this one that spoke to me most deeply at my own moment in life: "You make your choices or the world makes them for you." Bertman puts these words into the mouth of Garrison Griswold, "Finding that book you connect with is a type of treasure hunt." Yes! And this series is a treasure for readers.
February 6, 2017
I loved this San Francisco-set story just as much as the first book in the series! It's full of fantastic--and fascinating--real-life tidbits from the city's history, plus all the humor, ciphers, and page-turning mystery that made the first Book Scavenger book such a hit. So many readers will be so thrilled when it hits the shelves. Can't wait for book 3!
August 2, 2020
اگه این جلد به قشنگی جلد یک نبود، بدتر هم نبود..
کل کتاب رو به اندازه جلد یک دوست داشتم، و خوشحالم که پرتقال بالاخره فهمید یه جلد دویی هم هست :| ولی امیلی و جیمز جلد یک یه چیز دیگه بودن...و نمی تونید نظرمو عوض کنید. اوهوم.
کل کتاب رو به اندازه جلد یک دوست داشتم، و خوشحالم که پرتقال بالاخره فهمید یه جلد دویی هم هست :| ولی امیلی و جیمز جلد یک یه چیز دیگه بودن...و نمی تونید نظرمو عوض کنید. اوهوم.
September 18, 2020
کتاب دوم مجموعه کتاب باز ها، آتش ققنوس، از کتاب اول خیلی جذاب تر بود. در این داست امیلی و خانواده ش قراره مدتی رو در سانفرانسیسکو زندگی کنند چون پدر و مادرش به او قول دادند که بتونه مثل یک دانش آموز معمولی، مدتی موندن توی یکی شهر رو تجربه کنه. او و جیمز، همسایه و همکلاسی ش که هر دو عاشق حل معما هستند این بار با معمای ناگشودنی مواجه می شند که اگه اون رو حل کنند جایزه ای بی نظیر در انتظارشونه. جایزه ای که می تونه بعضی ز مشکلات خانوادگی هر کدوم از اونها را حل کنه. اما با نزدیک شدن به حل معما، متوجه ارتباط اون با یک سری آتش افروزی می شند.
مشخصه که چند ��ا آتش سوزی ساده مانع دنبال کردن یه ماجراجویی بزرگ برای امیلی و جیمز نمیشه به خصوص که پای
مشخصه که چند ��ا آتش سوزی ساده مانع دنبال کردن یه ماجراجویی بزرگ برای امیلی و جیمز نمیشه به خصوص که پای
April 6, 2017
Emily and James are back in a second adventure. This time these middle schoolers are trying to solve the unbreakable code which dates back to the time of Mark Twain in San Francisco. Solving it is supposed to lead to a fantastic treasure. Emily and James are experienced puzzle solvers as they are members of an online game called Book Scavengers started by Emily's idol Garrison Griswold.
Searching for the solution for the unbreakable code is only one of the mysteries they are working on. They are suspicious about their teacher Mr. Quisling who is tracking down copies of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain which wouldn't be suspicious except for the fires that are started in the locations where the books were found.
Emily is also stressed by the possibility that her parents will need to move the family again despite promising her and her brother that they would settle in San Francisco for a while. Meanwhile, James is missing his father who has to travel a lot for business. Finding the treasure and giving the winnings to their parents could solve both of those problems. Adding to their schedule is the upcoming Presidents' Day/Valentine's Day Dance which Emily and James volunteered to help organize.
I liked both Emily and James because they are readers. I liked that they were curious and resourceful. I liked the adults in this story too who were helpful and treated the kids with respect. I also liked the puzzles and think middle grade puzzle lovers will enjoy playing along with the clues to the mystery.
Searching for the solution for the unbreakable code is only one of the mysteries they are working on. They are suspicious about their teacher Mr. Quisling who is tracking down copies of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain which wouldn't be suspicious except for the fires that are started in the locations where the books were found.
Emily is also stressed by the possibility that her parents will need to move the family again despite promising her and her brother that they would settle in San Francisco for a while. Meanwhile, James is missing his father who has to travel a lot for business. Finding the treasure and giving the winnings to their parents could solve both of those problems. Adding to their schedule is the upcoming Presidents' Day/Valentine's Day Dance which Emily and James volunteered to help organize.
I liked both Emily and James because they are readers. I liked that they were curious and resourceful. I liked the adults in this story too who were helpful and treated the kids with respect. I also liked the puzzles and think middle grade puzzle lovers will enjoy playing along with the clues to the mystery.
April 18, 2023
This was an incredibly fun sequel! It definitely more like a 4.25 stars (which I can do on Storygraph!) but I still think I liked the first one a tiny bit more and I gave that one a 4.5.
This was a great way to step away from the game of Book Scavenger as the main concept of the book, but also have it play a large part in the book. This one directly follows the first one with Emily and James being thrown a party at Hollister's book store for finding the Poe book. At the event, Emily sees her teacher Mr Quisling reach into a purse and pull something out, then accidentally drop it. It's a coded letter and Emily and James realize he's doing some very suspicious things. They find out that Mr Quisling has in the past (and possibly currently) been trying to break an unbreakable code. Who can crack it first and what does the code lead to?
In the first book, Emily's parents had a goal of living in all 50 states so they moved A LOT. Emily convinced her parents to stay in San Francisco and it was just so fun to see Emily start to develop real friendships after not living anywhere long enough to make friends. Emily and James were such a good team and so smart. In the first book Mr Griswold got attacked and was in the hospital and in this one, he is really having a hard time recovering emotionally and I think that's something important to share especially in a middle grade book. I ended up liking Mr Quisling a lot as well as the dance committee members that Emily makes friends with. And of course I loved Hollister and his book shop.
The plot was so fun and never boring. There was a lot of true history about San Francisco that fit in so perfectly with the book that it didn't feel like learning history at all. It was all very interesting. There was one big plotline (arguably the biggest) that felt like it was just resolved quickly and over with without much resolution which kind of threw me, but everything else was wrapped up so perfectly.
It lead right into what we can assume will be the third book (I'm going purely by the name of the third book) and I'm really excited to see what the trilogy finale will bring! I can't believe I don't see more of this series around Instagram!
This was a great way to step away from the game of Book Scavenger as the main concept of the book, but also have it play a large part in the book. This one directly follows the first one with Emily and James being thrown a party at Hollister's book store for finding the Poe book. At the event, Emily sees her teacher Mr Quisling reach into a purse and pull something out, then accidentally drop it. It's a coded letter and Emily and James realize he's doing some very suspicious things. They find out that Mr Quisling has in the past (and possibly currently) been trying to break an unbreakable code. Who can crack it first and what does the code lead to?
In the first book, Emily's parents had a goal of living in all 50 states so they moved A LOT. Emily convinced her parents to stay in San Francisco and it was just so fun to see Emily start to develop real friendships after not living anywhere long enough to make friends. Emily and James were such a good team and so smart. In the first book Mr Griswold got attacked and was in the hospital and in this one, he is really having a hard time recovering emotionally and I think that's something important to share especially in a middle grade book. I ended up liking Mr Quisling a lot as well as the dance committee members that Emily makes friends with. And of course I loved Hollister and his book shop.
The plot was so fun and never boring. There was a lot of true history about San Francisco that fit in so perfectly with the book that it didn't feel like learning history at all. It was all very interesting. There was one big plotline (arguably the biggest) that felt like it was just resolved quickly and over with without much resolution which kind of threw me, but everything else was wrapped up so perfectly.
It lead right into what we can assume will be the third book (I'm going purely by the name of the third book) and I'm really excited to see what the trilogy finale will bring! I can't believe I don't see more of this series around Instagram!
May 23, 2021
There are very few middle grade books that I find I can become invested in, by this series definitely makes the list! I always love the mysteries and the ciphers, (even though I have no idea how to do any of them) and I feel invested in the characters.
This one was a bit haunting because the author’s note mentioned a ship that’s buried under San Francisco and had burned down, so they built a hotel on top of it which also burned down so they rebuilt and it BURNED DOWN AGAIN. And that’s all real stuff the happened. This book was about a made-up cipher that was supposedly cursed and had survived all those fires. Great read!
This one was a bit haunting because the author’s note mentioned a ship that’s buried under San Francisco and had burned down, so they built a hotel on top of it which also burned down so they rebuilt and it BURNED DOWN AGAIN. And that’s all real stuff the happened. This book was about a made-up cipher that was supposedly cursed and had survived all those fires. Great read!
March 3, 2020
Good follow-up to the first book in the series. Good lessons about the pitfalls of preconceived notions. Good weaving of real-life history into the storyline.
I appreciate that the author lets Emily and James have another adventure and foil a villain while still making it quite clear that the two are just middle school kids. Guess what? They behave like kids. They sometimes jump to conclusions and make stupid decisions, with almost catastrophic consequences for themselves and/or others. But all is well in the end, and lessons are learned. I am also happy to report that the rivalry I referred to in my review of the first book is headed toward a positive resolution. Last but not least, I picked the right culprit! ;)
I appreciate that the author lets Emily and James have another adventure and foil a villain while still making it quite clear that the two are just middle school kids. Guess what? They behave like kids. They sometimes jump to conclusions and make stupid decisions, with almost catastrophic consequences for themselves and/or others. But all is well in the end, and lessons are learned. I am also happy to report that the rivalry I referred to in my review of the first book is headed toward a positive resolution. Last but not least, I picked the right culprit! ;)
October 31, 2020
An excellent sequel to the Book Scavenger series! I loved this book just as much, if not more than the first and I’m excited to read the third. For those interested, there was no bad language, adult themes or supernatural themes although it does mention a curse. The arsonist could be slightly scary to younger readers however he never seems to seriously harm a person and the climax of his part of the story is fairly low key so I don’t think it’s too scary.
December 17, 2020
https://hagyjatokolvasok.blogspot.com...
Még csak nemrég tettem le a könyvet, de máris tudnám folytatni a sorozatot a harmadik résszel! Jó érzés volt visszatérni a fiatalokhoz, és újra együtt nyomozni velük San Francisco-szerte. Kicsit más a hangvétele, mint az első résznek, de legalább annyira addiktív, letehetetlen olvasmány volt. Nagyon tetszett a Tom Sawyeres vonal, ahogy az is, hogy megint egy picit többet "láttam" a városból és a szigetekből.
Még csak nemrég tettem le a könyvet, de máris tudnám folytatni a sorozatot a harmadik résszel! Jó érzés volt visszatérni a fiatalokhoz, és újra együtt nyomozni velük San Francisco-szerte. Kicsit más a hangvétele, mint az első résznek, de legalább annyira addiktív, letehetetlen olvasmány volt. Nagyon tetszett a Tom Sawyeres vonal, ahogy az is, hogy megint egy picit többet "láttam" a városból és a szigetekből.
October 2, 2019
rating: 3.5
The first quarter of the book was slow (but maybe not for a younger reader).
Again, interesting info re San Francisco -- present day as well as historical perspective.
Fewer literary references. First book focused on The Gold Bug and Edgar A Poe. This book uses Tom Sawyer and Mark Twain as a hook.
p117: Anything we pursue with passion and curiosity can heal us.
Yep, I agree.
I'll watch for the third book in the series.
The first quarter of the book was slow (but maybe not for a younger reader).
Again, interesting info re San Francisco -- present day as well as historical perspective.
Fewer literary references. First book focused on The Gold Bug and Edgar A Poe. This book uses Tom Sawyer and Mark Twain as a hook.
p117: Anything we pursue with passion and curiosity can heal us.
Yep, I agree.
I'll watch for the third book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 425 reviews