Charlie, Anna, and Emily must overcome their differences and work together to solve various puzzles leading to the secret treasure a famous female explorer left in Idlewood Manor before the adults do. - (Baker & Taylor)
The winner of a puzzle contest, his reluctant sister and the daughter of parents on a secret mission team up in a decades-abandoned manor house where they follow clues to unlock the property’s mysterious link to a famous woman explorer. 40,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. - (Baker & Taylor)
Three kids have everything they need to solve the decades-old mystery of Idlewood Manor, in this middle grade novel full of real ciphers, puzzles, riddles, and codes that Kirkus Reviews calls "a worthy call to unravel a mystery.”
Idlewood Manor has been uninhabited for decades, until now . . .
Math whiz Charlie won admission in a puzzle contest—and he’s intrigued by the strange numbers he finds on Idlewood’s walls. His restless sister Anna had to be dragged to the house—but then she discovers its hidden floor. Emily’s parents brought her to the mansion on a secret mission—and she’s determined to prove herself to them.
All three kids soon unlock clues to Idlewood’s mysterious past and the famous female explorer who’s connected to it—and the secret treasure she left behind. But the adults around them are also hunting for the treasure. Charlie, Anna, and Emily will have to overcome their differences and work as a team to solve Idlewood’s puzzles before it’s too late, in Allison K. Hymas's The Explorer's Code.
An Imprint Book
- (
McMillan Palgrave)
Allison K. Hymas was born on the anniversary of the day Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly nonstop and solo across the Atlantic. She was born in Utah and raised in Virginia and Pennsylvania, where she enjoyed spending time in the mountains and forests. She currently lives in Springville, UT, where she teaches writing, visits national parks, and runs very long distances for fun. Her books include Under Locker and Key, Arts and Thefts, and The Explorer's Code. - (McMillan Palgrave)
Kirkus Reviews
Deep in the Shenandoah forest stands Idlewood Manor, where deep-rooted secrets await. The newly reopened historical mansion now serves as a weekend getaway for a select number of lucky visitors. Among these guests are the Hendersons, thanks to gifted 12-year-old Charlie's winning a contest. His exuberant 13-year-old sister, Anna, whose parents continually chastise her, can't wait to explore the manor's nooks and crannies. Following in the footsteps of her idol, famous early-20th-century explorer Virginia Maines, Anna uncovers a secret passageway to a hidden third floor and, further along, an abandoned tower. Charlie's exploits lead him to notice hidden numerical codes among the manor's walls and rooms. Meanwhile, 12-year-old Emily Shaughnessy plans on helping her historian parents on a critical mission to preserve Idlewood Manor as a historical site. All three explorers begin at odds with each other: Emily's suspicious of anyone derailing her task while Charlie and Anna struggle over the loss of their once-close bond. Soon though, the trio must rely on one ano ther to untangle the mysteries of Idlewood Manor and its ties to Maines' disappearance. Full of puzzles and intrigue, this is a delectable treat for readers wanting a brainteaser or two in an intricately paced package. Equally amusing is the three young explorers' implicit battle with the adult guests, who range from bemused roadblocks to the trio's progress to stealthy thieves. Main characters follow a White default. A worthy call to unravel a mystery. (Mystery. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus 2020 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.