  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 03/01/2017 Gr 4–6—This second installment leaps in right where the first left off, with middle schoolers Emily and James on the trail of a new coded mystery. Things are heating up as an arsonist called The Phoenix leaves a trail of hidden books and small fires all over San Francisco. While worrying about family finances, figuring out what their teacher Mr. Quisling is up to, taking part in a historical treasure hunt, and planning the school dance, the intrepid heroes have more than enough on their cipher-loving minds. Though the plot stands alone, readers may need to revisit the first book in the series to catch up on necessary exposition. Without the weight of explanation, though, the story speeds satisfyingly along and is, all in all, a successful sequel. Includes supplementary back matter on geographical and historical references. VERDICT Readers who loved the first volume will find this follow-up even more satisfying. Purchase extra copies where there are fans.—Katya Schapiro, Brooklyn Public Library - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 03/15/2017 While attending a bookstore party to celebrate the publication of the long-lost Edgar Allan Poe manuscript they discovered in Book Scavenger (2015), seventh-grade sleuths Emily and James notice their social studies teacher acting suspiciously. Their first case may be over, but suddenly they’re on the trail again, investigating several individual mysteries that may or may not be connected: the coded message their teacher dropped, the legendary Mark Twain cipher, and a serial arsonist whose latest fire breaks out with Emily present. Age-appropriate literary allusions include Emily reading Zilpha Keatley Synder’s The Egypt Game (1967) and James referring to a simple cipher as “Nancy Drew level.” Making extensive use of San Francisco history and locales, Bertman offers another involving chapter book in the Book Scavenger series, which offers a large, interesting cast of characters, plenty of challenges for code enthusiasts, and more complexity than most middle-grade mysteries. The appended author’s note helps readers separate fact from fiction. Young readers captivated by these distinctive characters will be hoping for the series to continue. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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