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ray425's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really liked this book! It was fun and I enjoyed reading it!
I have the second and started it, but I haven't finished it because of a couple reasons involving time and that I'm not enjoying it as much.
But I recommend this one!
I have the second and started it, but I haven't finished it because of a couple reasons involving time and that I'm not enjoying it as much.
But I recommend this one!
noa_llea's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Oh this book was so good! The beginning was a little hard to get through, personally, but I am so glad that I persevered. It is just the kind of story that I have been looking for - with a cast of characters that are loveable and complex and delightfully written. I could not put it down. I felt a sense of adventure course through my veins as I got towards the end.
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
rockets2writing's review
adventurous
medium-paced
4.0
Review on Middle Grade Minded on 6/28/2021. (middlegrademinded.blogspot.com)
Lola Benko travels the world with her archeologist dad. She's used to hopping around the globe with no place to call home. But when her dad mysteriously sends her to live with her great-aunt Irma and is thought to have died trying to recover his next artifact, Lola swears he's still alive. She will stop at nothing to find her father even if it means getting caught stealing expensive art from a rich mansion. But if she's to uncover the truth she'll have to trust kids her own age and she's used to doing things on her own.
Lola is a fantastic character, she's into STEM and likes to invent things and dives in head first often without a plan which makes her lovable even in her mistakes. Unfortunately Lola Benko didn't have the world travels and Indiana Jones style treasure hunts I expected but it did have a lot of heart and some fun and sometimes unexpected middle of the night adventures that often went sideways before the characters were able to get themselves out of the mess created. Lola's friends Hannah and Jin are believable and help level and challenge Lola as a character. And the ending had a nice wrap up while also opening the door for the sequel.
I recommend to all middle grade readers looking for a little adventure with a side of mischief and fun that doesn't always go according to plan.
ARC generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Lola Benko travels the world with her archeologist dad. She's used to hopping around the globe with no place to call home. But when her dad mysteriously sends her to live with her great-aunt Irma and is thought to have died trying to recover his next artifact, Lola swears he's still alive. She will stop at nothing to find her father even if it means getting caught stealing expensive art from a rich mansion. But if she's to uncover the truth she'll have to trust kids her own age and she's used to doing things on her own.
Lola is a fantastic character, she's into STEM and likes to invent things and dives in head first often without a plan which makes her lovable even in her mistakes. Unfortunately Lola Benko didn't have the world travels and Indiana Jones style treasure hunts I expected but it did have a lot of heart and some fun and sometimes unexpected middle of the night adventures that often went sideways before the characters were able to get themselves out of the mess created. Lola's friends Hannah and Jin are believable and help level and challenge Lola as a character. And the ending had a nice wrap up while also opening the door for the sequel.
I recommend to all middle grade readers looking for a little adventure with a side of mischief and fun that doesn't always go according to plan.
ARC generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
nickyb3po's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jilljemmett's review against another edition
4.0
Lola Benko has always traveled the world with her archaeologist father, but one day he sends her to stay with her great-aunt in San Francisco, rather than go with him on a dangerous trip. Soon after that, she gets the news that he has disappeared and is presumed dead. Lola is certain that her father is still alive, so she takes over the investigation that he was doing. Along with her new friends from school, she looks for the mythical stone that her father was searching for when he went missing.
This was a fun adventure story. Lola took a lot of risks. In order to start her investigation of her father’s disappearance, she needed money, so she decided to steal expensive pieces of art to sell for millions of dollars. This was a risky thing to do, and it didn’t work out for her. Even though Lola did some bad things with good intentions, she was very smart. She entered a STEM competition with her friends. She also invented many devices. She was a smart girl who took a lot of risks.
I found the twists predictable and not surprising. I’ve read many similar adventure books, so that may be why I could figure it out. This story also has the stereotypical absent parents. Lola’s great-aunt wasn’t very hands-on because she had agoraphobia, so she never left the house. However, she didn’t seem as concerned about Lola’s whereabouts by the end of the story. I would have liked her great-aunt to be more consistent throughout the story. I enjoyed the adventure that Lola went on, though the twists weren’t surprising.
This is a fun middle grade story!
Thank you Simon and Schuster for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun adventure story. Lola took a lot of risks. In order to start her investigation of her father’s disappearance, she needed money, so she decided to steal expensive pieces of art to sell for millions of dollars. This was a risky thing to do, and it didn’t work out for her. Even though Lola did some bad things with good intentions, she was very smart. She entered a STEM competition with her friends. She also invented many devices. She was a smart girl who took a lot of risks.
I found the twists predictable and not surprising. I’ve read many similar adventure books, so that may be why I could figure it out. This story also has the stereotypical absent parents. Lola’s great-aunt wasn’t very hands-on because she had agoraphobia, so she never left the house. However, she didn’t seem as concerned about Lola’s whereabouts by the end of the story. I would have liked her great-aunt to be more consistent throughout the story. I enjoyed the adventure that Lola went on, though the twists weren’t surprising.
This is a fun middle grade story!
Thank you Simon and Schuster for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
labraden's review against another edition
4.0
Lola Benko and her archeologist father have traveled all over the world in search of artifacts, but suddenly, Lola's father sends her to live with her aunt in San Francisco where she receives a report that he has died. Lola doesn't believe that her father is dead and begins a campaign of illegal activities to fund her trip to find her father. Her last exploit lands her at strict private, Redwood Academy where she meets Jin with whom she makes a bargain; she will help him win the STEM fair at school if he will help her find her father. This bargain turns into a much bigger undertaking than either one of them could have imagined.
Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter features three very smart kids who use their intelligence to get them into and out of situations. These situations are both outrageous and hilarious, making this a fun and fast paced read. Lola's character is developed enough that the reader understands what she is feeling and why. Jin is an enjoyable foil for Lola as they work together to find Lola's father. The addition of Hannah to the story adds conflict and also a different perspective. Overall, Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter is a clever beginning to this new series.
Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter features three very smart kids who use their intelligence to get them into and out of situations. These situations are both outrageous and hilarious, making this a fun and fast paced read. Lola's character is developed enough that the reader understands what she is feeling and why. Jin is an enjoyable foil for Lola as they work together to find Lola's father. The addition of Hannah to the story adds conflict and also a different perspective. Overall, Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter is a clever beginning to this new series.
aubster249's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
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