Reviews

The Unbreakable Code by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

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readerturnedwriter's review against another edition

5.0

I was so excited to continue this series after loving the first book and it didn't disappoint!

This has puzzles, mystery, and history all presented through a light hearted middle grade story. I really enjoy the friendships in this and the positive way books/literature are portrayed. I also really loved the way Emily and her teacher change and how their characters are developed in this one.

I did figure out the plot twist pretty early, it felt obvious, but it is middle grade and knowing it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story at all.

This is definitely a series I would recommend if you enjoy middle grade and especially if you like mysteries and puzzles!

kbonner528's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

kbhenrickson's review against another edition

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5.0

Just as good as Book Scavenger - a great mystery for book and code lovers!

taralorraine's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

wintermote's review against another edition

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5.0

History, mystery, fires, codes, bibliophiles—it doesn’t get much better than this! Throughly enjoyed this middle grade work as an adult. I can’t wait until my LO is old enough for this series! :)

onemanbookclub's review against another edition

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4.0

Check out my blog, One Man Book Club

The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained

Book Scavenger (Book Scavenger, #1)
The Unbreakable Code (Book Scavenger, Book 2)
The Alcatraz Escape (Book Scavenger, Book 3)
By: Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
My Rating: Four out of five stars
Best for: 10 and up

Where was Book Scavenger when I was 11?

Books about books are IT! This charming and well-written trio of middle grade stories are a book nerd's dream come true! How's this sound:

Book lovers young and old can play Book Scavenger--think geocaching for books, but you have to solve a puzzle to get the clue. The game was invented by the one and only Garrison Griswold, book publisher extraordinaire, and known by fans around the world as the Willy Wonka of books. Hide a book, create a clue to guess or puzzle to solve that leads to the hiding spot, and post it on the Book Scavenger website. Solve the puzzle, find the book, declare it found on the website, then hide another book for someone else to find!

Fun, right?

In the three books of the Book Scavenger series, our young heroes scour San Francisco solving puzzles, cracking codes, and following clues--all while racing the bad guys to the finish line. The story in each book was so much fun! I was happily surprised at the really cool ways classic literature and history were woven throughout. Whether it's some lesser-known works of Edgar Allan Poe in book 1, the San Francisco Gold Rush in book 2, or the history of Alcatraz Island in book 3, each book had real life worked into the story, and I loved it.

Combine that fun story with relatable characters and great writing, and Jennifer Bertman has written a winner! Fans of Mr. Lemoncello's Library and book nerds everywhere will enjoy Book Scavenger--the books AND the game they inspired! Check out www.bookscavenger.com! It's a thing!

No content concerns. Best for all ages.

Maybe I'll go hide some books!

Happy Reading!