Reviews

Hide and Geek by T.P. Jagger

bethfishreads's review against another edition

3.5

 First in a fun middle grade mystery-adventure series featuring four smart kids who are given a chance to solve a puzzle that will save their small New Hampshire town. 

 

Things I liked: The children acted their age and had reasonable interactions with their parents and among themselves. They are offered a bit more independence and freedom than youngsters who live in more urban areas thanks to their small-town environment. Besides the fun of seeing them figure out the clues, we see the kids at home and involved with their school activities. Each child has a different home situation and each has their own personality.

The clues seemed to be just the right level of tricky for young readers (and even adults!), though some were easier to guess than others. The balance of the children's everyday life with the action of the mystery was well done.

 

The book includes some graphics to indicate newspaper articles, typewritten messages, and texts, which will help keep young readers engaged. 

 

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. 

 

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy. 

shoroberts's review

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

ljrinaldi's review against another edition

3.0

Mysteries are supposed to be something that you can solve, while you read the book, despite any red herrings that might be thrown in the way. You should be able to at least try to guess where each clue went.

However this book, each clue was like a foreign tongue which I had never heard before, and I had no idea where any of them lead.

And at a certain point I didn't really care.

I should have cared.

The story is about four friends whose initials spell out Geek. They live in a small town whose main industry was making toys, but the company has been sold, and there go all the jobs. However, the original owner left a series of clues for anyone who really knew the town, to solve, and amass a fortune.

I tried to care. I tried really hard, but despite the narrator going on and on about how she didn't want to move to Boston, I thought it might be actually more interesting than this one horse town.

The clues were not anything that the reader could have solved, so they are just along for the ride.

Not my idea of a good time.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

jbrooxd's review

3.0

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

3.5 stars = Good+

A fun treasure-hunt mystery for kids. The clues are based on the story, so readers can't puzzle along with the characters, but I think fans of these sorts of stories will enjoy this one. The author does a great job of telling what happens in the end for all of the characters.

jamikaye1980's review

4.0

The Goonies meet Ready Player One in this cute story about some kids who desperately want to save their town and their friendships.

ilovedogs123's review

adventurous challenging funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

one of my favorite pats about this book is that Gina loves her dog, Sauce, so much. i know it makes me sound super dog-obsessed (i am) but it was nice that the dog was one of her priorities.
the book was overall super fun and a good read

emileereadsbooks's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Kids for the gifted book I read with the library audio!

I love a treasure hunt book, and this delightful book was a wonderful example of why. These middle school students are in a race against time, a mysterious enemy, and their not so watchful parents to solve clues to find a long lost treasure to save their town. I don't know if this book is set up to be a series, but with 4 wonderful central characters there certainly could be a book that each of them narrates. The kooky old broad who hid the first treasure surely left more puzzles to solve for them right?!

akmackrell's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

4.25