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greenvillemelissa's review
5.0
Book #103 Read in 2014
Manhunt by Kate Messner (YA)
This is the third book in a young adult mystery series but I was able to have no issues with not reading the two prior books (though I did order the first book in the series to read because I enjoyed this one so much). Henry, Anna and Jose are junior members of a secret society committed to keep artistic masterpieces safe. Their parents or aunts and uncles are adult members of this society and are trying to recover multiple stolen pieces while protecting those not yet taken. This book had a good mystery to it and good literary and artistic allusions. Fans of Chasing Vermeer would like this series. I would recommend it for middle school to high school students. I borrowed this book from my town library.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
Manhunt by Kate Messner (YA)
This is the third book in a young adult mystery series but I was able to have no issues with not reading the two prior books (though I did order the first book in the series to read because I enjoyed this one so much). Henry, Anna and Jose are junior members of a secret society committed to keep artistic masterpieces safe. Their parents or aunts and uncles are adult members of this society and are trying to recover multiple stolen pieces while protecting those not yet taken. This book had a good mystery to it and good literary and artistic allusions. Fans of Chasing Vermeer would like this series. I would recommend it for middle school to high school students. I borrowed this book from my town library.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
crystal_reading's review
4.0
Review copy - ARC from the publisher
Kate Messner does a fantastic job of keeping the action moving and keeping the reader guessing. In this newest mystery we don't really learn a whole lot more about the three main characters, but we do get a rip roaring ride through Paris. Once again Henry Anna and José end up in a situation where they have to step up and act to save art and the lives of others for the Silver Jaguar Society. There are chases, thieves, double agents, catacombs and skeletons galore. Messner has created a fantastic mystery that I will be happy to put into the hands of my students.
Kate Messner does a fantastic job of keeping the action moving and keeping the reader guessing. In this newest mystery we don't really learn a whole lot more about the three main characters, but we do get a rip roaring ride through Paris. Once again Henry Anna and José end up in a situation where they have to step up and act to save art and the lives of others for the Silver Jaguar Society. There are chases, thieves, double agents, catacombs and skeletons galore. Messner has created a fantastic mystery that I will be happy to put into the hands of my students.
melissapalmer404's review
5.0
Book #103 Read in 2014
Manhunt by Kate Messner (YA)
This is the third book in a young adult mystery series but I was able to have no issues with not reading the two prior books (though I did order the first book in the series to read because I enjoyed this one so much). Henry, Anna and Jose are junior members of a secret society committed to keep artistic masterpieces safe. Their parents or aunts and uncles are adult members of this society and are trying to recover multiple stolen pieces while protecting those not yet taken. This book had a good mystery to it and good literary and artistic allusions. Fans of Chasing Vermeer would like this series. I would recommend it for middle school to high school students. I borrowed this book from my town library.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
Manhunt by Kate Messner (YA)
This is the third book in a young adult mystery series but I was able to have no issues with not reading the two prior books (though I did order the first book in the series to read because I enjoyed this one so much). Henry, Anna and Jose are junior members of a secret society committed to keep artistic masterpieces safe. Their parents or aunts and uncles are adult members of this society and are trying to recover multiple stolen pieces while protecting those not yet taken. This book had a good mystery to it and good literary and artistic allusions. Fans of Chasing Vermeer would like this series. I would recommend it for middle school to high school students. I borrowed this book from my town library.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
heisereads's review
4.0
An exciting and satisfying conclusion to Kate Messner's Silver Jaguar Society trilogy. Once again, the cast of characters makes you feel for them, the action creates tension, the mystery heightens curiosity, the setting comes to life (catacombs in Paris!), and the plot keeps you turning pages - all tied together with intelligent writing. Manhunt is a perfect mystery/secret society story for the middle grades set.
yapha's review
4.0
This third book in the Silver Jaguar Society Mysteries opens with a rash of perfectly timed art thefts. Henry, Anna, and Jose find themselves on a plane to Paris to help the rest of the Society solve the crimes. Filled with intrigue and double-crossing, the kids must figure out who they can trust and quickly. Another fast-paced adventure in this exciting series. I suggest reading the other two books first. Recommended for grades 4-7.
mrskatiefitz's review against another edition
3.0
In the third (and possibly final?) book of the Silver Jaguar Society series, Anna, Jose, Henry, and British-born junior society member, Hem, find themselves in Paris, following the trail of the Serpentine Princes in the wake of a major international art heist. At first, the adult members of the society are very protective of the kids and leave them to stay in a French bookstore with a chaperone. When the adults go missing, however, the kids become their only chance of rescuing the Mona Lisa and stopping the Princes once and for all.
This is a plot-driven story, so it is no surprise that the strongest element is the plot itself. Though the writing style is very simple and straightforward, the plot line includes many twists and turns. Adult readers might see the twists coming, but most kids will be caught off guard and pleasantly thrown for a loop.
The story is carried mainly by dialogue. At some points, the dialogue flows very naturally and seamlessly works in the necessary exposition. At other points, when Hem is the speaker, the language becomes very mature in tone and the voice less believable as that of a child. There are also a number of adult characters who use pat phrases when speaking to kids that don't ring true either.
There are a number of threads in this story that are not completely resolved, which is annoying, particularly if this book is the last of the series. This book's adventure also comes to an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending which feels rushed and leaves too much room at the end of the story for unnecessary maudlin reflection over what the future might hold for the kids' friendship. Kids who read for the action might not even read the last couple of chapters.
Though there are a few moments of quality writing in this story, much of the book is simply mediocre. The one-dimensional characters who each only have one real interest (journalism for Anna, Harry Potter for Jose, video games for Henry and map-making for Hem) are hard to connect with and, at times, annoying in their eagerness to face danger. There is enough suspense to keep readers hooked until the mystery is solved, but it takes more than that to be truly successful as a novel.
Those who have read Capture the Flag and Hide and Seek will probably want to read Manhunt to satisfy their curiosity. Other action-adventure readers might be better off with a Boxcar Children book instead (Also, Messner might consider writing some nonfiction. The author's note was great and provided lots of interesting information in accessible language.)
This is a plot-driven story, so it is no surprise that the strongest element is the plot itself. Though the writing style is very simple and straightforward, the plot line includes many twists and turns. Adult readers might see the twists coming, but most kids will be caught off guard and pleasantly thrown for a loop.
The story is carried mainly by dialogue. At some points, the dialogue flows very naturally and seamlessly works in the necessary exposition. At other points, when Hem is the speaker, the language becomes very mature in tone and the voice less believable as that of a child. There are also a number of adult characters who use pat phrases when speaking to kids that don't ring true either.
There are a number of threads in this story that are not completely resolved, which is annoying, particularly if this book is the last of the series. This book's adventure also comes to an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending which feels rushed and leaves too much room at the end of the story for unnecessary maudlin reflection over what the future might hold for the kids' friendship. Kids who read for the action might not even read the last couple of chapters.
Though there are a few moments of quality writing in this story, much of the book is simply mediocre. The one-dimensional characters who each only have one real interest (journalism for Anna, Harry Potter for Jose, video games for Henry and map-making for Hem) are hard to connect with and, at times, annoying in their eagerness to face danger. There is enough suspense to keep readers hooked until the mystery is solved, but it takes more than that to be truly successful as a novel.
Those who have read Capture the Flag and Hide and Seek will probably want to read Manhunt to satisfy their curiosity. Other action-adventure readers might be better off with a Boxcar Children book instead (Also, Messner might consider writing some nonfiction. The author's note was great and provided lots of interesting information in accessible language.)
thisgrrlreads's review against another edition
3.0
Perfect read alike for 39 Clues series as it involves high stakes mysteries/art heists and children who are distantly related to important people. Lots of action, but also lots of suspension of disbelief which really pulled this adult reader out of the story.
bibliogirl's review
Full review on the blog: http://vst3in.wordpress.com/2014/07/31/bookaday-so-many-choices/
I support Independent booksellers. You can, too: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780545419772
I support Independent booksellers. You can, too: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780545419772
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