AFTER A DISASTROUS SIXTH GRADE, Jake Herndon is anxiously awaiting his Big Do-Over, starting with his new school's notorious seventh grade sleepover. Awkward team-building games and forced fun quickly become the least of his problems, however, when a dangerous organization invades and the night takes a shocking turn. Jake and two new classmates, Lucy and TJ, barely escape, only to find themselves in a fight for survival on the streets of Chicago. Over the next 48 hours they unravel a mystery dating back to the Civil War and an incredible secret about Jake s family.Full of unforgettable characters and unexpected twists, The League and the Lantern is a jaw-dropping ride of mind-bending revelations and laugh-out-loud humor. If Jake and his new friends can make it through this weekend, they just might have a shot at seventh grade.
I have to tell you something.. I am not a middle school student. :) I am not in the 9-14 year old range.
As such my thoughts in this book may be some what different than a middle school student. :)
I am not sure if my son would like this book or not. He might, he likes a mystery with interesting characters. And the three main characters are quirky - Jake, Lucy and TJ. Lucy being a homeschooled student who grew up in Nepal.
As an adult I found the book to be very chatty, in a manner, that for me, detracted from the story. It was the type of conversation I can imagine my son engaging in, which made it realistic, but for me took away from the storyline.
One of the things that I liked, was the weaving of historical facts into the book. I learned alot about Lincoln and his tomb, but I expect books that delive into history to provide me with good facts, but an added bonus to this book is this... Brian wells provides a website with "bonus stuff." Enter your email address and age, you gain admittance. It has a section for children to learn what is fact and a fiction in the book , as well as a section for parents. In the parental section you'll find a list of vocabulary words, and items such as this:
Below you will find a giveaway! You can get your own copy and see what you think of it yourself. Pretty cool eh? Open to the USA and Canada only though.