The Mysterious Moonstone (Key Hunters #1) (1) - Hardcover

Luper, Eric

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 054582205X ISBN 13: 9780545822053

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks, 2016

Synopsis

Getting lost in a good book has never been this dangerous!

Cleo and Evan have a secret. A collection of books so dangerous they are locked up tight. A friend has vanished inside the pages of one of them. It's up to them to find the key that will set her free. A PRICELESS DIAMOND...STOLEN!When Cleo and Evan go undercover to help a rookie detective interview a mansion full of suspects, nothing is as it seems. They must catch the crook -- and find the right key -- or they could be trapped inside this mystery forever...

About this title

About the Author

Eric Luper has written books for kids of all ages, including the YA novel Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto. He loves excitement and is always looking for his next adventure. Eric has fibbed his way into a tour of the ultra-secret PEZ headquarters, rebuilt a castle in France, explored the tunnels under Paris and Istanbul, escaped hungry crocodiles in Costa Rica, and rafted down the Colorado River. He lives with his family in Albany, New York.

From the Back Cover

Unlocking adventure…one key at a time!



A PRICELESS DIAMOND . . . STOLEN!



When Cleo and Evan go undercover to help a rookie detective interview a mansion full of suspects, nothing is as it seems. They must catch the crook―and find the right key―or they could be trapped inside this mystery forever . . .



Keep hunting!

Reviews

Gr 2–5—After the mysterious exit of everyone's favorite librarian, Mrs. Hillard, Cleo and Evan discover an antique book that may lead them to her. Upon opening the book, a secret door appears, leading them to a massive underground library. From there, the students find a letter from the beloved Mrs. Hillard imploring them to aid her by entering books and helping finish the stories. If they succeed, Cleo and Evan will find Mrs. Hillard and restore her to her rightful place at school. If they fail, they will meet the same fate as she—locked inside the books forever. The pair soon find themselves in 19th-century England, where they become assistants to Detective Artie Baker and go on a hunt for a priceless stolen gem. The detectives enter into a pursuit to find the culprit and end the story. Though this title is a bit slow to start, once the adventure begins in earnest, it is exciting, with just enough mysteries and clues to please readers. Luper's delectable humor is appropriate for the intended age group, and the plot will keep readers' attention to the end. Comparable to "Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew" and "A to Z Mysteries," this is a satisfying read for beginning independent readers. VERDICT A great selection for chapter book readers who've exhausted series like "A to Z Mysteries" and are looking for something new.—Brittney Kosev, Terra Vista Middle School, Wolforth, TX

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

If you have found this note, I am trapped somewhere between the covers of these enchanted books.To find me, travel through these stories and help give each one the ending it deserves. Fail and you will meet the same fate as me. Succeed and you will discover wonders beyond your dreams. Always look for the key that will move you forward on your journey. I've left clues along the way. Just look for my favorite color!Signed,Ms. Sandie Hilliard, librarianP.S. If this is Evan, go get help. The perils are too great, the challenges are too risky. And you are too fragile."I'm not fragile," Evan said.Cleo held back her laughter. "You kinda are," she said. "But do you think Ms. Hilliard is really trapped inside one of these books?"Evan righted Ms. Hilliard's book cart. It wobbled on its bent leg. "Maybe The Case of the Mysterious Moonstone has some answers.""I don't see how a book can offer us answers," Cleo said."Do you realize what you just said?" Evan asked.Cleo shrugged. "I look up everything on the Internet.""Are you ready to open the book?" Evan said."What kind of question is that?" Cleo said. "It's just a book." She reached across the table and opened The Case of the Mysterious Moonstone. Letters burst from the pages of the book like a thousand crazy spiders. They tumbled in the air around them and began to spell words. The words became sentences, the sentences paragraphs. Before long, they could barely see, and then everything went black.

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 054582205X
• ISBN 13: 9780545822053
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 128