Bertman, Jennifer
Chambliss The Unbreakable Code (Book Scavenger #2), 353 pages. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2017. $17.
Content: G (some danger).
What’s up with Mr.
Quisling? At the book party celebrating
the publication of the newly discovered Edgar Allan Poe work, Emily sees her
teacher steal something from a woman’s bag!
Serendipitously, Emily gets her hand on the item and she and James discover
a cipher called the Unbreakable Code, connected to Mark Twain and San
Francisco. As they dive into the
mystery, however, they are warned that the code is cursed – it causes
fires! Could Mr. Quisling be involved
some how? Emily and James are determined
to find out.
I have to point out
one very odd plot point – the kids are allowed to handle the original
Unbreakable Code, which it kept in a folder - they’re even left alone with
it. I find that pretty odd behavior in
modern preservation terms and out of character for a rare manuscript. Besides that, however, Emily and James are
plunged right into an exciting mystery that involves them in San Francisco
history and modern problems. The
character of the Phoenix (his choice of moniker) is quite odd, and the kids’
personal moral code is sketchy when it comes to using their Book Scavenger
privileges to track Mr. Quisling’s movements.
I didn’t find this one as likable as the first, but still a good effort
for fans.
EL – ADVISABLE; MS –
OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher.
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