Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Book review - Seven Riddles to Nowhere

Title: Seven Riddles to Nowhere
Author: A.J.Cattapan
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: The Hunt for the Missing Spy by Penny Warner
                     Leap of Faith by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Rating:
A nice, gentle story

Summary(provided by publisher): For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Because of a tragic event that took place when he was five-years-old, seventh grader Kameron Boyd can't make himself speak to adults when he steps outside his home. Kam's mom hopes his new school will cure his talking issues, but just as he starts to feel comfortable, financial problems threaten the school’s existence.
Then a letter arrives with the opportunity to change everything. Kam learns that he and several others have been selected as potential heirs to a fortune. He just has to solve a series of seven riddles to find the treasure before the other students. If he succeeds, he’ll become heir to a fortune that could save his school.
The riddles send Kam on a scavenger hunt through the churches of Chicago. But solving them won’t be easy. With the school’s bully as one of the other potential heirs, Kam and his friends must decipher the hidden meanings in artwork and avoid the mysterious men following them in a quest to not only keep the school open, but keep Kam’s hopes for recovering his voice alive.


My Opinion: There are a lot of positives in this book. It has religious overtones without being forceful about it, telling the reader what to believe. The central core of characters is clearly, if not particularly deeply, defined. The plot is largely clear and logical. And I like the idea of seeing your town, even areas you know, through a new perspective. While some understanding of Catholicism is helpful to fully appreciate this novel it isn't absolutely necessary. Its a simple story without a great deal of depth but a solid read for young middle graders.

More Information: Seven Riddles to Nowhere releases August 31.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

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