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Summary
Summary
From the author of The Graham Cracker Plot , a story about two friends playing finders keepers for the missing loot of Al Capone.
Christa spends every summer at the most awesome place in the whole world: her family's cabin on Whitefish Lake in Wisconsin. Only her dad recently lost his job and her parents have decided to sell the cabin. But not if Christa can help it. Everyone knows there is Al Capone blood money hidden somewhere in Whitefish Lake, and her friend Alex's cranky grandpa might have the key to finding it. Grumpa says the loot is gone, or worse-cursed!-but Christa knows better. If she finds it, she cankeep it and save her family and their beloved cabin.
Author Notes
Shelley Tougas is an award-winning writer of nonfiction for children, including Little Rock Girl 1957 , and the author of The Graham Cracker Plot , her debut novel. She lives in Hudson, Wisconsin.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
What do a tough 10-year-old girl, a lonely 11-year-old boy, and a grumpy grandfather do when they're thrown together for the summer? Look for treasure, of course! Al Capone's hidden loot is a Northwoods legend, but Christa, Alex, and Alex's grandfather, "Grumpa," have reason to believe the money is no myth. What's more, Christa feels certain she can save her family's beloved lake cabin if she can find the hidden mob money. Sharp, earnest dialogue among the engaging, multigenerational cast keeps the plot moving briskly as what starts as a quiet story of summer friendship and a family's financial struggle builds to a dramatic conclusion with collapsing tunnels, near-drownings, and even a death. Christa and Alex are the foundation of Tougas's (The Graham Cracker Plot) imaginative adventure, quick friends and determined detectives, building a friendship fueled by Grumpa's steady stream of orange soda and the comforting realization that they are the same kind of weird-their imaginative roleplaying as adventurers Chase Truegood and Buck Punch is almost as fun as their actual treasure hunt. Ages 8-12. Agent: Susan Hawk, The Bent Agency. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Ten-year-old Christa and eleven-year-old Alex lack nothing in imagination when it comes to outdoor summertime fun. When one of their inventive activities turns into a real-life treasure hunt for Al Capone's hidden loot, they also see a chance to stop the sale of Christa's family's beloved lake cabin. This appealing novel capably balances an engaging adventure plot with an emphasis on family and friendship. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* The only time 10-year-old Christa feels she belongs is when she is at her family's cabin in Wisconsin. But to her dismay, this will be their last summer on Whitefish Lake, because her father has lost his job and they cannot afford to keep the cabin. Next door, a boy named Alex has just moved in, and the two team up to do some sleuthing and treasure hunting. Rumor has it that Al Capone once hid a suitcase of cash in the area, and if they can find it, Crista's family might be able to hang on to their cabin. Tougas, known best for her historical nonfiction (Little Rock Girl, 1957, 2011), has crafted a charming story of family history and personal connections (both lost and found) that is reminiscent of Blue Balliett and the Penderwicks' adventures. Christa is a delightful protagonist spunky, witty, and self-confident, in spite of her lack of social graces and her companionship with Alex is well drawn. More thoughtful than most mysteries, this novel addresses serious issues (financial challenges and strained family relationships, in particular) without bogging down the narrative, and its resolution is both rewarding and poignant. Christa and Alex prove a winning duo, whose quest for Capone's lost loot will keep readers glued to the page.--Moore, Melissa Copyright 2015 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Blessed with an active imagination, 10-year-old Christa Boyd-Adams and 11-year-old Alex Clark take to the outdoors, pretending to climb Mount Everest with plastic cup oxygen masks, butter knife ice picks, duct-taped fork boot spikes, and walkie-talkie cassette tapes. Life at the summer cabin is Christa's favorite place to be, but things change when her father loses his job as a history teacher and the cabin goes up for sale. The friends plot to undermine any attempt to sell it. During one of their escapades, the duo unearths money hidden long ago, and old stories of Al Capone burying his loot start to surface. Christa and Alex want to find the cash to save the cabin, but they discover others have joined the game. Readers will enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor and fast-paced story that revels in outdoor summertime fun. Family issues drive the heart of the narrative, and Christa, described as immature by her family, must face events as they unfold. Lovable and somewhat prone to mishap, Christa learns about the angst a struggling family must endure and the dynamics of true friendship from young and old. VERDICT Lighter than Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone Does My Shirts (Putnam, 2004), this is an entertaining middle grade mystery.-Robyn Gioia, Antilles Middle School, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A 10-year-old searches for Al Capone's lost treasure. It's Christa's last summer in the north woods of Wisconsin: her teacher father has lost his job, and the family cabin is for sale. Everything's differenther parents are working temp jobs instead of relaxing, her 16-year-old sister is too busy waitressing to be any fun, and their grumpy neighbor has retired (thus able to bear witness to Christa's many escapades) and now has his 11-year-old grandson, Alex, living with him. When Alex proves to have a quirky sense of humor that matches Christa's, they imagine fantastic adventures until a real onefinding the stash of money Al Capone supposedly stored somewhere nearbyabsorbs their attention. Could the money be enough to save the cabin? Tougas' first-person narration seems stiff at first, as Christa starts out as a whiny one-note character. Eventually, however, the characterization deepens as well as the intrigue, and the fast-paced ending has enough bite to satisfy. The premise will cause inevitable comparisons to Gennifer Choldenko's Alcatraz tales, but the story stands on its own. Entertaining and humorous; good light fare for middle graders. (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
