Kirkus Review for MASSACHUSETTS! The Stolen Spyglass:
"In the second installment of Failing’s middle-grade series, siblings endeavor to solve the mystery of a missing artifact.
Lizzie and Josh Parker, the 11-year-old children of travel bloggers, head to Nantucket, Massachusetts, with their parents, where they
find their next adventure.
The struggling Coleman Clarke Museum is planning a fundraiser centered around Reuben Coffin’s historic spyglass. The piece has never been on display before, and the event is expected to bring in donations to keep the museum running. But before the fundraiser gets underway… the artifact vanishes. Lizzie and Josh take it upon themselves to find the missing spyglass, investigating and
unearthing suspects…
Like the first book in the series, which took place in Alaska, this entry includes a glossary and discussion questions that make it perfect for the classroom. Josh and Lizzie are formidable protagonists who will resonate with young readers—no magic or superpowers here, just regular kids who love adventure and find themselves solving
grown-up crimes.
This installment kicks the series up a notch with the side story involving Maya and her father; throughout the narrative, she’s starving for his attention… which adds another emotional touchstone for them in this delightful series. Fans will find it difficult to wait to see where Lizzie and Josh’s next outing takes them.
A fun children’s adventure story."
—Kirkus Reviews
Adventure USA Book 2
MASSACHUSETTS! The Stolen Spyglass
Reviews from Across the Country:
“The twins are very quick-thinking as they unravel the clues in this second book of the Adventure USA series! Readers will love following Josh and Lizzie as they meet new friends and make a big impact on the community.”
—Susan, Grandmother of 3 and retired elementary school teacher, New Jersey
"I was fortunate to get an advanced copy of MASSACHUSETTS! The Stolen Spyglass. I found the characters and location descriptions so well written that I could imagine myself there. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading about the twins’ next adventure."
—M. Blum, Columbus, Ohio
“The Stolen Spyglass is a thrilling adventure-mystery. In the company of Josh and Lizzie, we are immediately thrust into a series of events that steadily build tension toward a last-minute, unexpected twist. I read it with my niece and nephew and found myself just as engrossed in the story as they were, relishing every moment.”
—Michele, Illustrator and teacher, Tennessee
"Set on Nantucket, MASSACHUSETTS! The Stolen Spyglass, is an appealing and delightful adventure tale. Barbara Larmon Failing has a talent for immediately drawing the reader into a story that has a suspenseful plot and interesting characters."
—D. Finn, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
"Readers will be caught up in the twins' latest exciting adventure mystery set on Nantucket Island."
—Susan Masters, Middle-grade author and former teacher, New York
Cover above and illustrations below by Erik Drohman
