Reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Midwest Book Review:
“Failing’s mystery series for young readers continues with a yarn set in middle America… 11-year-old twins Josh and Lizzie started up north, racing dogs in rural Alaska. Next, they traveled to Massachusetts, where they helped find a missing museum artifact. Now, the siblings are in Ohio, embarking on an adventure involving Indigenous American mounds… Throughout the fast-moving and often delightful story, themes of friendship, bullying, cultural respect, and rediscovery of personal identity are explored… Failing weaves them into her tale in a way that teaches but doesn’t preach. It also whets the appetite for more escapades featuring Josh and Lizzie.”
—Kirkus Reviews
"…Libraries will find Adventure USA - OHIO! The Mystery of the Mound works well as a stand-alone story... Its blend of realistic settings and characters, Ohio facts and history, a dash of mystery and confrontation, and the sense of adventure the twins experience makes for an exceptionally strong educational leisure read.”
—D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
Cover above and illustrations below by Erik Drohman
Reviews from Across the Country:
"Loved it! I'm not a ‘trudge off and find stuff with a hammer in the rain’ kind of rock hound (though I've done that a few times). I'm more of an ‘ooh, look what I found at the gem and mineral show’ kind of rock hound. Anyway, I loved how the author seamlessly tucked all that pertinent information into a story that was as much about friendship, ecological stewardship, bullying and emotional maturity as it was about chipping obsidian."
—Sara Clancy, Poet and author of Ghost Logic, American Southwest
"Readers will gain much interesting information, while thoroughly enjoying this artfully crafted novel about collecting arrowheads, the game of soccer, dealing with bullies, and issues of sacred land!"
—D. Finn, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
"The adventure the Parker twins find in Ohio is full of interesting facts! They make new friends and learn to work together to accomplish an important goal. There are so many life lessons that young readers will relate to! It’s another exciting adventure for the twins!!!"
—Susan, Grandmother of 3 and retired elementary school teacher, New Jersey
Welcome to Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
The World's Most Spectacular Concentration of Ancient Earthworks.
A Flourishing Culture
The Hopewell Culture used materials from many different areas.
Mound City Group is one of the earliest constructed Hopewell earthworks.
The Scioto River was vital to the Hopewell people.
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