November 15, 2017
Pursued by an outlaw band of sewer-dwelling "ninjas," 11-year-old Samantha Spinner searches around the world for her missing uncle.When Uncle Paul vanished from their Seattle home, he left outlandish presents: $2.4 billion for Samantha's shopaholic older sister; the New York Yankees and their stadium for her imprudent younger brother; a jeweled collar for the dog; and, for Samantha, an old umbrella. Far from being a second-rate present, the umbrella conceals a map to a network of secret passages to places all over the world. A treasure, for sure, but will it lead Samantha to her lost uncle? Complicating things, the aforementioned outlaws from the sewer want their map back. Will they succeed? This series opener offers a winning mix of fast-paced action, fascinating facts, bathroom humor, and hidden puzzles. The characters have distinct personality traits but no physical descriptions, pointing to a white default. Samantha, her brother, Nipper, and their pug, Dennis, journey to Paris, France; Florence, Italy; and Edfu, Egypt--Samantha searching for her uncle, Nipper looking for treasure, and Dennis seeking snacks. Journal entries describing famous places such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Temple of Horus as well as their secret entryways interrupt the action. Further entries on Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China suggest adventures to come. Puzzle clues are sprinkled throughout; explanations and answers are in the back. Wild exaggeration sure to please action-loving middle-grade readers. (Adventure. 9-12)
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November 15, 2017
Grades 3-6 When Samantha's eccentric uncle disappears, he leaves trillions of dollars to her teenage sister, Yankee Stadium and the players' contracts to her eight-year-old brother . . . and a rusty umbrella to Sam. In retrospect, it was totally unfair for him to give her siblings such lackluster gifts while providing her with the key to travel, adventure, and (possibly) finding Uncle Paul. Cryptic clues beneath the umbrella's canopy lead Sam and her brother to Paris, Florence, and back home to Seattle, pursued by ruthless ninjas and a hostile monkey, all intent on swiping the umbrella. Stylized drawings, not seen in final form, underscore the madcap tone of this plot-driven narrative. An appended section, Super-Secret Secrets, points out challenges readers might have missed. Kids who love ciphers and treasures will be in their element here, with clues to follow, puzzles to solve, and the Hope Diamond, a Honus Wagner baseball card, and the Mona Lisa up for grabs. But don't expect Uncle Paul's return anytime soon: his mysterious disappearance drives the Samantha Spinner series, and this is only book one.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2019
A girl searches for her missing puzzle-loving uncle in this over-the-top adventure. Armed with a map from inside Uncle Paul's old umbrella and accompanied by her little brother, Samantha sets out on a worldwide mission complete with ninjas and a magnetic underground train system. The frenetic action is nevertheless entertaining, and smart, resourceful Samantha is a heroine to cheer for. "Super-secret answers" to the story's puzzles are appended.
(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)