When middle school puzzle master Sam and history wiz Martina win a contest for a summer trip across the US, they discover they've been drafted into something vastly more extraordinary. Joining another kid on the trip, Theo, a descendant of George Washington himself, they must follow clues to find seven keys left behind by the Founding Fathers. Together the keys unlock Benjamin Franklin's greatest invention--a secret weapon intended to defend the country. Each key is hidden in a unique location around the U.S., protected with puzzles, riddles, and traps. This has kept the weapon safe . . . until now! Gideon Arnold, a dangerous descendant of the infamous Benedict Arnold, is on the chase. In competition with Arnold and his thugs to reach the artifacts first, Sam, Martina, Theo, and readers must use their wits to solve ingenious puzzles, escape death-by-booby-trap, and, by the end of the series, save our nation by uncovering many of its greatest secrets. Gr 4–6—This accessible series starter involves two children who win a contest and are awarded a summer trip around the United States. Puzzle whiz Sam and history expert Martina join another student, the mysterious Theo, and an evasive adult named Evangeline at the airport. Things immediately take a dangerous turn when everyone on board the small plane is drugged except Sam and Martina. They manage to land the plane, but the danger only increases from there. Ultimately, they discover that the "contest" is something much greater and more dangerous than a simple trip. Puzzle-solving is a key component of their adventures. Readers will enjoy the deductive reasoning involved and the high-stress situations the kids find themselves in as they try to stay one step ahead of the deadly bad guys. This story has the feeling of a computer game that relies on knowledge of American history to advance. VERDICT This title will appeal to history buffs, puzzle fans, and reluctant readers.—B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA "History buffs will like the cool notion that descendants of important people are still battling it out (George Washington and Benedict Arnold family members pop up), and readers who are puzzle fans may enjoy being a step ahead of the story." - BCCB "A good beginning to the Secrets of the Seven series. Recommended." - School Library Connection "In addition to learning bits of American history, readers will be challenged by the codes and riveted by Thomson’s account of the kids’ episodic, death-defying journey. A fast-paced quest narrative with plenty of action and a gradually developing bond among the three main characters." - Booklist "Nonstop action is punctuated by a series of puzzles that require knowledge of trivia, strength, and creative thinking to solve." - Kirkus Reviews "Readers will enjoy the deductive reasoning involved and the high-stress situations the kids find themselves in as they try to stay one step ahead of the deadly bad guys. This story has the feeling of a computer game that relies on knowledge of American history to advance . . . will appeal to history buffs, puzzle fans, and reluctant readers." - School Library Journal Sarah L. Thomson is an award-winning author who has published more than thirty books for young readers, including Deadly Flowers and Dragon's Egg . Sarah lives in Portland, Maine, with her daughter and her two cats. Her daughter helps with inspiration, and her cats help by lying on the piece of paper she needs most. www.sarahlthomson.com www.secretsoftheseven.com