The Book Scavenger

Twelve-year-old Emily moves to San Francisco and discovers Book Scavenger, an online game where players hide books and solve puzzles to find them. When the game's creator is attacked and left in a coma, Emily finds a mysterious book that appears to be part of an unfinished game. Emily teams up with her new neighbor James to crack codes and follow clues through the streets of San Francisco, hoping to solve the mystery of the hidden book. Their investigation leads them through famous literary landmarks and historic sites while staying one step ahead of others who are also searching for answers. The game becomes increasingly dangerous as Emily and James realize they're caught in something bigger than a typical Book Scavenger hunt. They must decide how far they'll go to uncover the truth and protect what they've found. This middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, belonging, and the power of books to connect people across time and space. Through puzzles and codes woven into the narrative, the story celebrates both literary history and the joy of solving mysteries.

Readers call The Book Scavenger engaging for middle-grade students who love puzzles, ciphers, and mysteries. Many note its appeal to fans of National Treasure, The Westing Game, and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. Readers appreciate: - Integration of San Francisco history and landmarks - Complex codes and ciphers readers can solve alongside characters - Balance of friendship storylines with mystery elements - Educational value in teaching problem-solving Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some puzzle solutions feel unrealistic for 12-year-olds - Parents in the story make questionable decisions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (14,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (600+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 "Perfect for kids who love treasure hunts and San Francisco," writes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review notes: "The codes were challenging enough to be fun but not so difficult that kids would give up."

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein Students solve puzzles and follow clues to escape a high-tech library created by an eccentric game designer.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart Four gifted children infiltrate a boarding school by solving complex puzzles and codes to stop a criminal mastermind.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Sixteen people compete in a puzzle-filled game to inherit a millionaire's fortune by solving the mystery of his death.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett Two middle school students use codes, patterns, and puzzles to track down a stolen painting in their Chicago neighborhood.

York: The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby Three kids race through New York City to solve an architectural puzzle left by city founders before their building faces demolition.

🔍 The cipher used in the book, known as the Poe cipher, was based on a real method of cryptography created by Edgar Allan Poe in his short story "The Gold-Bug." 📚 Author Jennifer Chambliss Bertman was inspired to write the book after participating in BookCrossing.com, a real-world book sharing website where people "release" books into the wild for others to find. 🏙️ The story's setting in San Francisco incorporates real locations including City Lights Bookstore, a historic landmark that played a significant role in the Beat Generation literary movement. 🎮 The Book Scavenger game in the novel inspired real-life book hunting games and activities in schools and libraries across the country. 🖋️ Before becoming a published author, Bertman worked as a textbook editor and wrote educational content for Reading Rainbow.