ADVENTURE USA - 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, Maya Benedict, the young daughter of a collector, takes the spyglass to earn her father’s notice, planning to return it later. Before she can do that, the artifact vanishes. Lizzie and Josh take it upon themselves to find the missing spyglass, investigating and unearthing suspects like Frank Finnegan, a maritime antiques dealer, and James Wind, a wealthy collector with a strong interest in acquiring the relic. Even Charlie, a museum worker struggling with reduced hours, appears to have a possible motive (“Maybe there are lots of angry people on Nantucket”). 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 (once he recognizes this, he promises to spend more time with her). Many young readers will likely identify with Maya’s longing for connection, 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.