Customer Reviews

The Criminal in the Caymans (Incredible Journey Books )

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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The promotional literature sent out with review copies of this book says it is a `series for ages 7-9'. The associated website states `ages 7-10'. The Amazon product description currently advises `4-8'. The two heroes of the book are in second and third grade. Personally, I would recommend 7-11 as the target readership, possibly 6. Younger readers will need to be read to or with, rather than left to themselves.

This appears to be (although it tries hard not to look like) a one-person self-publishing venture. If I am right about that, it is an astonishingly professional job she has done. The books are in no way inferior to usual store-bought editions, the illustrations are excellent, and the website is very sophisticated. The author is not short on promotional skills, either.

So what of the stories themselves? This first one in the series has some good ingredients. It has a pinch of magic, which kids love. It has kids outsmarting adults, which is another sure-fire attraction. And it sets up mysteries that promise to be resolved in future entries in the series, which is a good way to keep the kids reading.

There are problems. The Fact Sheet at the front of the book lists facts about the Caymans, including `1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.' and a further fact sheet at the end tells the reader, `There are no direct taxes so thousands of companies are registered here.' Hardly fun facts. Most 7-year-old eyes will glaze over at those points.

There are also two plot elements that I had problems with. The first was the discovery of a gold watch which is not heard of again. Prepare to have your youngster demanding to know `What happened to the watch?' before you turn the light out and expect them to go to sleep. Secondly, the story has the kids going into a stranger's room to take his wallet. Young readers are as likely to take away the lesson that such behavior is acceptable as they are that the Caymans are 1.5 times the size of Washington.

With any self-publishing venture (again, assuming I am correct in describing it as such) there are usually problems with proof-reading and editing. This book is actually very good in that respect. I only spotted a couple of errors (I'm making the further assumption here that I was not sent a pre-publication review copy, which I am pretty sure I wasn't): Page 38 has `...the bright light had woke up Sam,...' where `woken' was required, page 40 has `seagulls echoed above them' where an editor would have suggested `cries of seagulls...' and a couple more such slips, none of them horrendous. The book is well written, and exposes the reader (apart from that one `woke') to accurate, standard grammar and punctuation, which is what you want.

I would recommend trying this book on your kids, making sure you start with this particular one, as it sets the scene for the series, and if they want to go on to the next in the series, fine -- you've got them reading. Next stop, Harry Potter!

This new series is absolutely delightful. The stories are upbeat and interesting. My child really got hooked on the series when she read this first book. One big perk to this series is that it includes facts about geography and other hidden tidbits about this and that, so they learn while they read.

This is the first children's book by Connie Lee Berry. At the beginning of the book, Berry shares with us how the Journey Book began. You'll also find a fact sheet about the Cayman Islands and a letter to the reader from the main characters, Max and Sam.

Max and Sam are brothers. They are only a year apart in age and are very close. On the way home from school, their mom announces she has a surprise waiting for them at home. Both boys can't wait to see what it is. Once they get the wrapping paper off, the boys are surprised to find a book about the Cayman Islands. Not sure why their mom gave them a book, they begin to ask questions and find out the family is going on a trip to the island. What the boys don't know is that is isn't going to be any regular family vacation.

This fun chapter book is a great read for reluctant readers. Packed full of mystery and action, even the most reluctant reader won't be able to put it down. You'll find a fact sheet with more interesting facts about the Cayman Islands and a science pick (a Science Experiment sent in from an Incredible Journey fan) from Max and Sam at the end.

I do have one word of caution. This chapter book is written with multiple points of view, which is something you don't normally see in a chapter book. But it's well done, and doesn't take away from the story or make it hard for children to read. If your child isn't use to multiple points of view, then you may want to read along with them.

I think the books from this series are as good or better than those from the Magic Treehouse series. They keep kids interested from beginning to end, and they have educational facts added in as well. The first four books were a hit with my third-grade class.

My son and daughter loved this book. It held their interest, which is not easy to do. After reading this first book in this new series, they begged me to purchase the second one. I really liked the book because it teaches the kids about geography.

Family adventures and incredible journeys await brothers Max and Sam. Going to the Cayman Islands would be an adventure enough for any first and second grader, but a mysterious box arrives at their home before they leave, adding intrigue to the voyage. Connie Lee Berry's book, "The Criminal in the Caymans" is the beginning of an exciting series for young readers.

This first book is a great introduction to Max and Sam's family and their lives in grade school, but then jumps right into the adventure with a mysterious map and a leather bound journal. Their vacation begins in the normal way, running to the ocean and playing in the sand but suddenly turns quite extraordinary as the boys realize they are in the midst of a dangerous criminal. An amazing thing happens just as one of the boys is about to call the FBI. What exactly does their dad do for a living, being sent to this paradise for work? They are about to find out.

Connie writes in a fresh and outreaching way. Young readers will be captivated, which is sometimes hard to achieve. The story, setting and feel of the book is right on the level of excitement needed for this age group. Adding in some interesting facts about the Cayman Islands is a plus for parents and teachers and as another bonus; a science project is described in the back of the book. These extras are like getting that special package in the mail...surprising and fun. Max and Sam are likeable characters who promise some incredible journeys. Expect the unexpected.

Sam and Max Stone just can't wait for spring break. Mr. Stone has a job to do in the Cayman Islands, and they will be going there, too. What a great way to spend spring break! Odd things start happening to Max and Sam after they find out they are going to the Cayman Islands. Two mysterious boxes arrive on their doorstep. One contains an ancient leather bound journal, and the other an old, frail map. A notation on the map indicated that it was made over 40 years ago, but across the top was printed "Max and Sam's Incredible Journey Map." Mom doesn't know where the boxes came from, either.

Unusual, funny events seem to plague the two boys, but their plane finally arrives at their Caribbean destination. Then they overhear a telephone conversation and discover that a guy on the beach may be one that was shown on national television on the America's Most Wanted program. After they spot a tell-tale parrot tattoo on his stomach as he relaxes in a beach chair the kids are certain that it is the wanted man.

The adventurous boys plot to help catch this frightening character, and the action escalates and the kids find themselves in great danger. Then they discover a shocking secret about their father and his reason for coming to the Caymans.

Max and Sam are engaging characters that manage to get themselves tangled in peril and excitement in this fast-paced adventure that takes place in an exotic setting. Connie Lee Berry has crafted a hard-to-put-down, lively, funny story, filled with mysteries and secrets. The illustrations add visual interest, and the back pages of the book have interesting facts about the Cayman Islands, tell you how you can join the Incredible Journey Club, and submit your own science projects and fun poems to be included in future INCREDIBLE JOURNEY books. What fun!

Reviewed by: Grandma Bev

I thought this book was very exciting. It was great how Max and Sam became heros behind the scenes. The book makes you laugh in some parts and be scared in others. I liked it so much I read it twice!

Our whole class read this book as a classroom project, and we ranked it as one of our favorite books we read all year. You don't want to put the book down once you start reading it so it is really hard to only read a chapter at a time like we did. It is very exciting and funny and also keeps you guessing what is going to happen next. I really, really loved it a lot. I can't wait until the next book comes out!

The second book in the "Incredible Journey" series by Connie Lee Barry, The Criminal In The Caymans is an exciting and inventive tale depicting a weekend in the Cayman Islands with the little heroes, Max and Sam. As two mysterious boxes appear on the boy's doorstep, and a dangerous criminal is loose in the area, The Criminal In The Caymans carries its young readers through the fun and entertainingly scary tale of the youthful detectives who find themselves hot on the trail of a terrific mystery. The Criminal In The Caymans is very highly recommended reading as an superbly written story for young readers engaging a realistic dialogue and deftly humorous content appropriate for young readers.