Danger: Dynamite! (Cascade Mountain Railroad Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Anne Capeci (Author), Paul Casale (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Cascade Mountain Railroad Mysteries

A new mystery based on a page from American history, featuring a trio of mischievous and determined young crime solvers.
Everyone knows that workers are using dynamite to blast an eight-mile train tunnel through the Cascade Mountains. But everyone also knows that explosives aren't allowed inside the isolated camp town of Scenic where the workers and their families live. So why did somebody hide a case of dynamite right near the schoolhouse? And why has it disappeared again? That's what ten-year old Billy and his best friend Finn want to know.
Then a sudden explosion rocks the camp, and the boys begin to investigate in earnest. Why is the new man in town, Mr. Renwick, going up to Lookout Rock after dark? And why is his nosy, smart-mouthed daughter, Dannie, watching their every move?
The boys' search leads them back to a thirty-year-old gold robbery-and face to face with a dangerous outlaw who will stop at nothing to retrieve his treasure

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-When fourth-grader Billy and his best friend discover that a crate of dynamite has been stolen in their small town, they know that someone is up to no good. Despite the objections of their parents and other adults, they start their own investigation to find out who took the explosives and why. There are a number of suspects, including a man with a murky past and an outspoken railway worker. However, the boys soon determine that the theft has something to do with a train robbery from the past and stolen gold that is rumored to be hidden nearby. Although many of the characters are stereotypes, they will entertain readers. Details about life in Scenic, WA, in 1926, are interesting and well integrated into the story. A map and historical information are also included. The predictable plot and fast pace will appeal to reluctant readers.
Heather Dieffenbach, Lexington Public Library, KY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"...the characters... will entertain readers. Details about life in Scenic, WA, in 1926, are interesting and well integrated into the story... The... plot and fast pace will appeal to reluctant readers." --School Library Journal
"This is a terrific start to a new mystery series for elementary students. Written in a very readable style and format, this is a great first mystery for elementary students." --Library Media Connection

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Jr (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561452882
• ISBN-13: 978-1561452880
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,185,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Crash -- a review by Cy, age 10, November 7, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Danger: Dynamite! (Cascade Mountain Railroad Mysteries) (Hardcover)

After school each day Billy and his best friend Finn, work on a cannon that they plan to shoot at their school. One day, when their cannon is nearly finished, Billy and Finn get detention for side talking. Sadly they don't get to put on the finishing touches because their two friends, Wes and his brother, get to it first. When Billy and Finn get out of detention they immediately rush to the cannon. When they get there Wes and his brother are already done and ready for action. First they shoot at the school, but it goes straight over the school and they hear a great crash. They go to check out where they think they heard the crash and see a box that states Danger: Explosives! Billy and Finn rush to tell their father, but when they get back the dynamite is gone. Billy's father thinks that they did it to cover up their mess of shooting the school with dirt, but can Billy and Finn prove the whole town wrong and find proof that someone is really trying to destroy Billy's home town with dynamite?

An excellent page-turner for young readers. If you like action, adventure, or mystery, you will probably like this book. I loved the details about the three main characters, but I thought the plot was only ok. The problem was it got boring when the story went on and on about Billy and Finn running around searching for explosives. At the beginning they talked about Alice Ann and Wes, but then the author seemed to forget about them. I wanted to know about what happened to Alice Ann, or Wes, or Finn's family. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the book, but the lack of information about the secondary characters was disappointing.