The Hunted (Mysteries in Our National Park) [Paperback]

Gloria Skurzynski (Author), Alane Ferguson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Mysteries in Our National Park (Book 5)

Grizzly cubs are missing from Montana’s Glacier National Park, and the Landon family is there to help figure out why. But for 12-year-old Jack, the real mystery is his sister Ashley’s strange behavior. What was she doing in the woods alone so early in the morning? And why did she lie to their parents? Challenging Ashley, Jack discovers she has been sneaking food to a 10-year-old runaway from Mexico. After listening to Miguel’s story, Jack decides to help too. The compelling plot builds to a spine-chilling climax as the kids run for their lives, desperately trying to escape an enraged mother grizzly who holds the key to the park’s present mystery. Includes a detailed park map.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-In this, their fifth mystery, the Landon family travels to Glacier National Park to investigate the disappearance of grizzly bear cubs. For 12-year-old Jack, the real mystery lies in his sister's strange behavior. When their parents attend a briefing with park administrators regarding the bear problem, Jack volunteers to stay behind at the campsite with Ashley. As soon as the adults leave, she disappears into the woods and returns with a young Mexican named Miguel, an illegal alien seeking a better lifestyle and trying to reach a former teacher who lives in Seattle. When the three children accidentally discover the reason for the cubs' disappearance, namely poachers, they devise a plan and rescue the bears. Their ingenuity and daredevil tactics come at a price, however, as the drugged mother grizzly awakens and reacts violently toward them. Events unfold at a rapid, steady pace with the children helping one another thwart the attacks of the grizzly, and finally being rescued by Mrs. Landon and the local park rangers. While the story lacks depth, it does work as an exciting adventure, with the youngsters confronting the hazards of nature in order to restore its delicate balance. Miguel's fate is conveniently and happily resolved. Themes of friendship, family love, and the importance of protecting wildlife are nicely woven around likable characters and a cohesive plot line.
Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792276655
• ISBN-13: 978-0792276654
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,217,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery at Glacier National Park, April 3, 2000

By 

Carol A. Dorman (San Diego, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hunted (National Parks Mystery Series, 5) (Hardcover)

WOW! I ordered this book for my 10 year old daughter, but read it first. I loved it and so did she. The adventure takes place at Glacier National park in Montana with brother and sister Jack and Ashley Landon. This is a series of books that takes the duo on many adventures to the various national parks in the United States. There is always a hair-raising experience, plus the added benefit of learning about nature, geography, history and wildlife. My daughter particularly enjoyed learning so many amazing facts about Grizzleys. I highly recommend this book--not only will your child love it, but so will you!

4.0 out of 5 stars Good mystery for tweens, March 9, 2010

By 

CJ-MO (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Hunted (Mysteries in Our National Park) (Paperback)

"The Hunted" is par of the National Park mystery series. The setting in this installment is the beautiful Glacier National Park. Both boys and girls will be able to relate to the main characters and the adventures they have in this book.

This is a clever series, and having the books take place in different national parks is a great idea for a kids' mystery series. Even though it is a series for kids, the writing is very good and the mystery interesting. "The Hunted" is another great book that I would recommend for tweens.

2.0 out of 5 stars Simplistic Story and Characters, March 13, 2007

By 

A. Luciano (Lowell, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hunted (Mysteries in Our National Park) (Paperback)

Jack and Ashley are on a camping trip to Glacier National park with their parents. Jack is happy just to have his parents to himself, without any of the foster kids they usually have around. His mother is excited to help solve the mystery of why there are fewer and fewer grizzly bear cubs in the park. Ashley is terrified, though--she read a book about grizzly bears attacking people, and now she can't get it out of her head.

Jack thinks something else is strange with his sister, though. And when she convinces her parents to leave her and Jack alone at the campsite one day, Jack's suspicions about his sister keeping a secret are confirmed. But Ashley's secret suddenly seems unimportant when they are plunged into a dangerous situation.

The story was decent, if a bit simplistic. I thought that Jack and Ashley were a bit too good to be true, though. They were basically nice to each other, plus enthusiastic about their camping trip, plus respectful of and loving toward their parents... there was little room for character growth.