Mysteries in Our National Parks: Over The Edge [Hardcover]

Gloria Skurzynski (Author), Alane Ferguson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Mysteries in Our National Park (Book 7)

Wildlife veterinarian Olivia Landon has been asked to help find the source of the lead shotgun pellets that are poisoning the few remaining California condors in Grand Canyon National Park. After she announces a plan, Olivia receives a death threat on her laptop. The plot soon thickens to involve the Landon kids, Jack and Ashley, and the family’s temporary ward—15-year-old Morgan Rogers, a rebellious self-proclaimed anarchist and computer buff. Tension mounts when the e-mail threat is almost carried out and Morgan is the only witness. The following investigation leads readers on a trip through Morgan’s cyberworld connections and builds to a thrilling conclusion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If your vacation plans include a trip to a national park this summer, you might want to check out some of the books in a...series called ‘Mysteries in Our National Parks.’ Each story takes place in a different park, but you’ll get more than a travel guide. There’s plenty of excitement, too." —Washington Post Kids Post --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Alane Ferguson is an award-winning writer. Her first mystery, Show Me the Evidence, won the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America. She lives in Elizabeth, CO.

Award-winning author Gloria Skurzynski has written more than 30 children’s books. Her non-fiction book, Almost the Real Thing, won the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award. She has written several non-fiction books for National Geographic including Are We Alone?, an NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Young People and an IRA/CBC Young Adults’ Choice for 2006 . She lives in Boise, ID. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792266773
• ISBN-13: 978-0792266778
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.7 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,224,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A trail of computer evidence leads to personal peril!, April 13, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mysteries in Our National Parks: Over The Edge (Paperback)

Highly recommended for young adult readers ages 8-12, Over The Edge is a fun, exciting suspense novel collaborative written by Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson, and is the latest entry in the "Mysteries In Our National Parks" series. When Olivia Landon receives a threatening, anonymous e-mail after announcing her disputed plan to save and protect the endangered condors of Grand Canyon National Park, a trail of computer evidence leads to personal peril! Over The Edge is fast-paced read, with the added bonus of slipping in some educational information about one of America's greatest natural parks.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Major confusion about the U.S. Constitution, February 9, 2011

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mysteries in Our National Parks: Over the Edge: A Mystery in Grand Canyon National Park (Paperback)

This series of books seems bent on discouraging any American family from ever taking in a foster child. This book is no exception.

The plot is fairly lame - condors at the Grand Canyon are ending up with lead shot poisoning. It turns out they are eating corpses of animals being mass-killed and dumped. Malcolm, the foster child, is a computer hacker, and he works to save the day. But first he posts ugly information about his foster sister. Just lovely.

All through the beginning of the book, Malcolm excuses his rude behavior by saying, "free speech." No, son: Bad manners. Free speech has nothing to do with it. And believe it or not, veterinarians do not propose new gun-control laws in America by holding press conferences. Give me a break.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for ages 8 to 12, May 17, 2005

By 

C. C. A. "Chercher" (Oceanside, ca United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mysteries in Our National Parks: Over The Edge (Paperback)

I bought this book to read to my three boys, ages 8, 10 and 12 during a long drive to the Grand Canyon. It was obvious from the start that "Over the Edge" would be too sophisticated for their age group.

The invited guest in the story "a tall, thin, hollow-chested" 15-year-old society drop-out and computer geek says things like "those intellectual pygmies... The whole town's filled with freaking morons... the only way to fit into Cow Town was to turn into another stupid lemming."

The mother of the story is described as follows "His mother stood, fully dressed in stonewashed jeans and a hooded jacket. Although wrinkles lined the corners of her eyes when she smiled, Olivia looked young and trim. And full of energy."

I do not doubt that this book would be enjoyed by many teens. But the characters and the plot (someone tries to kill Olivia by pushing her over the edge of a cliff) in this book are beyond 8 - 12. Then again, perhaps teens would demand better writing. "It wasn't exactly that he liked Morgan, but he couldn't help being drawn to his... what was it? Maybe his self-assured view of the world acording to Morgan. His braininess."