Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U.S. Open [Hardcover]

John Feinstein (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson return in another fast-paced, action-packed sports mystery from bestselling sports writer John Feinstein.

The two hopeful sports reporters have kept in touch after their wild time at the Final Four, and when Susan Carol manages to score a press pass to cover the first week of the US Open Tennis Tournament in New York, Stevie works out a way to be there as well.

The behind-the-scenes action in the world of professional tennis is overwhelming and occasionally bewildering, but it turns downright inconceivable when a young Russian phenom, Natalia Makarova, disappears right before her second-round match. Somewhere between the locker rooms and the Louis Armstrong Court, one of the most-watched players of the tournament simply vanishes.

The media coverage is staggering. Everyone is looking for Natalia--including Stevie and Susan Carol. Was she kidnapped? Did she run? Is she even still alive? The rumors are growing wilder by the hour. But they don't even come close to the shocking truth...

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9–In Last Shot (Knopf, 2005), 13-year-old amateur sportswriters Susan Carol Anderson and Stevie Thomas uncovered a plot to throw a championship game in the NCAA Final Four in New Orleans. Now they meet once again, this time in New York City to help cover the U.S. Open Tennis tournaments. Susan Carol's uncle, a new agent for an up-and-coming female tennis player, lives in Manhattan and offers them a place to stay. When the Russian tennis sweetheart Nadia Symanova is kidnapped right before her first match, Stevie begins to suspect that Susan Carol's uncle is involved. The mystery maintains a genuine level of suspense throughout the story. Many superfluous figures are introduced, and it can be difficult to keep them straight, especially when they are referred to by first name in one chapter and last name in another. Although the main characters are predictable, the use of kid-friendly terminology, contemporary personalities in the tennis world, and factual information about the game may appeal to savvy tennis fans.–D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In Feinstein's Last Shot (2005), 13-year-old reporters Susan Carol Anderson and Stevie Thomas uncover a scandal at basketball's Final Four event. In this follow-up, set at the U.S. Open, the teens once again unravel a scandal, all the while learning the ropes of sports reporting. Accompanied by adult mentors, many of whom first appeared in Last Shot, the friends arrive at the Open and prepare to file stories for their newspapers. Then a young Russian tennis star is kidnapped, and as the teens track down clues, they discover that Susan's beloved uncle may be involved. Although too many logistical details slow the pace, sports fans will be fascinated by the insider's view of the tournament, and even teens ambivalent about sports will connect with the memorable, high-achieving kids and the messages about maintaining integrity versus selling out--in sports and in life. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (August 22, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037583592X
• ISBN-13: 978-0375835926
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,006,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Feinstein spent years on the staff at the Washington Post, as well as writing for Sports Illustrated and the National Sports Daily. He is a commentator on NPRs "Morning Edition," a regular on ESPNs "The Sports Reporters" and a visiting professor of journalism at Duke University.His first book, A Season on the Brink, is the bestselling sports book of all time. His first book for younger readers, Last Shot, was a bestseller.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get ready to miss the school bus --it's that good!, September 5, 2006

By 

P. Kelly - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U.S. Open (Hardcover)

My 11 year old almost missed the school bus this morning because he just had to finish this book. If you have a son that likes sports books, this is a sure bet. My son kept saying, "This is awesome!" and "I hope there's a sequel." all the way through.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Readers Review, January 17, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U.S. Open (Hardcover)

The best book I read this year was Vanishing Act by John Feinstein.

The main characters are Susan Carol and Stevie Thomas who become kid reporters when they win a National Writing Contest. Susan Carol is a 14 year old from South Carolina and is a sports fanatic who seems to know everything about everyone. Stevie is a 13 year old from Philadelphia and plays basketball.

In this story they are sent to cover the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament with a friend reporter, Bobby Kheller. While they are waiting for a match to begin one of the players is kidnapped. When Susan and Stevie dig a little deeper they find that it was all staged to make a movie deal. They must stop the plot before it is too late.

This all takes place in New York City in modern day times.

The themes for this story are Bravery- for continuing the case after being threatened to stop their investigation. Friendship- for when Susan and Stevie stuck together to solve the case. Finally Money- because if the crooks got away with it the movie deal would give them 21.5 million dollars and more if the movie did well.

I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I loved it because it included mystery, sports and it was a pleasure to read. This book keeps you guessing and leaves you wanting more.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vanishing Act by John Feinstein, January 13, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U.S. Open (Hardcover)

In Vanishing Act by John Feinstein, the main characters, Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson, both have a deep love of sports and are sports reporters.

When Nadia Symanova, a tennis player, vanishes at the US Open Tennis Tournament, Steve and Susan Carol try to unravel the mystery. Has she been kidnapped because someone wants her to stay a Russian citizen and not become an American? Did she run away? The FBI, media and Steve and Susan Carol all try to find Nadia.

The story is written in current time in New York City at the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament.

The themes of the story are bravery, sacrifice, sports and hope. The moral of the story would be to always work together.

I loved the story because it's sports related and it shows the meaning of friendship. Steve and Susan Carol's actions in this book, where they save each other, help each other out on their stories and always work together is a great example of what I would want from a best friend. This story is the sequel to the story Last Shot. If you love this book, you will love Last Shot almost as much.