A Voice in the Wind: A Starbuck Twins Mystery, Book Three (Starbuck Twins Mysteries) [Paperback]

Kathryn Lasky (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Starbuck Twins Mysteries

[shared copy] The Starbuck family is anything but ordinary. There are two sets of Starbuck twins: preteens Liberty and July, and their little sisters Charly and Molly. But even more extraordinary is the fact that all four children have the ability to teleflash—they can talk to each other without saying a word! It's a power that comes in handy whenever these adventurous kids are on the trail of a villian.

 

Before the Starbuck family embarks on a trip to New Mexico, a whisper comes through the wind to Liberty. It leads her and her twin, July, to an ancient hillside dwelling that was the site of a tragedy. In their quest to rectify the wrongs of the past, the twins encounter a group of thieves who will stop at nothing to steal the artifacts in the ancient home.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-The Starbucks are back in a new adventure. Communicating through telepathic channels, the two sets of twins journey to the Southwest with their father on an EPA mission to divert water to a Native American tribe. A group of radical environmentalists is using any means necessary to divert the Starbucks from the project. Their mother's twin sister plans for them to stay at her local health spa, and it becomes apparent to the astute children that her evil partner is involved with a ring of artifacts' thieves, who are actually the environmentalists in thin disguise. The shards that she covets are the remains of a 600-year-old piece of pottery made by a young Anasazi girl whose spirit cannot be set free until her last pot is whole once again. The older Starbuck twins, Liberty and July, accompanied by their younger sisters, Charly and Molly, and their babysitter stumble upon the mystery in an ancient kiva with the help of a psychic hamster. Sound far-fetched? Well it is, but young readers will soon be drawn into the mystery and the well-researched history of the area. Lasky skillfully weaves together Native American lore and the beauty of the Southwest.
Julie Halverstadt, Douglas Public Library District, Castle Rock,
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

From a much-honored pro, a disappointingly graceless tale, third in the Starbuck Family Adventures. The gang's off to the Southwest, where their father's to help in a river diversion project and twins Liberty and July stumble onto a 600-year-old murder and help put the spirit of a Native-American potter to rest. Wickedly radical environmentalists turn out to be greedy grave robbers, but the real crimes here are in the narrative: scattershot points-of-view; mixed tenses; choppy Native American dialogue; threads of plotting that go nowhere. Some sentences simply don't make sense--''Liberty's telepathic voice seemed to twinkle around the shape.'' As usual, Liberty and July, and their younger twin sisters Charly and Molly, communicate telepathically. They also ``telesqueal,'' ``telescream,'' telemutter,'' and ``telewhimper.'' Even the Bobbsey twins had more substance. (Fiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; 1 edition (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152058753
• ISBN-13: 978-0152058753
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #559,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( L ) > Lasky, Kathryn

More About the Author

Hi Readers! Thanks for coming by my author page. I've written all sorts of books - from fantasy about animals to books about science. One of my favorite animal fantasy series, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, is a major motion picture. I liked writing about Ga'Hoole so much that I decided to revisit that world in a new series, Wolves of the Beyond. Visit my website, www.kathrynlasky.com to see a slide show about the real wolves I researched for the series and for the latest update on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole movie. All my best, Kathryn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping story, November 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Voice in the Wind (Starbuck Family Adventures) (Paperback)

This book takes place in New Mexico, where the telepathic Starbuck children are taken to for their father's work. There they meet a young indian maiden's ghost whose past reveils the truth of the present. They must collect the pieces of pottery of an ancient pot before they fall into the wrong hands. This book is very gripping for the young adult reader.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient Happenings, July 26, 2001

By 

"methebookworm" (Burlington, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Voice in the Wind: A Starbuck Family Adventure (Starbuck Family Adventures) (Hardcover)

I read this book about eight times, i think. It is one of the best I have ever read. The two pairs of Starbuck twins, who communicate by mental telepathy, go to New Mexico for thier father's job. Little do they know what is in store for them. They meet an ancient ghost who was once an indian maiden. She tells them of secrets long past, ones that might help them in the present. Will they collect the pieces of an ancient piece of pottery before they go into the wrong hands? I'd recommend this to middle school students. Or anyone who likes to read.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME!, June 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Voice in the Wind (Starbuck Family Adventures) (Library Binding)

this is no doubt the best book i've ever read. i've read it about 7 times! if you like ghosts, and telepathy (both sets of the Starbuck twins can communicate without anyone else hearing their conversations) this book is for you. before you read this one, though, you should read the first two. they are great too, but in my opinion this one is the best.