Skinny-Dipping at Monster Lake (Aladdin Fiction) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The sound knifed through the morning air like fingernails scraping on a chalkboard..." (more)
Key Phrases: bank poles, shad gizzards, lake monster, Cedar Lake, Seventh Cavalry, Bobcat Canyon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-School's out and Kent and his friends, tired of their usual pastimes, plan to fish and camp overnight. The expedition is a big success, complete with skinny-dipping, a huge catch, and some excitement. Rumor has it that Cedar Lake is home to a giant, yellow-eyed monster. When the 12-year-old protagonist sees eerie, glowing eyes, he is terrified, yet determined to figure out the mystery. On a second outing, a friend discerns an underwater SOS and suspects someone is trapped in a submarine. The boys call EMS, and Kent's dad, a paramedic trained in underwater rescue, saves the day with his son's help. Money troubles have forced their neighbor Mrs. Baum to search the lake in her ailing husband's sub for a platinum mine and to dig up her yard for the silver dollars her grandfather purportedly buried there. Kent accidentally finds the valuable coins, becoming a hero twice over. This old-fashioned adventure has wide appeal, and the youngsters' games and camaraderie will hook even reluctant readers. Though Mrs. Baum's story is a bit convoluted, the pieces fit together in the end, and readers will admire Kent's insight and courage.
Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Kent loves being in "The Seventh Cavalry," a group of eight boys who live around Cedar Lake and have horses. Their summer days are filled with war games, fishing, and good-natured rowdiness. An overnight camping and fishing outing stirs up talk about a monster in the lake, but friendship and fun notwithstanding, Kent isn't about to tell the others that he's seen a yellow-eyed creature in the water. It takes a grouchy old lady, a submersible, and Kent's assisting his dad in an underwater rescue to solve the monster mystery in this entertaining read. With suspense and humor that boys will surely appreciate (fears about unprotected parts during skinny-dipping; peeing on the campfire to put it out) and wholesome kid characters, this lightweight story will be great for summer reading. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (July 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689851510
• ISBN-13: 978-0689851513
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #673,588 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Really Awesome Review, May 2, 2005

A Kid's Review

I liked the book because it's funny and has a very weird twist at the end. Kent thinks the monster is real, but turns out it's not. When he and his friends fish they see headlights (A.K.A the eyes.) When one of the smartest kids in the group finds out that there's a sub in the lake they go for help. But my favorite part is when they skinny dip in the lake and their friends call them "cottontails".

4.0 out of 5 stars Son's book, October 16, 2009

By	Terry Crock (Massillon, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book for my ten-year-old son. He likes some of Bill Wallace's books, but not others. This one he liked. So I guess it is good.

5.0 out of 5 stars Old Fashined Fun and Family Values, October 3, 2009

By	borbor (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book for my 3 nephews ages 9, 11 and 13. I gave it to them after reading it myself and they took it up to the family's house on a lake in New Hampshire this summer. The two older ones loved it. They liked it for the funny and scary skinny-dipping and fishing camp-out, but it also has a great sense of community and responsibility. The monster mystery has a very unlikely explanation but hey, it's a kids' story. Reminded me of reading Hardy Boys books growing up but it's funnier and has very believable interactions between the boys, all of whom have their own personalities. For the record I don't recommend combining fish hooks and skinny dipping.