Sixth-graders Laurie and Bud are on a quest to discover a treasure hidden at their school, Tuckernuck Hall, by its founder 80 years ago. To find it, they must first puzzle out a series of linked, frustratingly enigmatic clues. Time is not on their side, however, since the school board is considering tearing the school down to sell the property to developers. Add to this mix a secret school source (sounds sinister), a pair of bloodthirsty gerbils, and a chicken named Hilda, and you have a story that will intrigue young mystery buffs. First-time novelist Fairlie employs a variety of narrative devices, including amusing lists, phone messages, and e-mails, which add a whimsical air to a cheerful story with likable characters and some not so likable ones. While the humor occasionally seems a bit forced, the clues are clever, and the mystery will hold the reader's attention all the way to its surprising conclusion.--Cart, Michael Copyright 2010 Booklist
Gr 4-6-Sixth-grader Laurie is miserable. Her parents have enrolled her in their alma mater, Tuckernuck Hall, which is falling apart and is about to be torn down by a vengeful school board. On top of that, her unfortunate classroom assignment is gerbil duty with the school social outcast, Bud, and everyone has to wear humiliating chicken hats for school assemblies. Laurie wants to transfer to Hamilton to be with her best friend, Kimmy, but her parents are fiercely loyal to the school and are convinced that the building has historical value and shouldn't be destroyed. Laurie distracts herself with decoding the puzzle the founder of the school created 80 years before. No one knows what the promised treasure is and no one's been able to unravel the clues. She ends up on a wild scavenger hunt with Bud, tracking down old items that hold famous poems, odd clues, and random letters leading them back to a chicken painting that began it all. But Hilda the chicken is not what she appears to be. Interspersed throughout the text are lists by Laurie and other classmates as well as email from school administrators, which give readers a window into what is happening behind the scenes. Bud and Laurie are well-developed characters, and the plot is fast paced and often funny. Readers are kept guessing about the treasure until the very end. A great read for fans of mystery or puzzles.-Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
