THE TREASURE TEST

The GEEKs are back to solve an even harder puzzle.

Sixth graders Gina, Edgar, Elena, and Kevin, or the GEEKs as they’ve been affectionately dubbed, are still riding high six months after they nabbed a criminal and discovered stolen treasure at Bamboozleland, an abandoned amusement park. Now plans are underway to restore and reopen the park, bringing visitors to their economically depressed town. The GEEKs are dumbfounded when the development company spearheading the renovation abruptly pulls the plug on the project, however, and they soon discover that a nasty rumor about the GEEKs is to blame. Nobody seems to care that the anonymous allegation that the GEEKs lied about finding the hidden loot is fake news. Kevin reminds the GEEKs, along with readers, “You know how powerful misinformation can be.” Now the team must use their considerable brain power to solve a new puzzle challenge in hopes that they can clear their names and discover the source of the false, mean-spirited rumors. Gina uses strategies like tracing a social media post back to the original source to help expose their nemesis. Along with a fast-paced plot and good-natured characters, an information literacy focus brings timely relevance to the story. Contextual clues point to ethnic diversity in the cast.

Friends work to unravel an entertaining mystery and prove that critical thinking wins the day.