The Eureka Key

Gr 4–6—This accessible series starter involves two children who win a contest and are awarded a summer trip around the United States. Puzzle whiz Sam and history expert Martina join another student, the mysterious Theo, and an evasive adult named Evangeline at the airport. Things immediately take a dangerous turn when everyone on board the small plane is drugged except Sam and Martina. They manage to land the plane, but the danger only increases from there. Ultimately, they discover that the "contest" is something much greater and more dangerous than a simple trip. Puzzle-solving is a key component of their adventures. Readers will enjoy the deductive reasoning involved and the high-stress situations the kids find themselves in as they try to stay one step ahead of the deadly bad guys. This story has the feeling of a computer game that relies on knowledge of American history to advance.