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The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten
Twelve-year-old painter Esther can't wait to attend Camp Vermeer, the most prestigious art camp around. But when her stepdad accidentally drives up the wrong mountain, she lands at Camp Archimedes—a math camp!
Determined to prove herself to the other campers, she tackles a brain-teaser that’s supposed to be impossible—and solves it in a single day. But not everyone is happy about it . . . someone wants her out of camp at any cost, and starts leaving cryptic, threatening notes all over the camp’s grounds. Esther doesn’t know who to trust—will she solve this riddle before it’s too late?
Featuring logic puzzles readers can solve along with the characters.
Determined to prove herself to the other campers, she tackles a brain-teaser that’s supposed to be impossible—and solves it in a single day. But not everyone is happy about it . . . someone wants her out of camp at any cost, and starts leaving cryptic, threatening notes all over the camp’s grounds. Esther doesn’t know who to trust—will she solve this riddle before it’s too late?
Featuring logic puzzles readers can solve along with the characters.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2019
13 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Krista Van Dolzer
5books56followersI'm a stay-at-home mom by day and a children's author by bedtime. I live with my husband and four kids in Layton, Utah, where I watch too much college football and look for my dead people online. I'm the author of THE SOUND OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, May 2015), DON'T VOTE FOR ME (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, August 2015), and EARTH TO DAD (Capstone, Fall 2018) as well as the forthcoming THE MULTIPLYING MYSTERIES OF MOUNT TEN (Bloomsbury Children's, Winter 2019).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 16, 2022
rozwiązałam zagadkę szybciej niż główna bohaterka :(
February 12, 2019
* Review is of an advanced reader copy
I am all for a book that champions mathematics. Make it into a mystery novel that urges readers to solve the puzzles and it becomes even better. That being said, the execution of Multiplying Mysteries was a little slow and clunky for my personal taste. I never felt in simpatico with Esther, the story's protagonist. Furthermore, whilst I would describe this novel as Chasing Vermeer meets Holes, it was a tad too heavy on the Holes side of things for my liking. That being said, in the last quarter of the book it definitely improved and I do think this would be a fun choice for an elementary class read. I am heartened that this is the second ARC of 2019 I have read with math prominently featured. So, although, this one was not as good as Jennifer Swender's Solving for M (expected release may 2019) it is encouraging to have math framed in a positive light.
I am all for a book that champions mathematics. Make it into a mystery novel that urges readers to solve the puzzles and it becomes even better. That being said, the execution of Multiplying Mysteries was a little slow and clunky for my personal taste. I never felt in simpatico with Esther, the story's protagonist. Furthermore, whilst I would describe this novel as Chasing Vermeer meets Holes, it was a tad too heavy on the Holes side of things for my liking. That being said, in the last quarter of the book it definitely improved and I do think this would be a fun choice for an elementary class read. I am heartened that this is the second ARC of 2019 I have read with math prominently featured. So, although, this one was not as good as Jennifer Swender's Solving for M (expected release may 2019) it is encouraging to have math framed in a positive light.
March 5, 2019
As a Mom I am looking for books that encourage reading as well as teaching. The Author uses the mystery at the summer camp as a way to introduce math and create math problems readers (Child and parents ) do not realize they are doing as the story progressive in a fun and unique way. Projects, quest, encoding and decoding puzzles that everyone will enjoy.
This is a must read for parents who have children who struggle with math and enjoyment of reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Bloomsbury Children's Books for advance copy of Krista Van Dolzer The Multiplying Mystery of Mount Ten
This is a must read for parents who have children who struggle with math and enjoyment of reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Bloomsbury Children's Books for advance copy of Krista Van Dolzer The Multiplying Mystery of Mount Ten
April 10, 2024
This book reminded me of all my favorite books I read in middle school. Escalating mysteries fueled by adventurous minds of a group of endearing characters. Loved every character that was put in this story. From Graham to Esther, each had their own faults and quirks that made you feel like you would fit right into their banter and theory meetings. I feel like gentle munch and sassy Esther and I would all be very good friends ❤️ Fabulous story. I particularly liked the unsuspected arrest at the end!
January 10, 2020
This is a fantastic middle grade camp story with math, puzzles, and a mystery. I was surprised to the very end of the story.
January 9, 2019
The premise of this book is wonderful: a murder mystery set at a summer math camp! And Van Dolzer brilliantly built math-based puzzles into the narrative in a way that the reader can actually solve them as well while they read along. Before you're turned off by the fact that there's math in this book, I'm not talking about boring arithmetic here. We're talking about visual puzzles, logic puzzles, encoded messages, etc. These are fun to do even for people who don't enjoy, or are not good at math. And you don't have to take the time to figure out the puzzles on your own if you don't want to. The characters explain the solutions to these puzzles in a way that makes sense.
The thing that really sets this book apart from anything else I've ever read is that the central mystery can be solved with a logic puzzle grid that's provided in the book itself. So the reader can eliminate suspects as Esther and the other math campers find the clues. It's really genius!
This book would make an amazing cross-curricular novel for junior high students. They could talk about the story in English class and actually solve the puzzles together in math class. The math class could even do a little logic puzzle unit as students begin to read the book, and I think most kids really enjoy solving logic puzzles, especially compared to more straightforward math problems. I think it would help some students get excited about math, and it could also be a great book for kids who love math but don't necessarily like to read.
Esther is a great main character. She's interesting, strong, and assertive. Her attitude and worldview make her a really fun character to filter the story through. The other boys and girls at the camp are also fun. Most of them having enough character to be memorable and endearing.
The characters are fun, the writing is fun (I laughed a lot while reading it), the story is fun, the setting is fun. I've never read a book before that can be so interactive, and I just found that really original and engaging.
I should note that I read an uncorrected proof of the novel that did have some small errors in it that I've been told will be corrected in the finished product. So if you get your hands on an ARC and notice a few little mistakes, don't freak out.
Another note: this book's main character was a character from the author's novel DON'T VOTE FOR ME that came out a few years ago. You don't have to have read that book to enjoy this one, but if you enjoy this book and want to read another book with Esther in it, definitely go check that one out.
The thing that really sets this book apart from anything else I've ever read is that the central mystery can be solved with a logic puzzle grid that's provided in the book itself. So the reader can eliminate suspects as Esther and the other math campers find the clues. It's really genius!
This book would make an amazing cross-curricular novel for junior high students. They could talk about the story in English class and actually solve the puzzles together in math class. The math class could even do a little logic puzzle unit as students begin to read the book, and I think most kids really enjoy solving logic puzzles, especially compared to more straightforward math problems. I think it would help some students get excited about math, and it could also be a great book for kids who love math but don't necessarily like to read.
Esther is a great main character. She's interesting, strong, and assertive. Her attitude and worldview make her a really fun character to filter the story through. The other boys and girls at the camp are also fun. Most of them having enough character to be memorable and endearing.
The characters are fun, the writing is fun (I laughed a lot while reading it), the story is fun, the setting is fun. I've never read a book before that can be so interactive, and I just found that really original and engaging.
I should note that I read an uncorrected proof of the novel that did have some small errors in it that I've been told will be corrected in the finished product. So if you get your hands on an ARC and notice a few little mistakes, don't freak out.
Another note: this book's main character was a character from the author's novel DON'T VOTE FOR ME that came out a few years ago. You don't have to have read that book to enjoy this one, but if you enjoy this book and want to read another book with Esther in it, definitely go check that one out.
April 10, 2019
On their way to art camp, Esther and her step-father get stranded at a summer camp in the mountains. Drenched and soggy with more rain in the forecast, they have no option but to stay... at least for a little while. Judging the camp negatively since it's a "math" camp, Esther never dreamed what adventure awaited her. Within 24 hours, Esther solves the "unsolvable" puzzle and finds herself drawn into the mystery that begins to unfold around her. A missing camper, mysterious clues written about mythological creatures, and a good gang of math nerds to hang out with make for a great week at camp.
The book is written in first person, and in my opinion, the stylistic choices help to make the The Multiplying Mysteries and Mount Ten a very unique and interesting book. It feels a little like I was being told a story by a young friend. Though the writing style and the plot, I was drawn into the story and hurriedly turned the pages to see what would happen next. Even as an adult, I found the story to be engaging and enjoyable, and I think my students will feel the same way.
From a teacher's perspective, The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten is a great book. First, it is entertaining and humorous. Middle grade students will enjoy the mystery and the relationships between the characters. The plot is entertaining even when the characters get carried away by their imaginations. Second, it is a smart book. The references to artists, works of art, mathematical terms, and mythological creatures give students a chance to re-encounter these words in context. The main characters solve ciphers and logic puzzles; the author even explains them in a clear and simple way so that the reader can learn how to solve them on his or her own. Third, the characters have high relational aptitude. Though there are some interpersonal conflicts in the book, the kids are able to work them out and develop meaningful friendships along the way. They model healthy behaviors, mostly, for the middle-grade readers.
I received a copy of this book for free from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books through NetGalley. The opinions contained above are completely my own.
The book is written in first person, and in my opinion, the stylistic choices help to make the The Multiplying Mysteries and Mount Ten a very unique and interesting book. It feels a little like I was being told a story by a young friend. Though the writing style and the plot, I was drawn into the story and hurriedly turned the pages to see what would happen next. Even as an adult, I found the story to be engaging and enjoyable, and I think my students will feel the same way.
From a teacher's perspective, The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten is a great book. First, it is entertaining and humorous. Middle grade students will enjoy the mystery and the relationships between the characters. The plot is entertaining even when the characters get carried away by their imaginations. Second, it is a smart book. The references to artists, works of art, mathematical terms, and mythological creatures give students a chance to re-encounter these words in context. The main characters solve ciphers and logic puzzles; the author even explains them in a clear and simple way so that the reader can learn how to solve them on his or her own. Third, the characters have high relational aptitude. Though there are some interpersonal conflicts in the book, the kids are able to work them out and develop meaningful friendships along the way. They model healthy behaviors, mostly, for the middle-grade readers.
I received a copy of this book for free from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books through NetGalley. The opinions contained above are completely my own.
July 20, 2020
Esther is supposed to be headed to the exclusive and amazing Camp Vermeer art camp for the week. But in the middle of a horrible storm when GPS signals go awry and roads get flooded, Esther finds herself instead at Camp Archimedes. A math camp. Esther and her stepfather are stuck until the torrential downpour ends, and during that time Esther manages to solve the extremely challenging First Problem that few others manage to solve ever in their time at Camp Archimedes, and Esther uncovers a riddle that may or may not be threatening that someone at the camp is in grave danger. Can Esther and the other math nerds solve the riddle before someone is murdered?
Say math and you have a lot of kids running for the hills. But if you say logic puzzles, you may have a few more stick around. And that's primarily the kind of math that is front and center in this book. The big problem Esther solves can be done with algebra, but she solves it with logic and pictures. The big riddle that Esther finds and other campers get involved in is assumed sinister but . I can see kids who like Lemoncello's Library books liking this. It is a fun puzzle to solve, and readers can figure it out before the characters. The cast of characters is a very interesting mix of kids, from the kid who always seems to be eating junk food to the quiet and brilliant, but none of them are necessarily the stereotypical math nerds. Recommended for readers who like to match wits with the characters and see if they can solve things first.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. No violence.
Say math and you have a lot of kids running for the hills. But if you say logic puzzles, you may have a few more stick around. And that's primarily the kind of math that is front and center in this book. The big problem Esther solves can be done with algebra, but she solves it with logic and pictures. The big riddle that Esther finds and other campers get involved in is assumed sinister but . I can see kids who like Lemoncello's Library books liking this. It is a fun puzzle to solve, and readers can figure it out before the characters. The cast of characters is a very interesting mix of kids, from the kid who always seems to be eating junk food to the quiet and brilliant, but none of them are necessarily the stereotypical math nerds. Recommended for readers who like to match wits with the characters and see if they can solve things first.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. No violence.
March 4, 2022
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, but not necessarily the execution. I solved the First Problem in my head in a few minutes, so it felt like forever reading tens of pages until Esther finally solved it. I realize that's probably a personal problem, but it diminished my enjoyment of the book. Beyond that, I loved the ultimate puzzle except that I was never convinced there was any real danger. Had there been real danger or had I at least felt there was, this book would have been so much better. To add to that, I solved the identity of the Sphinx (based on the story clues, not the actual puzzle), so that twist was completely expected. The author did manage to add other twists I didn't see coming. The relationships of the characters was neat and the capture of the Forger was pretty cool, but they weren't enough to make up for the lack of surprise from the Sphinx reveal. Also, from a storytelling perspective, I wanted a little more resolution to Esther's arc. She missed art camp for this whole math camp mystery, but we never really get to see her resolve that. She is clearly happy she made friends but it just needed a little bit more resolution.
In the end, all of my experience with this book is as an adult reading a middle-grade novel. I am not the target audience and so it's hard for me to know if the puzzles and twists would work great for intended readers. I just know that as an adult (who reads a decent amount of middle-grade fiction), this didn't really measure up for me. However, I just passed it on to my middle-grade daughter and hope she will be more impressed by the mysteries and puzzles.
In the end, all of my experience with this book is as an adult reading a middle-grade novel. I am not the target audience and so it's hard for me to know if the puzzles and twists would work great for intended readers. I just know that as an adult (who reads a decent amount of middle-grade fiction), this didn't really measure up for me. However, I just passed it on to my middle-grade daughter and hope she will be more impressed by the mysteries and puzzles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2019
The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten is a puzzle based middle grade novel centered around a group of children at Camp Archimedes math camp. ÂEsther, an artistic child on her way to Camp Vermeer art camp, finds herself stranded at a math camp when her step-father's truck gets stuck in the mud. At first, Esther is not happy to be a part of the "number crunchers", but as mysteries begin to unfold, she finds herself making friends as she solves riddles and unravels puzzles.
Esther is the main character in this story. She is funny, witty, and often sarcastic. She goes from not wanting to have anything to do with the math campers to sadness about leaving. Watching her grow throughout the book is interesting, although her character is not deeply developed.
I love mysteries, and math, so the two combined? This ought to be great! Unfortunately, reading this as an adult, I know too much about puzzles and math and I solved the clues way too quickly for the book to have much staying power for me. ÂI knew by the middle of the book how to go about solving the main puzzle, even though Esther didn't get there until almost the end. I think kids who don't have a lot of experience solving logic puzzles would find this much more enjoyable than I did.
If you have middle grade students, maybe 3rd or 4th grade, who like math, this would be a good suggestion for them. For older students, I think you might be better off with Chris Grabenstein's Mr. Lemoncello books which have more difficult puzzles to solve.
Esther is the main character in this story. She is funny, witty, and often sarcastic. She goes from not wanting to have anything to do with the math campers to sadness about leaving. Watching her grow throughout the book is interesting, although her character is not deeply developed.
I love mysteries, and math, so the two combined? This ought to be great! Unfortunately, reading this as an adult, I know too much about puzzles and math and I solved the clues way too quickly for the book to have much staying power for me. ÂI knew by the middle of the book how to go about solving the main puzzle, even though Esther didn't get there until almost the end. I think kids who don't have a lot of experience solving logic puzzles would find this much more enjoyable than I did.
If you have middle grade students, maybe 3rd or 4th grade, who like math, this would be a good suggestion for them. For older students, I think you might be better off with Chris Grabenstein's Mr. Lemoncello books which have more difficult puzzles to solve.
October 21, 2019
@kidlitexchange #parnter
Thank you to @bloomsburypublishing and #kristavandolzer for sharing an advance copy of The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten with the #kidlitexchange network. This book was released on April 9, 2019. All opinions are my own.
Twelve-year-old Esther is excited to be attending Camp Vermeer, an art camp, however when her step-father Toby goes to drop her off, they get lost and end up at Camp Archimedes, a math camp. The weather continues to decline stranding Esther and Toby at Camp Archimedes. Esther is determined to prove herself to the other campers who seem to look down upon her because she's an artist. In order to impress them, Esther solves the camp's first major math problem. This leads Esther and a few of the other campers to uncover what she believes is a murder mystery. The campers begin collecting clues, snooping around, and trying to solve the mystery before another person goes missing.
I love a good mystery and this book did not disappoint. The book includes a logic puzzle that the reader can solve alongside the characters. Math and art facts are also spread throughout the the book. The book is told with wit and the action is well-paced. The clues are strategically placed, as are the red herrings. Each time you think you may have figured something out another clue is found and/or another twist added. This books is perfect for lovers of puzzles and those who read and enjoyed The Book Scavenger.
Thank you to @bloomsburypublishing and #kristavandolzer for sharing an advance copy of The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten with the #kidlitexchange network. This book was released on April 9, 2019. All opinions are my own.
Twelve-year-old Esther is excited to be attending Camp Vermeer, an art camp, however when her step-father Toby goes to drop her off, they get lost and end up at Camp Archimedes, a math camp. The weather continues to decline stranding Esther and Toby at Camp Archimedes. Esther is determined to prove herself to the other campers who seem to look down upon her because she's an artist. In order to impress them, Esther solves the camp's first major math problem. This leads Esther and a few of the other campers to uncover what she believes is a murder mystery. The campers begin collecting clues, snooping around, and trying to solve the mystery before another person goes missing.
I love a good mystery and this book did not disappoint. The book includes a logic puzzle that the reader can solve alongside the characters. Math and art facts are also spread throughout the the book. The book is told with wit and the action is well-paced. The clues are strategically placed, as are the red herrings. Each time you think you may have figured something out another clue is found and/or another twist added. This books is perfect for lovers of puzzles and those who read and enjoyed The Book Scavenger.
May 16, 2021
This was a fun middle grade mystery. Esther loves art, and is on her way to a summer art camp with her step father Toby. Unfortunately, in the giant rain storm, Toby takes a wrong turn and they accidentally wind up at a math camp! Due to the storm, they’re not able to leave.
Esther is quickly accepted by most of the other campers, but starts finding weird notes that imply someone is going to be killed. Through logic, Esther and a few others attempt to find out who is the one placing the notes and who is the implied victim before anyone is killed.
I really enjoyed trying to solve the mystery alongside Esther and he friends. And, in my opinion, there aren’t enough books that give you the opportunity to solve algebraic problems in the first few chapters (okay, I’m almost definitely a “math nerd� as well). Actually, I would have enjoyed if a few more math problems were sprinkled through the book. There was the “first problem� presented when Esther arrived at camp, but that was the only one that the reader was given the opportunity to solve (other than the logic problem that is the central mystery).
My biggest problem with this book was some of the attitude of the central character herself. Throughout the entire book she persists in referring to the other campers as “math nerds�, which is a bit derogatory. Plus she gives a few of the campers nicknames without even asking them if they were okay with it or attempting to learn their real names.
Esther is quickly accepted by most of the other campers, but starts finding weird notes that imply someone is going to be killed. Through logic, Esther and a few others attempt to find out who is the one placing the notes and who is the implied victim before anyone is killed.
I really enjoyed trying to solve the mystery alongside Esther and he friends. And, in my opinion, there aren’t enough books that give you the opportunity to solve algebraic problems in the first few chapters (okay, I’m almost definitely a “math nerd� as well). Actually, I would have enjoyed if a few more math problems were sprinkled through the book. There was the “first problem� presented when Esther arrived at camp, but that was the only one that the reader was given the opportunity to solve (other than the logic problem that is the central mystery).
My biggest problem with this book was some of the attitude of the central character herself. Throughout the entire book she persists in referring to the other campers as “math nerds�, which is a bit derogatory. Plus she gives a few of the campers nicknames without even asking them if they were okay with it or attempting to learn their real names.
March 18, 2019
A big thanks to @kidlit and Bloomsbury publishing for sending this advanced proof for review. All views stated here are my own.
As a middle grade teacher and avid reader there are two things I look for first in a book geared toward my students: language that feels true to their age and an intriguing plot line. This book has both of those boxes ticked, as well as a strong female lead, cyphers, riddles, and a fairly diverse range of characters (which I really wasn't expecting since this is set at a math camp!).
12 year old Esther and her step-father, Toby, end up being stranded on the wrong mountain, in the wrong summer camp during a bad storm. Due to a series of events, Esther winds up staying at the Math Camp on Mount Ten instead of heading over to the art camp she was attempting to get to. The audience sees her prove that artists aren't just space cadets as Esther makes friends, solves riddles, and helps her fellow campers power through a real life murder mystery.
While some parts of this book read a little slowly and there are one or two places that seem to resolve issues a little too simply, the over all experience of the book is fun and interesting. I give it a 3.75 out of 5 stars.
As a middle grade teacher and avid reader there are two things I look for first in a book geared toward my students: language that feels true to their age and an intriguing plot line. This book has both of those boxes ticked, as well as a strong female lead, cyphers, riddles, and a fairly diverse range of characters (which I really wasn't expecting since this is set at a math camp!).
12 year old Esther and her step-father, Toby, end up being stranded on the wrong mountain, in the wrong summer camp during a bad storm. Due to a series of events, Esther winds up staying at the Math Camp on Mount Ten instead of heading over to the art camp she was attempting to get to. The audience sees her prove that artists aren't just space cadets as Esther makes friends, solves riddles, and helps her fellow campers power through a real life murder mystery.
While some parts of this book read a little slowly and there are one or two places that seem to resolve issues a little too simply, the over all experience of the book is fun and interesting. I give it a 3.75 out of 5 stars.
July 24, 2023
The premise for The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten is both intriguing and humorous - what if you are heading to an art summer camp but end up at a math summer camp instead?
A rainstorm lands Esther and her stepdad, Toby, at summer camp full of math nerds, puzzles, and more than one mystery. While Esther may want to get back on the road, the weather won't let up, and her desire to show she isn't a dumb artist has her solving the first, challenging math problem. A new clue soon surfaces, drawing her into another puzzle and leads her to team up with the number crunchers (math nerds) to solve the puzzle and possibly save lives.
Esther is absolutely delightful. Full of opinions and spunk, her voice is hilarious. I laughed along with her ongoing commentary. I'm also a big fan of logic puzzles and brainteasers so the math challenges were fun and engaging. My boys (7 and 9) loved trying to figure out the puzzles, too.
The interactions between Esther and the various number crunchers are entertaining and so relatable. This book is perfect for a middle grade audience who enjoy humor, spunky heroines, and puzzles.
A rainstorm lands Esther and her stepdad, Toby, at summer camp full of math nerds, puzzles, and more than one mystery. While Esther may want to get back on the road, the weather won't let up, and her desire to show she isn't a dumb artist has her solving the first, challenging math problem. A new clue soon surfaces, drawing her into another puzzle and leads her to team up with the number crunchers (math nerds) to solve the puzzle and possibly save lives.
Esther is absolutely delightful. Full of opinions and spunk, her voice is hilarious. I laughed along with her ongoing commentary. I'm also a big fan of logic puzzles and brainteasers so the math challenges were fun and engaging. My boys (7 and 9) loved trying to figure out the puzzles, too.
The interactions between Esther and the various number crunchers are entertaining and so relatable. This book is perfect for a middle grade audience who enjoy humor, spunky heroines, and puzzles.
March 7, 2019
I received this arc from Netgalley for my honest review.
Esther is on her way to art camp when she and her stepdad get lost in a rainstorm and wind up at Camp Archimedes, a math camp, instead. Esther can't wait to get away from these math nerds and back to art camp but finds herself drawn into a mystery that may even include murder! Who's the murderer? Will she find out what happened to fellow camper Angeline?
This was a cute story. The mystery was not so mysterious to me, an adult, but to a middle schooler it would probably be more suspenseful. The story incorporated math in a natural way that was not BAM! MATH! such as using logic puzzles and cryptography. This is firmly a middle grade level book and there are some puns and references that older readers might find silly and eye-rolly. There's also a secondary mystery tacked on the end about an art forger that seems unnecessary and out of the blue, but the the main mystery is well plotted and the resolution is good. I would recommend this to 5-7 graders.
Esther is on her way to art camp when she and her stepdad get lost in a rainstorm and wind up at Camp Archimedes, a math camp, instead. Esther can't wait to get away from these math nerds and back to art camp but finds herself drawn into a mystery that may even include murder! Who's the murderer? Will she find out what happened to fellow camper Angeline?
This was a cute story. The mystery was not so mysterious to me, an adult, but to a middle schooler it would probably be more suspenseful. The story incorporated math in a natural way that was not BAM! MATH! such as using logic puzzles and cryptography. This is firmly a middle grade level book and there are some puns and references that older readers might find silly and eye-rolly. There's also a secondary mystery tacked on the end about an art forger that seems unnecessary and out of the blue, but the the main mystery is well plotted and the resolution is good. I would recommend this to 5-7 graders.
September 10, 2019
This was a super fun summer camp mystery for math lovers! Esther is beyond excited to have been accepted to the ultra-selective art camp, Camp Vermeer. Unfortunately, due to a torrential summer thunderstorm and a wrong turn in the mountains, she and her stepfather end up on the wrong mountain, at the wrong camp. Esther is horrified at the thought of spending time at the math camp, but the weather keeps her stuck there. As the days progress, her artistic outlook gives her a different way of solving some of the complex math problems. She soon discovers that an old ghost story may have connections to current disappearances and begins to assemble clues. Can she figure out who is behind the clues and the kidnapping before it is too late? Recommended for grades 4 & up.
August 27, 2023
I loved the idea of this but was a little underwhelmed. I thought this book would be crammed full of math puzzles and unfortunately it was not. It seemed odd to me that the two big puzzles weren’t solved right away by the math campers (just a simple equation and a logic puzzle) when they were supposedly math genius types. But the biggest thing that bothered me was that Esther constantly referred to the other children at the camp as “math nerds.� Sure, it makes sense initially, she has preconceived notions, etc., but she never once let up on this term. I would assume that the book would be intended to appeal to math and puzzle fans, but then to use a critical term to label them, using this term many many times in the book?—I just don’t understand that.
November 30, 2019
Esther is excited to go to an art camp, but her stepdad takes her to the wrong location. Esther ends up at a math camp and due to the weather cannot leave. She uses her artistic way of thinking to solve a near-impossible word problem and starts making friends with the other campers. She starts finding mysterious clues about mythical creatures. Both her cabin-mate and stepdad disappear. Will she be able to solve the mystery and find them? Fans of the Mysterious Benedict Society and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library may be drawn to this title, but could be disappointed that there are not more puzzles to solve within the book.
December 25, 2019
A good story incorporating a couple of different types of puzzles. It is a bit of a mystery what is actually going on. Is there a killer on the loose? Is it much ado about nothing? Or something in between? I'm not going to spoil anything here, but I will say that I found the conclusion satisfying.
I did have some trouble picturing the surroundings sometimes. And one time, events didn't seem to make any sense to me. A person is (apparently) with some other people. These other people holler at another person, who starts running away from them. The first person then jumps into the path of the person running! Spatially, I just can't get that scene to work in my mind.
I did have some trouble picturing the surroundings sometimes. And one time, events didn't seem to make any sense to me. A person is (apparently) with some other people. These other people holler at another person, who starts running away from them. The first person then jumps into the path of the person running! Spatially, I just can't get that scene to work in my mind.
March 25, 2019
[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
A fun puzzle story! Esther solves the first one with logic and a lucky guess. The second is a substitution cipher which is solved off page by other characters. The final puzzle is a logic puzzle, but Esther doesn't recognize that or know how to approach it until one of the other kids shows her. Readers should be able to try to work through all three on their own if they choose to. No huge surprises here, but it's a fun story. I think kids will love this one!
A fun puzzle story! Esther solves the first one with logic and a lucky guess. The second is a substitution cipher which is solved off page by other characters. The final puzzle is a logic puzzle, but Esther doesn't recognize that or know how to approach it until one of the other kids shows her. Readers should be able to try to work through all three on their own if they choose to. No huge surprises here, but it's a fun story. I think kids will love this one!
April 4, 2019
Esther and her stepdad are driving up a treacherous mountain road so that she can go to art camp. They end up off the road and walking to the camp. But the camp they end up at isn't an art camp; it's a math camp. Some of the kids are okay with them being there but one girl is really upset. Because of the storms, Esther is stuck. She doesn't want to make the best of the situation but she sort of has to.
This book started off really well but went downhill after the first 1/3. The puzzles were interesting but the story was overwrought and didn't flow well.
This book started off really well but went downhill after the first 1/3. The puzzles were interesting but the story was overwrought and didn't flow well.
April 19, 2019
Esther is going to art camp, where she is going to paint, draw, and sculpt. And then on the way, while they are driving in a storm, her stepdad shuttles her up the WRONG MOUNTAIN. So she has to stay for a week (or two) at a math camp. While she's there, she solves the problem that hardly anyone has ever solved. Actually, she solves it within a day. And now she's pretty much the most popular person at camp. Archimedes, archenemies, and friends- these are the things Esther is going to have to deal with when she begins to find cryptic messages that hint at her (early) death.
February 13, 2025
For reasons that are never clearly explained, when Esther and her stepdad, Toby, take a wrong turn during a storm end up at Camp Archimedes instead of Camp Vermeer, they decide to stay. Esther, an aspiring artist, finds herself at a summer camp for math enthusiasts instead of the summer camp for aspiring artists she was registered for originally. If you can accept that premise, and the idea that Toby would leave Esther there, then this is a fun little middle grade mystery full of puzzles to solve. Entertaining with just a bit of danger, middle grade sleuths will enjoy this book!
November 22, 2021
I really wanted to like this book--7th grade red-headed girl having a mystery math adventure in Utah--but the story just didn't work for me. The middle school students didn't sound like middle school students, the clues for the mystery were all over the place, the pop culture references won't last for more than 5 years, and the teenage math nerds knew things like calculus--but not logic puzzles and equations. This book was too of a stretch for me, but my 7th grade daughter enjoyed it.
Read
August 2, 2019LSJ recommends this for grades 4-6.
When twelve-year-old painter Esther gets stuck at math camp rather than art camp, she is determined to prove herself but someone leaves cryptic messages intended to drive her away.
When twelve-year-old painter Esther gets stuck at math camp rather than art camp, she is determined to prove herself but someone leaves cryptic messages intended to drive her away.
Read
February 10, 2021Enjoyable story of a girl who's heading for art camp and ends up at a math camp. While there she discovers clues to solve a mystery. The interaction between her and the other campers and camp staff are realistic and fun.
June 27, 2024
This was fun and would engage kids who particularly like math and logic puzzles. I'm not sure if it was just me reading it and being distracted but when I finished it felt like there were some things that happened to further the plot but which were never clearly explained.
April 4, 2019
They say you should write the book that only you can write, and if that's true, then this is more my book than any of the others. Hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it!
April 9, 2019
A fun mystery with mind-bending puzzles. Recommended for summer reading--I would've loved this as a kid.
Want to read
March 12, 2020Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
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