Saturday, March 14, 2026

Book Review Jennifer Chambliss Bertman: Book Scavengers: The Unbreakable Code

Illustrated by Sarah Watts

 

Book Scavenger: The Unbreakable Code, a New York Times best seller by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman nods to Mark Twain while he lived in San Francisco. The second book in the Book Scavenger series, Ms. Bertman’s mystery includes ciphers, games, rivalry and arson. Illustrations by Sarah Watts complement the novel which was published in 2017 by Henry Holt and Company; today’s middle grade students would have been newborns and toddlers at the time and this page turning novel will be new to them. Twelve year olds, Emily and James, eat delicious food, attend junior high and solve puzzles, unaware that an arsonist is dangerously close.

Ms. Bertman vividly describes main and secondary characters as well as the city of San Francisco. Humor delightfully breaks the tension.

Interview – An extensive interview with the author is included in the back matter of the book.

Source: Purchased. Will be reread and then given as a present. At 384 pages long including an author’s note with historical explanations and the aforementioned interview, Book Scavenger is recommended for nine years and older.

 

Links:

Visit Greg Pattridge host of: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Previous interview with Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Visit author: Jennifer Chambliss Bertman 

Visit illustrator here:  Sarah Watts 

Visit book designer: April Ward  

Learn more about: Transamerica Redwood Park and here.

Learn more about Mark Twain: San Francisco Digital Archive  

Visit your local book store: Boulder Bookstore 

 


 

 

 

 

14 comments:

  1. I don't remember hearing about this book when it was released, but it sounds like an interesting series. Happy MMGM!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy MMGM. I enjoyed the second book as much as the first in Book Scavenger series. Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  2. I like the first Book Scavengers so I might give this one a try. The page count though might scare away a few young readers. Have a Happy MMGM!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy MMGM. It is a fun book and thank you for MMGM.

      Delete
  3. This series is a new one on me. I might want to take a look.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy MMGM. Thanks for visiting. The series may be available in your public library.

      Delete
  4. So glad to see this featured--it's a personal favorite of mine!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have never heard of this series, but it sounds like something I'd like. I'll look for it. Thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy MMGM, Rosi. Thanks for visiting. Book Scavengers is fun.

      Delete
  6. Yeah, I so enjoyed The Book Scavenger series. Happy MMGM

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've heard of this series, but hadn't read it. Reading your description of this one, I think it would be a great fit for my youngest daughter. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

Popular Posts