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Vanishing Acts
by
Phillip Margolin (Goodreads Author),
Ami Margolin Rome
From tracking down her best friend, who's nowhere to be found, to secretly helping her attorney father solve a missing-person case, Madison Kincaid is a busy seventh-grade sleuth. Teaming up with new classmate Jake, she hits the sidewalks of Portland, Oregon, determined to find out what's behind two mysterious vanishing acts.
In his first book for young readers, New York Ti...more
In his first book for young readers, New York Ti...more
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published
October 11th 2011
by HarperCollins
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Vanishing Acts by Phillip Margolin stars a spunky, likable girl named, Madison Kincaid. She is a twelve year-old, tall, athletic soccer player who has always been the star on her soccer team at Lewis and Clark Elementary School. She also has a best friend named Ann Beck, who plays on the soccer team with Madison. Ann has a unique way of making Madison feel comfortable in any situation. Madison also spends a lot of time at her dad’s office. He is a busy defense attorney named, Hamilton Kincaid.
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A thinking kid's book. Madison has been raised in her dad's law office since her mom died when she was very young and she has been taught to think her way through problems and to understand the motives of whomever she's having trouble with. When school starts in the fall, she has at least 3 problems facing her.
Her best friend Ann seems to have disappeared after a summer trip to Europe with her father. Ann doesn't appear to be home; she doesn't answer phones, Facebook messages, or e-mail; and she...more
Her best friend Ann seems to have disappeared after a summer trip to Europe with her father. Ann doesn't appear to be home; she doesn't answer phones, Facebook messages, or e-mail; and she...more
Madison Kincaid's father is a defense attorney who tries a lot of murder cases, and Madison has always tagged along to his office, since her mother died when she was young. Her biggest love, however, is soccer, and she hopes to make the team in junior high, which is starting soon. Unfortunately, her best friend, Ann, doesn't show up for tryouts or for school, and Madison starts to worry that something has happened to her, especially when her father gets a case defending Mr. Shelby, who is accuse...more
I love reading middle grade books. They’re so cute and quick and easy to read so when I got the chance to review this book, I took it! It’s a mystery book too and that made it all the better!
Though this book was rather short (only 169 pages) I had a great time reading about the adventures of Maddie Kincaid! She’s going to begin seventh grade, she’s trying not to get on the bad side of the best soccer player on her team, her best friend is missing, AND she’s going to help her attorney dad solve...more
Though this book was rather short (only 169 pages) I had a great time reading about the adventures of Maddie Kincaid! She’s going to begin seventh grade, she’s trying not to get on the bad side of the best soccer player on her team, her best friend is missing, AND she’s going to help her attorney dad solve...more
I'm so very torn about this book. I wear two hats when I read...I'm either reading just for myself, or I'm reading for the elementary school I work at as well. Being the librarian, I want to see what I'm putting into the collection. I have had very good luck reading the kids books that adult authors put out (Grisham, Patterson, Coben) so my hopes were high. And to have this book set in Portland made me that much more interested in reading it. I love the main character, Madison Kincaid. She is be...more
Sorry that this took so long...but I am trying to catch up on my books and reviews. So..here it goes.
I actually intended to give this book to my 11 year old son, but ended up reading it myself (I still have books from my childhood I re-read often).
Even though the story of Madison is directed to younger readers, I found myself enjoying this book quiet well.
Madison is starting 7th grade and loves being doing detective work and be a future lawyer like her Dad. Struggling with the mean girls at the...more
I actually intended to give this book to my 11 year old son, but ended up reading it myself (I still have books from my childhood I re-read often).
Even though the story of Madison is directed to younger readers, I found myself enjoying this book quiet well.
Madison is starting 7th grade and loves being doing detective work and be a future lawyer like her Dad. Struggling with the mean girls at the...more
This is the first book, and apparently the only one, written by mystery writer Philip Margolin and his daughter Ami Margolin Rome. It's also his first (and only?) one written for children. I liked it a lot. It contains two mysteries. The solution to one of them could have been stronger but hey, this is a book for younger kids. I do love the uncredited artwork on the dust jacket.
7th grader Madison Kincaid, who wants to follow in her defense attorney father's footsteps, is faced with two mysteries...more
7th grader Madison Kincaid, who wants to follow in her defense attorney father's footsteps, is faced with two mysteries...more
May 21, 2012
E.k. Mac
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
All mystery lovers
Recommended to E.k. by:
OWL magazine
Shelves:
birthday-x-mas-list
OWL magazine for kids gave me the recommendation for the book Vanishing Acts, and I am so glad I chose it. When the book came in at my local library, I immediately grabbed it and plopped myself down in a chair. The book was, yes, short, yet I loved it so much. The characters are so well developed and definitely grab the readers' attention at the first sentence. Young Madison Kincaid is a star soccer player, can't wait for seventh grade, and loves mysteries. When two interesting, mind toggling my...more
Madison Kincaid lives with her father, a well-known defense attorney. He often receives calls in the middle of the night and his latest case is the disappearance of Madison’s second grade teacher, Mrs. Shelby. Madison believes she can help her father solve this case.
But her first day at school provides a second mystery. Madison’s best friend, Ann, hasn’t answered any of her phone calls and she doesn’t appear at school. When Ann misses the most important event for both girls, soccer tryouts, Mad...more
But her first day at school provides a second mystery. Madison’s best friend, Ann, hasn’t answered any of her phone calls and she doesn’t appear at school. When Ann misses the most important event for both girls, soccer tryouts, Mad...more
ATOS Book Level: 5.2
Interest Level: Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
AR Points: 5.0
Word Count: 32605
A fun new middle school mystery series staring Madison Kincaid. Madison is being raised by a single father, who is a lawyer, so she's spent countless hours at his law firm. In this story there are two mystery's that Madison is working on. Her best friend Ann went to Europe for the summer and hasn't been heard of since, she's even missed tryouts for their new Middle School team. The second mystery has to do w...more
Interest Level: Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
AR Points: 5.0
Word Count: 32605
A fun new middle school mystery series staring Madison Kincaid. Madison is being raised by a single father, who is a lawyer, so she's spent countless hours at his law firm. In this story there are two mystery's that Madison is working on. Her best friend Ann went to Europe for the summer and hasn't been heard of since, she's even missed tryouts for their new Middle School team. The second mystery has to do w...more
Budding criminal investigator Madison Kincaid starts 7th grade with two mysteries on her plate: her best friend is missing, and so is her 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Shelby, whose husband has been arrested for murder. Madison befriends cute but bland Jake, who willingly goes along with Madison as she resolves to figure out what's going on. The book starts out promisingly, but the "mysteries" are ultimately kind of lame and readers may be disappointed. The writing is extremely clunky and pedestrian, s...more
Booktalk:
Madison Kincaid wants to be a super-detective lawyer when she grows up. Her dad is a criminal defense attorney so when he gets a case involving her missing, possibly murdered 2nd grade teacher, she thinks this is the perfect opportunity to put her skills to the test. Not only does she have this mystery to solve, but her best friend never showed up on the first day of school and is not answering any phone calls, emails, or texts. Madison has two mysteries to figure out--will she find the...more
Madison Kincaid wants to be a super-detective lawyer when she grows up. Her dad is a criminal defense attorney so when he gets a case involving her missing, possibly murdered 2nd grade teacher, she thinks this is the perfect opportunity to put her skills to the test. Not only does she have this mystery to solve, but her best friend never showed up on the first day of school and is not answering any phone calls, emails, or texts. Madison has two mysteries to figure out--will she find the...more
“[Vanishing Acts] pulls a few Nancy Drew parallels into a wholly contemporary story. Like titian-haired Nancy, 12-year-old Madison Kincaid lost her mother in early childhood and lives with her well-known, highly successful attorney dad. And, like Nancy, Madison is a well-rounded high-achiever...The authors work in realistic emotional tensions as they thread their way through the two central plot strands....A budding romance and vivid court scenes give readers more reasons to hope for future inst...more
Jan 11, 2012
Moni Smith
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
5th - 7th graders
Shelves:
2012,
juvenile-fiction
Vanishing Acts is the first novel in the new Madison Kincaid series. It takes place in Portland, which is fun for me since I live in the area.
Madison Kincaid is a budding detective and future lawyer. She is the daughter of an attorney who is working on a case involving the possible murder of her 2nd grade teacher. Madison is intrigued and wants to help her dad solve the case. At the same time, her best friend is missing and she feels compelled to find her. All of this during her first few weeks...more
Madison Kincaid is a budding detective and future lawyer. She is the daughter of an attorney who is working on a case involving the possible murder of her 2nd grade teacher. Madison is intrigued and wants to help her dad solve the case. At the same time, her best friend is missing and she feels compelled to find her. All of this during her first few weeks...more
As Madison Kincaid starts 7th grade, her best friend is nowhere to be found and her father, a busy attorney is working on a murder case that is missing the body. Madison struggles with mean girls on the soccer team, while missing her best friend, and makes a new friend who is a boy! Together they investigate the mysteries of her missing friend and the murder case that her father is working on. This is a fun children's mystery book recommended for ages 9-12 and I highly recommend it.
I got this bo...more
I got this bo...more
Move over Nancy Drew, there is a new sleuth in town. Madison lives in Portland Oregon with her lawyer father; she is determined to follow in his footsteps. As the first day of 7th grade arrives Madison is looking forward to being reunited with her friend Ann. Over the summer Ann traveled to Europe with her father so the two best friends have been out of touch for a while and will have a lot of catching up to do. Ann doesn’t show up at school, she misses the tryouts for the soccer team. She doesn...more
Madison is anxious to start middle school and face soccer team tryouts, but she knows with her best friend Ann at her side, they will both make the team and adjust to school with no problems. Things don't go quite as planned though when Ann doesn't show up, misses tryouts and Madison becomes involved in solving a murder mystery. She is determined to solve the mystery and prove to her father (a defense attorney) that she can handle investigations. (The murder case involves domestic anger issues.)
Margolin has created an easy-to-read story that is great for a middle school level reader. However, some of the topics are deep for a middle schooler — such as the discussion of murder and domestic abuse — so while some middle-school level books are appropriate for younger readers, I wouldn’t recommend this as one of them. That being said, “Vanishing Acts” is one that will let your imagination run wild with a satisfying ending.
This reminds me a bit of the series of books by John Grisham and his hero Theodore Boone. The daughter of a lawyer is entering middle school and missing her BFF who has mysteriously disappeared. Her love of soccer cements her friendship with a new guy in town and together they come up with a solution to solve 2 mysteries. If I could I would rate this 3.5 stars but rounded it to 4.
Five stars all the way if this book had been presented to me ten years ago. I loved that it's set in my home town of Portland, Or. The author does a fantastic job appealing to portlanders, accurately naming (and even being right-on with time it takes to get to and from) landmarks, neighborhoods and schools. The writing was good, easy to read, great for early YA readers. I would have eaten this up in 5th or 6th grade...awww who am I kidding? I downloaded it the day it was released on kindle and...more
I picked up this book because I am a big Phillip Margolin fan--I've read most of his stuff. I thought my 7th grader would like this and she did!! She recommended that I read it and I have to say it was a cute mystery. Very age appropriate for middle school. I know my daughter is hoping for more Madison Kincaid mysteries!!
Oct 10, 2011
Robin
marked it as to-read
Local authors and local setting. I like the idea of previewing stories that my grandkids might like when they get older. I've already purchased a copy of A Wrinkle in Time; though I'm holding on to it - I think Tyler is still a bit too young. Maybe next year when he's in 4th grade? Or 5th?
I thought the book was pretty bland. It's a mystery, but pretty weak. They threw in cuss word in a children's book, and I don't know why that was necessary. I read this with Taylor, but once we started reading I realized this book is more geared toward girls. Just okay.
I wanted to love it but...
I think I liked the characters but didnt love the story. I say I think because I'm just not sure what didnt work for me. Its a kid's book, not an YA book so I think maybe it was too young for me.
I think I liked the characters but didnt love the story. I say I think because I'm just not sure what didnt work for me. Its a kid's book, not an YA book so I think maybe it was too young for me.
Fun mystery for preteen girls. Excitement, friendships, and light romance. It is a "murder" mystery, but a light one, not creepy. Perfect for girls that might not be sure they like mysteries. A fun, quick read.
Almost a three for me but a little short of the mark. Cute characters but the vanishing act explanations were both a bit odd, in my opinion, and all of the plot lines were bit too wrapped up at the end for continued interest.
A very good debut mystery for children. Madison Kinkaid tries to find her missing best friend, who was supposed to be on the 7th-grade soccer team with her, but has not even shown up for school.
First book in what I think will be a new series. Good mystery for middle grade students. Characters would be easy for kids to connect with. At times the plot was a little too predictable.
Very enjoyable short mystery for kids. Madison Kincaid is a great character and am looking forward to many more of her adventures.
Mar 15, 2013
Sherry
marked it as to-read
Normally Phillip Margolin writes adult fiction. This is his foray into the kids world, and it looks promising.
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