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Slate Stephens Mysteries #2
Hangman's Gold
After recovering the governor of Montana�s famous dog, Cat, in The Governor�s Dog is Missing , twelve-year-old sleuths Slate Stephens and Daphne McSweeney head to the infamous Montana ghost town of Bannack. While their geologist dads prospect for a large gold mining company, Slate and Daphne encounter a pair of perplexing puzzles. Under an old classroom desk in Montana�s first schoolhouse, the young detectives discover clues pointing to missing gold treasure amassed by Montana�s vigilantes 150 years earlier. At the same time, a thief has absconded with two priceless Charles Russell paintings on loan to the university art museum in nearby Dillon. In Hangman�s Gold , the second Slate Stephens mystery, clues and curiosity lead our two heroes to begin solving both mysteries�and dig up more dirt than they can handle.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published November 28, 2011
About the author
Sneed B. Collard III
93 books38 followersSneed B. Collard III (see also "Sneed B. Collard") is a biologist, world traveler, speaker, and author of almost one hundred books for young people, including the 2024 Orbis Pictus Award winner, Border Crossings (Charlesbridge Publishing). His other recent science titles include Fire Birds; Hopping Ahead of Climate Change; Little Killers; Waiting for a Warbler; Beaver & Otter Get Along . . . Sort of; and the upcoming picture book, Like No Other. Collard holds science degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and U.C. Santa Barbara. He lives in Montana.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 17, 2014
Book two of the Slate Stephens Mysteries has nice pacing with the plot being a bit more complex than book one, but I can't help feel that the series misses the majority of its target audience. The book is written for grade 4 or middle grade, but the boyfriend, girlfriend subplot is for older readers. If the plot focused on common conventions like friendship and dropped the boy, girl interest I wouldn't have a problem with it. Developmentally, most 4th graders are not thinking of the opposite sex in this way. As is, I think this book will appeal to readers that are not quite at grade level or still working toward fluency in middle school.
Seventh grade Slate and Daphne are helping their geologist dads prospect for a gold mining company in the ghost town of Bannack, Montana. When two priceless artworks are stolen from the museum in the nearby town of Bannack, the sleuths begin to investigate. Their explorations lead them into the Bannack schoolhouse where they discover a clue to a treasure hunt for rumored lost gold a group of vigilantes stole from unsuspecting victims during the 1800s.
Slate's voice develops more in this book and I like his emerging humor. He jokes and has a gentleness that comes through as he interacts with his funny three-year-old sister that gives his character more depth. She annoys him at times which makes his feelings authentic for siblings, but their age difference is about 9 years so he is going to treat her with more maturity than siblings closer in age. In the first book Slate is a klutz, but here he is growing up and echoes his father's sense of fun. This comes out best with the walkie-talkie scenes where he is witty and playful with adults, his sister, and Daphne. He and Daphne are dating and he contemplates throughout the story how he is going to kiss her.
The author has nice pacing and I found the geology fascinating which is amazing considering I dropped out of geology class because I thought it was so boring in college. I can't think of any other kid books that cover geology in fiction. Readers will like the ghost town and treasure hunt. This plot is full of facts about the vigilantes, art, mining, and ghost towns. The author's strengths are weaving interesting facts into a fast-paced plot. The part where Slate and Daphne are threatened is appropriate for younger readers. The author uses humor to downplay the danger and the villains are bumbling fools. It will be nice having conversations with students about the book. I'll be curious their reactions to the romantic subplot. I thought the protagonists age and romance was at odds with the rest of the story; however, students can react quite differently than me. They might not think anything of it.
The treasure hunt resolution is a bit of a letdown, but the clues were interesting to follow. Again, the plot is straightforward and the start is a good hook. Collard seems to have a blast recreating the vigilantes in Slate's dream and a seed for another story is masked in that dream. Perhaps the author will take a hike down the historical fiction genre lane, creating a book ripe with the hanging of Plummer and drowning of Dorothy. Or maybe a budding writer out there can pursue it. There are not many Wild West books and with only a handful of recommendations like Caroline Lawrence, Amy Timberlake, and Gary Paulsen, I would love to see more. A fun mystery.
Seventh grade Slate and Daphne are helping their geologist dads prospect for a gold mining company in the ghost town of Bannack, Montana. When two priceless artworks are stolen from the museum in the nearby town of Bannack, the sleuths begin to investigate. Their explorations lead them into the Bannack schoolhouse where they discover a clue to a treasure hunt for rumored lost gold a group of vigilantes stole from unsuspecting victims during the 1800s.
Slate's voice develops more in this book and I like his emerging humor. He jokes and has a gentleness that comes through as he interacts with his funny three-year-old sister that gives his character more depth. She annoys him at times which makes his feelings authentic for siblings, but their age difference is about 9 years so he is going to treat her with more maturity than siblings closer in age. In the first book Slate is a klutz, but here he is growing up and echoes his father's sense of fun. This comes out best with the walkie-talkie scenes where he is witty and playful with adults, his sister, and Daphne. He and Daphne are dating and he contemplates throughout the story how he is going to kiss her.
The author has nice pacing and I found the geology fascinating which is amazing considering I dropped out of geology class because I thought it was so boring in college. I can't think of any other kid books that cover geology in fiction. Readers will like the ghost town and treasure hunt. This plot is full of facts about the vigilantes, art, mining, and ghost towns. The author's strengths are weaving interesting facts into a fast-paced plot. The part where Slate and Daphne are threatened is appropriate for younger readers. The author uses humor to downplay the danger and the villains are bumbling fools. It will be nice having conversations with students about the book. I'll be curious their reactions to the romantic subplot. I thought the protagonists age and romance was at odds with the rest of the story; however, students can react quite differently than me. They might not think anything of it.
The treasure hunt resolution is a bit of a letdown, but the clues were interesting to follow. Again, the plot is straightforward and the start is a good hook. Collard seems to have a blast recreating the vigilantes in Slate's dream and a seed for another story is masked in that dream. Perhaps the author will take a hike down the historical fiction genre lane, creating a book ripe with the hanging of Plummer and drowning of Dorothy. Or maybe a budding writer out there can pursue it. There are not many Wild West books and with only a handful of recommendations like Caroline Lawrence, Amy Timberlake, and Gary Paulsen, I would love to see more. A fun mystery.
November 14, 2014
While out on a geological assignment with their fathers, Slate and Daphne explore the Wild West ghost town of Bannack, Montana. During their exploration, the two friends find a list of riddles leading to an unclaimed vigilantes’ treasure. As they figure out the riddles, a second mystery diverts them. In a nearby town, several priceless paintings have been stolen and the clues are leading back to Bannack. Slate and Daphne work together to find the missing paintings, but they are kidnapped by the art thief and his boss.
The second book in the Slate Stephens mysteries does not disappoint. Hangman’s Gold flawlessly transitions from the first book to showcase how finding the governor’s dog has affected the lives of Slate, Daphne, and their families. Like the first book, Collard creates an engrossing story that weaves together historical facts, geological know-how, preteen wit, and budding romance into a colorful whodunit. Again, Collard sets the stage in Montana, this time using the real ghost town of Bannack and its history as the heart of the story. A fun read, and an enjoyable read-aloud, for boys and girls, ages 10 and up. Collard plans to continue writing more Slate Stephens mysteries in the near future.
(Found on Children's Compass Chronicle: http://childrenscompasschronicle.blog...)
The second book in the Slate Stephens mysteries does not disappoint. Hangman’s Gold flawlessly transitions from the first book to showcase how finding the governor’s dog has affected the lives of Slate, Daphne, and their families. Like the first book, Collard creates an engrossing story that weaves together historical facts, geological know-how, preteen wit, and budding romance into a colorful whodunit. Again, Collard sets the stage in Montana, this time using the real ghost town of Bannack and its history as the heart of the story. A fun read, and an enjoyable read-aloud, for boys and girls, ages 10 and up. Collard plans to continue writing more Slate Stephens mysteries in the near future.
(Found on Children's Compass Chronicle: http://childrenscompasschronicle.blog...)
June 11, 2012
Someone has stolen paintings from the museum. Two are priceless Chareles Russell paintings. Slate found an old crumbled piece of paper. A riddle leading to treasure. Can Slate and Daphne find the treasure and catch the thief?
Reasons why I like this book-
Reason 1- It is western.
Reason 2- Learned a bit about gold.
Reason 3- I couldn't stop reading.
Reasons why I like this book-
Reason 1- It is western.
Reason 2- Learned a bit about gold.
Reason 3- I couldn't stop reading.
April 23, 2012
western
August 7, 2012
check out my review at www.bookwisdombydiane.blogspot.com
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews