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Ecological Mysteries #4
The Case of the Missing Cutthroats: An Ecological Mystery
After catching a cutthroat trout in the Snake River, Spinner Shafter must determine where the endangered fish came from and how it survived
145 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Jean Craighead George
201 books1,586 followersJean Craighead George wrote over eighty popular books for young adults, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves and the Newbery Honor book My Side of the Mountain. Most of her books deal with topics related to the environment and the natural world. While she mostly wrote children's fiction, she also wrote at least two guides to cooking with wild foods, and an autobiography, Journey Inward.
The mother of three children, (Twig C. George, Craig, and T. Luke George) Jean George was a grandmother who joyfully read to her grandchildren since the time they were born. Over the years Jean George kept one hundred and seventy-three pets, not including dogs and cats, in her home in Chappaqua, New York. "Most of these wild animals depart in autumn when the sun changes their behaviour and they feel the urge to migrate or go off alone. While they are with us, however, they become characters in my books, articles, and stories."
The mother of three children, (Twig C. George, Craig, and T. Luke George) Jean George was a grandmother who joyfully read to her grandchildren since the time they were born. Over the years Jean George kept one hundred and seventy-three pets, not including dogs and cats, in her home in Chappaqua, New York. "Most of these wild animals depart in autumn when the sun changes their behaviour and they feel the urge to migrate or go off alone. While they are with us, however, they become characters in my books, articles, and stories."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 25, 2017
great read for a middle school-er, I enjoyed it too
August 27, 2016
Spinner Shafter hates fishing. In fact, the only reason why she’s fishing is to make her dad happy. That is, until she catches the largest cutthroat her family has ever seen. Even more important, the cutthroats are disappearing from the river. The fact that she caught one is rare. After catching the fish, Spinner and her cousin Alligator decide to investigate where all the cutthroats have gone. They venture into the wilderness with enough food and scientific gear to find the clues and solve the case. As they work, they are confronted by territorial fishermen, angry bears, harsh storms, and even broken limbs. Will Spinner and Alligator survive long enough to solve the case? Venture into the wilderness to find out!
I read this book for a series of mystery book talks I was giving for student teaching. This was the most requested and popular out of all of them! It even beat Nancy Drew, The 39 Clues, and Sammey Keyes. The mystery itself is different from your average mystery, which makes it new and interesting. The only flaw I found was that there wasn’t appropriate developments between plot points. Sometimes I would reach a scene and wonder how I got there. Overall though, the story was unique and worth reading. I would recommend it to any fourth, fifth, or sixth grade student who enjoys the outdoors, mysteries, and fishing.
I read this book for a series of mystery book talks I was giving for student teaching. This was the most requested and popular out of all of them! It even beat Nancy Drew, The 39 Clues, and Sammey Keyes. The mystery itself is different from your average mystery, which makes it new and interesting. The only flaw I found was that there wasn’t appropriate developments between plot points. Sometimes I would reach a scene and wonder how I got there. Overall though, the story was unique and worth reading. I would recommend it to any fourth, fifth, or sixth grade student who enjoys the outdoors, mysteries, and fishing.
February 28, 2011
This book has a little something for everyone: a ballet twirling city girl, a fly fishing rugged country boy, and a mystery! The characters draw you in to this mystery that has an environmental message hidden within.
This is a good book for students to make predictions and look at cause and effect. I would use this book along-side a unit on the environment.
With a class you would do a character study on Spinner and see how she changes through the course of the book.
This is a good book for students to make predictions and look at cause and effect. I would use this book along-side a unit on the environment.
With a class you would do a character study on Spinner and see how she changes through the course of the book.
September 11, 2008
Whenever I read a book by this author I always feel as if I've learned something. Being cooped up inside all the time as a child, I yearned to read all her books as a way to live vicariously outside.
October 27, 2011
This book was fun and a great book for anyone who likes science. This book
had a lot of details and it keeps you waiting for more. Every time you stop the book your
wondering what's going to happen. The ending was a little rough I was hoping for a more exciting ending.
had a lot of details and it keeps you waiting for more. Every time you stop the book your
wondering what's going to happen. The ending was a little rough I was hoping for a more exciting ending.
October 3, 2008
this book is more than just a fishing book it is a mystery.
read it
read it
August 23, 2011
Another great eco-mystery, this time with adventure and survival in the wilderness.
September 2, 2011
I liked the ending of this book but not the begining
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews