The Nina, the Pinta, and the Vanishing Treasure

Alec Flint #1

by Jill Santopolo, Nathan Hale (Illustrator)

Join Alec Flint for his first case as he becomes the most undercover detective in Laurel Hollows in this repackaged paperback edition with brand new interior art! Alec Flint is practicing to be a super sleuth. He's even got a pair of super sleuth pants with lots of pockets to hide his detective tools, and a sidekick, Gina, who's a little bit bossy, but a really great detective and friend. When his dad, a local police officer, tells Alec the Christopher Columbus exhibit has gone missing from the town museum, Alec is on the case!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, School

183 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Jill Santopolo is the author of the The Light We Lost, the Alec Flint Mysteries, the Sparkle Spa series, and the Follow Your Heart books. She holds a BA in English Literature from Columbia University, an MFA in Writing for Children from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and a certificate in Intellectual Property Law from NYU. Jill is also the Editorial Director of Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group. When she’s not writing or editing, Jill is a thesis advisor at The New School in their MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults and is on the faculty of the Columbia Publishing Course. Jill has traveled all over the U.S.—and to Canada and Europe—to speak about writing and storytelling. She lives in New York City.

Twitter: @jillsantopolo
Instagram: jillsantopolo
Facebook: /jillsantopoloauthor

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alec Flint is a 4th grade super-sleuth. When the Christoper Columbus exhibit is stolen from the local museum, Alec's Dad, a police detective is called in to investigate. Alec, picking up on several clues, decides it is a great mystery to test his skills! At school, impressed by a fellow classmate, Gina, an expert at math who can also write in a supersecret code - he decides to partner up to solve his mystery. Gina, not only teaches him the nifty code but proves incredibly useful to his investigation. More than that - it turns out that Gina has a mystery of her own to solve - the Art teacher's gone missing too!

A fun kid's mystery read with excellent attention to detail and good behavior modeling. Alec tells a lie and feels "mushy" inside and owns up to it! They also have very good behavior in the library, not running, putting things away correctly and even exhibit good information literacy skills when selecting their research material!!! Not overly sophisticated, so while you are learning some good stuff, you are still having loads of fun! Lots of great fun facts about Christopher Columbus are also included!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alec Flint knows what he wants to be when he grows up - a super-sleuth! Right now though, he's just a fourth-grade super-sleuth in training. Luckily he's found the perfect partner in Gina Rossi, a new girl who already knows a secret code. Even better they've already found two mysteries - the missing Columbus museum display and the missing art teacher. Could these two mysteries even be connected?

This is a strong opening to a new mystery series which will be great for readers who have finished the A to Z mysteries and are ready for the next step. The Nina, the Pinta, and the Vanishing Treasure has all the necessary clues and logic built organically into the plot - just like the Encylcopedia Brown mysteries, readers will be able to work out the solution to the mystery themselves. Black and white illustrations by C. B. Canga, both full-page and spot, are scattered throughout the book and bring the characters to life. Translations of the coded sections are provided at the end of the book as well as a historical note on Christopher Columbus.

[Charlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alec Flint visits the Christopher Columbus exhibit at the museum with his father, Officer Flint. When all the artifacts from the exhibit disappear overnight, Officer Flint is assigned to investigate. Alec conducts his own investigation, inviting classmate Gina Rossi to work with him. Gina has her own agenda: Ms. Blume, the art teacher, seems to be missing and Gina wants to find her. The two young sleuths complement one another, enabling them to solve both mysteries.

The only distractions in this book are the illustrations. The children pictured appear older than the fourth graders in the book, have severe expressions, and seem stiff. The cover illustration, however, is more welcoming and engaging.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book - around 4th grade level, which is the same grade the main character Alec Flint is in. The book has actual facts about Christopher Columbus rather than the stuff I learned about as a child - plus Alec doesn't even like Columbus because of the whole issue of Native American treatment. But that point nor Columbus is over emphasized - mainly it is a mystery for a young reader. Alec also learns a secret code which was kind of cool!

[Judi Paradis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good mystery about kids who join forces to find a missing Christopher Columbus exhibit apparently stolen from a local history museum. Alec, the son of a local police detective, and his bossy friend Gina are great kid sleuths. There are plenty of clues sprinkled through the texts and just enough suspects with plausible motives to keep everyone guessing. First book in a series that promises to please kids who love mysteries.

[Kristie Wallace]

First in a series! Alec Flint dreams of being a super sleuth. After all, his dad is a police officer. What better way to practice his sleuthing skills than when the entire Christopher Columbus exhibit has been stolen and there aren't many clues. Alec and Gina partner together to solve this mystery that seems to have the grown ups stumped. If you enjoy this story, try Ransom Note Blues - the second book in the series.

[Luanne Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this Alex Flint mystery book and want to read another one. Its 4.8 reading level makes it a good read for my second,third, and fourth graders. It includes nonfiction information as super sleuth Alex and his partner, Gina, help Alec's dad, Officer Flynt, in solving the mystery of the missing Columbus artifacts.

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery around the disappearance of a valuable Christopher Columbus exhibition which two friends try to solve. Young readers will especially be intrigued by the secret code Alec and Gina use, and the reader is invited to decipher as well. I appreciated the author's note and references in the text which make the reader aware of the controversy surrounding the famous explorer.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who says a fourth-grader can't find Christopher Columbus's stolen treasure? Alec Flint, Super Sleuth saves the day with a little help from his friends (the likely and the unlikely). Grades 2-5, I would say, will love this accessible and lively mystery.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book in the vein of Chet Gecko but I liked it better than those. The kids are in 4th grade so it would be good for that age group. What I didn't like though was how the kids snooped through other peoples stuff and took some things as evidence. Not a great example.

[Alexis Munk · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a good mystery book for older elementary schoolers. I did not much care for this book but the students I work with loved it. They couldn't wait to find out who stole the Christopher Columbus exhibit.

[Amy Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery was okay, not very probable, but I liked the main character and think 3rd/4th graders will like it.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent little mystery in what appears to be a developing series. A step up from transitional readers and series books like Magic Tree House in terms of length, vocab, etc.

[Drew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Baaaad.

[Kim Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fourth-grader proclaimed that this is the best book she's ever read; and insisted that I say so here!

[meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great series, with a super likable protagonist, for third-grade graduates of cam jansen and a-z mysteries looking for something a bit more challenging.

[Ellen Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new series. Target audience ~ grades 3 to 4? I appreciate the message regarding the importance of 'fact checking' and careful research- but the writing itself feels formulaic.

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay book. I'd probably enjoy it better if I was nine. The story is fun, but if you are over nine, you'll figure out the entire book after the first ten pages.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Encyclopedia Brown revisited. Easier to read but more up to date. Will find an audience with those good illustrations.

[J New · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted to love it but kind of tedious start to this mystery series... liked puzzles but coded messages got old fast...

[Jenn H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to my sons. They loved it! It was a great mystery for kids.

[Andrew P · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

[Hillvan]

740L

[Kellie Araki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to have Bill finish with Jessie.

[Natalia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay story for an elementary school kids interested in mysteries and private detectives.

[Sue Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story
love the mystery
great characters too

[Katia chernayvskay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't lie big trouble