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Missing on Superstition Mountain #2
Schatzsuche in der Geisterstadt
Even though Henry Barker and his two brothers learned firsthand that the urban legend about danger on nearby Superstition Mountain wasn't just a myth, this doesn't stop them from planning their return. Along with their friend Delilah, the Barker brothers soon find themselves entangled in more danger and mystery as they uncover a real treasure, but the discovery comes at a very big price—they barely survive an avalanche. The question remains—is someone after them, or is the mountain seeking revenge?Treasure on Superstition Mountain is the second book in Elise Broach's Superstition Mountain series.
331 pages, Hardcover
First published October 16, 2012
About the author
Elise Broach
34 books151 followersElise Broach is the New York Times bestselling author of children's books including Masterpiece, Shakespeare's Secret, Desert Crossing, Missing on Superstition Mountain (the first book in the Superstition Mountain Trilogy) as well as several picture books. Her books have been selected as ALA notable books, Junior Library Guild selections, a Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book, a New York Public Library Best Book for the Teenage, an IRA Teacher's Choice, an E.B. White Read Aloud Award, and nominated for an Edgar Award, among other distinctions. Ms. Broach holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in history from Yale University. She was born in Georgia and lives in the woods of rural Connecticut, walking distance from three farms, a library, a post office and two country stores.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/eliseb...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/eliseb...
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 20, 2017
The second book in the series featuring the Barker boys and their friend, Delilah, and, let's not forget, Josie the cat, was another enjoyable read. Like the first book, it is rich with the history and legends of the Superstition Mountain area. There is also enough adventure to keep it moving along nicely. Looking forward to finishing the final book in the trilogy.
Also, at least one of my objections to the first book was addressed better in this book. I was glad to see the kids constantly drinking to stay hydrated. So, will someone get spiked by a cactus in the next book? We'll see . . .
Also, at least one of my objections to the first book was addressed better in this book. I was glad to see the kids constantly drinking to stay hydrated. So, will someone get spiked by a cactus in the next book? We'll see . . .
August 18, 2019
My favorite part was when they managed to climb the mountain again, find the gold mine, and go back home safely afterwards without even getting caught doing what they weren't supposed to. My least favorite part was when the four of them kept getting cryptic messages having to do with the mountain and the gold mine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2020
Fantastic! I would have loved this series as a kid! I'm glad Delilah is more than just a bossy girl character too.
August 16, 2025
These books are GREAT fun!
July 21, 2026
Just finished reading book 2 of the trilogy with my kids (aged 6 and 8). Such a great story with just enough mystery to keep the kids glued to it and ask for one more chapter before bed.
December 19, 2016
In this second book in the Superstition Mountain trilogy, Henry, Jack, and Simon have all been grounded in the aftermath of their actions in the first book, Missing on Superstition Mountain, and their friend, Delilah, is still recovering from her broken leg. Even though they have already disappointed their parents once, the kids still want to venture back to the dangerous mountain for more answers, especially now that they think they might be able find a gold mine. When the boys’ parents leave town for a few days and ask young, clueless Aunt Kathy to come stay with them, they see their chance to go exploring without getting caught. Even Delilah, in her walking cast, refuses to be left behind. But will they be able to make it back up the mountain and down again in one piece? And what happens if they get caught - either by their parents, or by someone much more sinister?
Though I still don’t necessarily think this story needed to be told in three separate books, I really enjoy Elise Broach’s writing. While this is a definitely an adventure story, with elements of mystery, she also works in a lot of character development and interesting relationships between the characters. Delilah is not quite as well-rounded as the three brothers, but the conversations between Delilah and Henry and Delilah and Simon reveal quite a bit about the ways boys and girls relate to each other in the elementary school years. I also like the way each boy has his own different strengths and interests, each of which come into play as their second book of adventures unfolds.
This second story doesn’t answer many of the questions raised in the first book, but it does make the reader even more curious to find out how everything is going to turn out. I am especially drawn to the mysterious town librarian, who seems to be in cahoots with the sheriff, and who has the same name - and possibly even the same face - as a historical figure from the town who is long dead. This is not a series for readers who require instant gratification, but for those who don’t mind a slow-moving storyline where the height of excitement is kept waiting until almost the end, this is a great adventure story that I am confident will have a satisfying conclusion when the last book comes out. Also, don’t miss the author’s note that tells how some of the story is based in reality.
Though I still don’t necessarily think this story needed to be told in three separate books, I really enjoy Elise Broach’s writing. While this is a definitely an adventure story, with elements of mystery, she also works in a lot of character development and interesting relationships between the characters. Delilah is not quite as well-rounded as the three brothers, but the conversations between Delilah and Henry and Delilah and Simon reveal quite a bit about the ways boys and girls relate to each other in the elementary school years. I also like the way each boy has his own different strengths and interests, each of which come into play as their second book of adventures unfolds.
This second story doesn’t answer many of the questions raised in the first book, but it does make the reader even more curious to find out how everything is going to turn out. I am especially drawn to the mysterious town librarian, who seems to be in cahoots with the sheriff, and who has the same name - and possibly even the same face - as a historical figure from the town who is long dead. This is not a series for readers who require instant gratification, but for those who don’t mind a slow-moving storyline where the height of excitement is kept waiting until almost the end, this is a great adventure story that I am confident will have a satisfying conclusion when the last book comes out. Also, don’t miss the author’s note that tells how some of the story is based in reality.
December 17, 2014
Like the first book in this series, this mystery story was pretty compelling for my 5 and 8 year old. It’s about three brothers and their female friend, who together explore a mysterious mountain in hopes of finding a lost gold mine. The kids repeatedly break the boys’ family’s rules about where they can go and exercise some pretty bad judgement. I didn’t really like the author’s repeated attempts to make the mom a killjoy and someone the kids had to deceive (how cool would it have been had they had a mom who supported their attempt to explore and helped them develop good judgement alongside their adventurousness?). This portrayal of the mom was just another part of the thread of sexism that ran through both books in the series. Like the last book, the youngest brother, Jack, repeatedly makes sexist comments that nobody calls him on; the author never uses an “it” or a “they” if she can throw in a “he” or a “—man” instead; and even a reusable shopping bag that presumably belongs to the whole family is repeatedly referred to as “mom’s green net bag”. Also, in this book, their bimbo Aunt Kathy was introduced, with a whole lot of boring and not really appropriate stereotypical descriptions and dialogue. My kids weren’t interested in these parts, and even worse, the kids in the book weren’t either—editors should’ve cut these parts out.
As in the first book, some of the drawings didn’t match the text, particularly the front cover. Delilah is supposed to have brown hair but is always shown with blonde hair.
The awkward phrasing continues in this book, again using “sun lotion” instead of sunscreen; and even repeated referrals to a rockslide as an avalanche (according to common parlance and my dictionary, an avalanche is a slide of ice or snow—not something that would happen in the desert). And once again, none of the mysterious elements of the story are ever explained. My kids still want to read the next book in the series, but it confirms my feeling that the author doesn’t know how the hell she’s going to finish this thing.
As in the first book, some of the drawings didn’t match the text, particularly the front cover. Delilah is supposed to have brown hair but is always shown with blonde hair.
The awkward phrasing continues in this book, again using “sun lotion” instead of sunscreen; and even repeated referrals to a rockslide as an avalanche (according to common parlance and my dictionary, an avalanche is a slide of ice or snow—not something that would happen in the desert). And once again, none of the mysterious elements of the story are ever explained. My kids still want to read the next book in the series, but it confirms my feeling that the author doesn’t know how the hell she’s going to finish this thing.
February 8, 2013
2nd book in the series; sequel to Missing on Superstition Mountain. In Book 1, Henry, Simon, and Jack and their friend Delilah have moved to Superstition, AZ, living in the shadow of Superstition Mountain. They've gotten interested in various mysteries they've stumbled upon(who are the three people whose skeletal skulls the kids have found?) as they try to find the Lost Dutchman Mine. And who is trying to stop them?
In this book, the kids find an assortment of clues in the town library, in an old box of Uncle Hank's, in a ghost town, and in an old graveyard. But what's going on with the spooky librarian? And what does Uncle Hank's map really mean? Not all questions are answered, leaving room for another sequel.
Fairly fast paced with lots of adventure. 6-year old Jack speaks with the voice of an authentic 6-year old. Probably 3rd grade and up. Large print, interesting pictures. The series is best if read in order.
In this book, the kids find an assortment of clues in the town library, in an old box of Uncle Hank's, in a ghost town, and in an old graveyard. But what's going on with the spooky librarian? And what does Uncle Hank's map really mean? Not all questions are answered, leaving room for another sequel.
Fairly fast paced with lots of adventure. 6-year old Jack speaks with the voice of an authentic 6-year old. Probably 3rd grade and up. Large print, interesting pictures. The series is best if read in order.
April 25, 2013
I thought the narrative voice was much too sophisticated for the 10-year-old main character, Henry, even though he loves learning new words. If his dialogue is not peppered with words like "mollify", "blase", "chagrin", it shouldn't be in the narrative either. Sorry, that's the writer in me being picky, but the 8-year-old who might pick this up because he wants a good adventure story won't know what those words mean and probably won't take the time to look them up. The plot also seemed a bit contrived--it's too convenient that Henry's parents decide to take a trip out of town just when the boys are impatient to explore the mountain that they've been forbidden to even go near, and their aunt in charge just happens to have a date for the afternoon, leaving the boys alone. I didn't feel the same enthusiasm for this sequel that I did for the first book.
October 23, 2013
I love this series by Elise Broach. I love the premise...it's a little bit scary, little bit funny and a whole lot of mystery and adventure. I love the fact that the Internet doesn't always work in this town...and even though the librarian is a mean character (haters gonna hate...lol), I love the fact that this book is almost an exercise in how to treasure hunt and research. I'm giving serious thought to reading it aloud one of my fourth or fifth grade library classes to show them how to go about finding answers to questions. Every book seems to end in a cliffhanger, but I am sure it will keep kids reading.
April 23, 2013
Younger children (ages 8-12) real-kid mystery. I grew up right by the Superstition Mountains so it caught my attention right away. Pretty fun--you'll want to check out all the books at once because they are definitely continued through the series. (I think there are 2 books out right now.) *In this book there were a couple of small details that made me laugh--you can't get cold tap water at home in the Arizona desert. :)
March 2, 2014
This one was a little slow getting started (or I was very distracted) so it took me a while to finish it.
But once I got about halfway in? Then it really moved forward and I finished the rest of it in a sitting.
The different settings add to the adventure. Will definitely have to pick up book three. This IS a series that you need to read all of and in order. No tidy endings to either of them so far.
But once I got about halfway in? Then it really moved forward and I finished the rest of it in a sitting.
The different settings add to the adventure. Will definitely have to pick up book three. This IS a series that you need to read all of and in order. No tidy endings to either of them so far.
February 14, 2017
The older I get, the more I enjoy Young Adult and so-called "children's" books.
The three brothers Henry, Simon, and Jack, and their friend Delilah, are resourceful, adventurous, and determined. Having found what appears to be a treasure map (in Missing on Superstition Mountain), they decide to try to find the legendary Lost Dutchman's Mine. But somebody seems to be attempting to sabotage their efforts ...
The three brothers Henry, Simon, and Jack, and their friend Delilah, are resourceful, adventurous, and determined. Having found what appears to be a treasure map (in Missing on Superstition Mountain), they decide to try to find the legendary Lost Dutchman's Mine. But somebody seems to be attempting to sabotage their efforts ...
March 29, 2013
Well written mystery that is part of a series. I read this one (book 2) without having read the first one to see if they had to be read in order. While there were enough explanations to allow me to follow the story, it is best to read them in order. There were a few parts where I would have liked more back ground knowledge on previous events.
April 30, 2013
A mix of old-fashioned Hardy Boys mystery with just a hint of Indiana Jones adventure. Fast-paced and plot-driven this story does offer a tease of history(with an explanatory note in the afterward), some vivid descriptions of the perilous landscape, a satisfyingly unpleasant and threatening(and perhaps ghostly?)mystery woman and kids the readers will happily relate to.
April 25, 2014
Book 2. It took me a long time to plow through this slightly scary adventure. It's possible I just couldn't ever focus on the story for long periods of time. It ended with even more questions than it started. The adults in the story tried to be there, stern "adultish" but they really weren't there which allowed for the kid's adventure.
May 13, 2026
AR 4.5
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February 20, 2013This is the second book in the Supersitition Mountain series. The first one is Missing on Supersitition Mountain. You said you liked adventure books, so I think you'll enjoy this series.
March 5, 2013
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May 14, 2014
Liked this second book in the series. Fun for young kids to read!
May 25, 2013
Love this series of books. Hope the third one comes out soon.
June 9, 2013
Even better than the first one!
June 28, 2013
Disappointed that all the rising action was for naught- no resolution to major questions until Book 3, I guess.
February 11, 2014
I'm enjoying this mystery series. Kind of fun- kids exploring, etc.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews