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Chester Keene Cracks the Code
Cracking the code isn't all it's cracked up to be in this scavenger hunt adventure from a Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author.
“Delivers a truly fresh mystery — along with a heist, some heartbreak, some unforgettable characters and plenty of laser tag.” — The New York Times Book Review
Chester Keene takes great comfort in his routines. Afterschool Monday to Thursday is bowling, and Friday, the best of days, is laser tag! But Chester has one other very special thing—he gets secret spy messages from his dad, who must be on covert government assignments, which is why Chester has never met him.
Then one day, Chester’s classmate, Skye, approaches him with a clue. They’ve been tasked with a complex puzzle-solving mission. Skye proves to be a useful partner and good company, even if her free-wheeling ways are disruptive to Chester’s carefully built schedule.
As Chester and Skye get closer to their final clue, they discover the key to their spy they have to stop a heist! But cracking this code may mean finding out things are not always what they seem.
“Delivers a truly fresh mystery — along with a heist, some heartbreak, some unforgettable characters and plenty of laser tag.” — The New York Times Book Review
Chester Keene takes great comfort in his routines. Afterschool Monday to Thursday is bowling, and Friday, the best of days, is laser tag! But Chester has one other very special thing—he gets secret spy messages from his dad, who must be on covert government assignments, which is why Chester has never met him.
Then one day, Chester’s classmate, Skye, approaches him with a clue. They’ve been tasked with a complex puzzle-solving mission. Skye proves to be a useful partner and good company, even if her free-wheeling ways are disruptive to Chester’s carefully built schedule.
As Chester and Skye get closer to their final clue, they discover the key to their spy they have to stop a heist! But cracking this code may mean finding out things are not always what they seem.
304 pages, Library Binding
First published July 5, 2022
39 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
April 29, 2024
Not sure that's the best cover - it's clear, at least to me, that the book is a little more intense and interesting than implied. I really wish that I were reading the ebook though (for once) because it is a mystery and some previous observations are turning out to be relevant clues.
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ok done
Wow I really liked this, much more than expected. It's got puzzles, and competitions, but it's so much more. What makes a family? What can kids accomplish? I adore Skye, and what she does for Chester. If you pressed me to find a flaw in the book I'd say that maybe Skye, and Christopher, are a bit too good to be true. But gosh I love reading about good, healthy, happy people.
It's got a lot of interesting details of setting, secondary characters, etc. Including a stuffed unicorn that plays Motown when squeezed? And it's Chester's toy, not Skye's? Pretty cool.
I do highly recommend this to all families with kids age 9-11.
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ok done
Wow I really liked this, much more than expected. It's got puzzles, and competitions, but it's so much more. What makes a family? What can kids accomplish? I adore Skye, and what she does for Chester. If you pressed me to find a flaw in the book I'd say that maybe Skye, and Christopher, are a bit too good to be true. But gosh I love reading about good, healthy, happy people.
It's got a lot of interesting details of setting, secondary characters, etc. Including a stuffed unicorn that plays Motown when squeezed? And it's Chester's toy, not Skye's? Pretty cool.
I do highly recommend this to all families with kids age 9-11.
July 19, 2024
Even though there is a scavenger hunt with clues to solve, this is not a mystery. It's the story of Chester whose relationship with his real Dad consists of cards, presents and emails. Writing to his Dad for advice, what happens when his Dad no longer responds? He had already stopped sending gifts and cards for holidays.
January 15, 2024
It got really heavy at the end, like a lot heavier than I was expecting
September 18, 2022
2.5 stars. There are some pacing issues with this story, and the bullying plot line feels very old and formulaic. As a positive, the spy hunt clues were cute and might work for kids desperate for a mystery. Chester has a clear and vibrant personality that suggests he is somewhere on the spectrum. However some major plot choices strain realism and undercut the stronger qualities.
May 20, 2024
2024-25 Elementary School Battle of the Books selection
Easy read but also some of it felt too far-fetched.
Easy read but also some of it felt too far-fetched.
June 14, 2024
A cute middle grade book with puzzles to solve and lots of fun. The audiobook is great too!
Quick summary: Chester Keene likes routines and things to be a specific way. He hopes to be a spy later in life like his father. Afterschool he goes to the bowling alley, where he does his homework and then bowls, except for Friday which is laser tag day! One day though, he finds a secret spy message from his dad, who must be on some secret covert assignment. The next day at school, a classmate, Skye, approaches him with another clue...they have to work together to solve the clues his father has left for them. Even though the partnership starts off a bit rocky, they start to work really well together and they think they have figured out what the clues are telling them to do. But is the situation exactly as it seems?
I absolutely loved the clue solving aspect of this book. It was kind of cool to like solve the clues with Chester and Skye. However, this book touches on many more sensitive topics than you would think at first glance. In this book, Chester learns much more about his absent father and learns a lot about friendship, family, and forgiveness. Chester is so focused on these clues and so convinced that his dad is behind them that he is neglecting his mother. There are definitely some things that are important to be telling her but he doesn't want to upset her.
Unfortunately, Chester's mother is hiding a bit from him as well. They way she goes about trying to give him more information through the clues and adventure is pretty cool though. This book also shows that sometimes parents make mistakes. Often times they have good intentions and just don't know how to communicate or connect with their child so they try something else. I would say Chester's mom took a big risk in this book but it ultimately paid off.
Overall, I felt like this was a super cute mystery with some great storylines dealing with family and friendships!
Quick summary: Chester Keene likes routines and things to be a specific way. He hopes to be a spy later in life like his father. Afterschool he goes to the bowling alley, where he does his homework and then bowls, except for Friday which is laser tag day! One day though, he finds a secret spy message from his dad, who must be on some secret covert assignment. The next day at school, a classmate, Skye, approaches him with another clue...they have to work together to solve the clues his father has left for them. Even though the partnership starts off a bit rocky, they start to work really well together and they think they have figured out what the clues are telling them to do. But is the situation exactly as it seems?
I absolutely loved the clue solving aspect of this book. It was kind of cool to like solve the clues with Chester and Skye. However, this book touches on many more sensitive topics than you would think at first glance. In this book, Chester learns much more about his absent father and learns a lot about friendship, family, and forgiveness. Chester is so focused on these clues and so convinced that his dad is behind them that he is neglecting his mother. There are definitely some things that are important to be telling her but he doesn't want to upset her.
Unfortunately, Chester's mother is hiding a bit from him as well. They way she goes about trying to give him more information through the clues and adventure is pretty cool though. This book also shows that sometimes parents make mistakes. Often times they have good intentions and just don't know how to communicate or connect with their child so they try something else. I would say Chester's mom took a big risk in this book but it ultimately paid off.
Overall, I felt like this was a super cute mystery with some great storylines dealing with family and friendships!
October 24, 2022
Chester likes routines and hopes to be a spy later in life. He and his mom live in an apartment and while she works, he goes to the bowling alley after school. Chester has never met his dad, but he gets emails - secret spy messages - from his dad on occasion. When a classmate shows Chester a clue she received, they team up to solve them. In the process, they encounter some bank robbers. Due to some miscommunication and Chester not thinking things through, the clues lead Skye and Chester to learn more about themselves and how they might soon be related.
Mystery adventure story about friendship, forgiveness, and families.
Mystery adventure story about friendship, forgiveness, and families.
July 23, 2022
Fantastic middle grade novel for readers who like adventure, mystery, and family dynamics.
Chester is a kid who loves routine. He spends his days observing the world around him and recording his thoughts in his notebook, dreaming of one day becoming a spy.
When clues from a scavenger hunt lead him to a new friend named Skye, they embark on a mission that leads them to uncover some serious danger as well as personal connections to their own lives.
Filled with new friends, loving families, and forgiveness, this spy-tacular story is not one to be missed!
Chester is a kid who loves routine. He spends his days observing the world around him and recording his thoughts in his notebook, dreaming of one day becoming a spy.
When clues from a scavenger hunt lead him to a new friend named Skye, they embark on a mission that leads them to uncover some serious danger as well as personal connections to their own lives.
Filled with new friends, loving families, and forgiveness, this spy-tacular story is not one to be missed!
July 30, 2023
Ah, Chester! So lovable, so believable! Because of Chester's naivete this may read on the younger side of middle grade - older, more cynical kids will cotton on to things much quicker than Chester does, especially the relationships if not the clues.
The plot is interesting - a climax in the middle and numerous stages of falling action to resolve different elements. Would not work for a first mentor text on the plot mountain!
The plot is interesting - a climax in the middle and numerous stages of falling action to resolve different elements. Would not work for a first mentor text on the plot mountain!
August 7, 2022
I loved this sweet story.
February 19, 2023
Adorable. Don’t let the cover fool you—this book is perfect for 5th, 6th, and 7th graders.
June 17, 2024
had to read this for library volunteering
January 6, 2023
I loved this book as it was smart, funny, clever.
Note to publisher: I don't love the book cover. Reconsider the art.
Note to publisher: I don't love the book cover. Reconsider the art.
February 2, 2023
Chester Keene likes routines, making observations about his world, and emails from his absent dad. He's sure his dad is a spy, which is why he can't come home, and now, it seems, his dad is leaving him clues so Chester can help him solve a case. It's a little puzzling as to why his dad has paired Chester up with the unpredictable, somewhat-chaotic girl Sky to help him, but after some denial on Chester's part, he figures out that they actually work pretty well together. Because his single mother works, Chester goes to the local bowling alley every day after school, where his mother's best friend works. While there with Sky, they figure out that someone is planning a heist, which must be why Chester's dad needed his help. As he and Sky work the clues, though, nothing goes as planned--for anyone. Because it turns out that the real story has nothing to do with a heist, and everything to do with good intentions gone wrong. Is forgiveness even in Chester's vocabulary?
I liked this one, for the most part, but didn't love it. Chester is certainly a distinctive personality (as is Sky, who I believe is of Japanese and white descent?), and comes across as possibly/probably being on the spectrum, with his ferocious adherence to concrete, black and white thinking and routine. He's a living embodiment of being unable to accept new information that contradicts what you've previously believed to be true. I personally didn't enjoy spending a lot of time with him, even though I understood the stresses he was under, and how his mind worked. I think kids will get him more, though. The structure of the book felt awkward to me; once the heist plotline was finished, there was still more than a third of the book to go. I don't think it really needed to be in the book the way it was, because it detracted from the true plot of the book. The description of the book is thus pretty deceptive, because you think it's a heist/code-solving/spy book, and it really isn't. I also think Chester's mother deserves some kind of medal for not losing her cool on an hourly basis with him, TBH. But maybe if someone has a kid like this, reading from Chester's POV would be helpful in understanding them? So...I guess a mixed bag for me. Thanks to Libro.fm for a free educator's copy of the audiobook.
I liked this one, for the most part, but didn't love it. Chester is certainly a distinctive personality (as is Sky, who I believe is of Japanese and white descent?), and comes across as possibly/probably being on the spectrum, with his ferocious adherence to concrete, black and white thinking and routine. He's a living embodiment of being unable to accept new information that contradicts what you've previously believed to be true. I personally didn't enjoy spending a lot of time with him, even though I understood the stresses he was under, and how his mind worked. I think kids will get him more, though. The structure of the book felt awkward to me; once the heist plotline was finished, there was still more than a third of the book to go. I don't think it really needed to be in the book the way it was, because it detracted from the true plot of the book. The description of the book is thus pretty deceptive, because you think it's a heist/code-solving/spy book, and it really isn't. I also think Chester's mother deserves some kind of medal for not losing her cool on an hourly basis with him, TBH. But maybe if someone has a kid like this, reading from Chester's POV would be helpful in understanding them? So...I guess a mixed bag for me. Thanks to Libro.fm for a free educator's copy of the audiobook.
January 9, 2023
I like this book 'cause it has a good mystery
December 4, 2023
I liked this book. It wasn't my favorite in book club but it was good. I recommend this book for ages 9-11.
October 26, 2022
Magoon, Kekla. Chester Keene Cracks the Code
July 5, 2022 by Wendy Lamb Books
Library copy
Chester is a very particular child who is very invested in his routines, like rotating his collection of jeans (plus one pair of corduroys), and following his schedule of bowling every day after school and playing laser tag every Friday. He doesn't have any friends, and he is bullied at school by Marc Ruffnagle. Chester lives with his mother, who is white, but misses his father, who is Black and who left the family when Chester was very young. He does have an e mail address for his father, and surreptiously checks it, but hasn't heard back in a while. There have been some gifts over the years, most of which are related to investigation, so Chester suspects that his father is a spy and unable to communicate because he is on a mission. After school, Chester goes to the local bowling alley owned by his mother's friend, who "watches" him until his mother is off work, but this gives him plenty of leeway to go to the local mall and hang out in the area. His mother is dating Christopher, whom Chester really likes. He has a daughter, Aurora, whom Chester hasn't met. Her father is white, and her mother is Japanese, although we don't quite find out where her mother is. Christopher has a heart-to-heart with him and asks how he would feel about the relationship going forward, and Chester is fairly accepting of this situation. When Chester gets a clue sending him on a scavenger hunt, he thinks it is sent by his father. He meets a girl from his school, Skye, who has clues as well, and the two work together to solve the puzzle. They bowl together a bit, and think they have uncovered a plot to rob a bank. In the end, the scavenger hunt was arranged by someone Chester did not expect, and it leads to not unwelcome changes for him and his family. He also manages to stand up to Marc with the confidence he has gained through the hunt, has a good friend in Skye, and is able to deal with the changes in his life.
Strengths: The bowling alley is very cool and puts this into the small number of books set in bowling alleys. (Allen's How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy (2011), Sheinmel's Designed by Lucy (The Kindness Club #2) (2017), Gephart's In Your Shoes (2018) and Allegre's The Dream Weavers (2020)) I liked the description of Chester's behavior and how this shaped his life. He is not alone in pining for a parent. Christopher is a great character, and his relationship with the mother was one of my favorite parts. The scavenger hunt was interesting, and used Chester's skills well. I always enjoy Magoon's writing, and this was an entertaining read.
Weaknesses: The bank heist through me a little; Chester and Skye are left duct taped in an alley, but nothing more seemed to happen with that story line. Also, I was pretty sure for most of the book that Chester's father was in jail; in middle grade books, if the character suspects a parent is a spy, it is almost a sure thing that the parent is incarcerated. This wasn't the case.
What I really think: I was hoping that this would have an older middle grade feel like The Season of Styx Malone (which is a brilliant study in Kids Doing Stupid Things), but Chester's 6th grade experiences felt a bit younger.
July 5, 2022 by Wendy Lamb Books
Library copy
Chester is a very particular child who is very invested in his routines, like rotating his collection of jeans (plus one pair of corduroys), and following his schedule of bowling every day after school and playing laser tag every Friday. He doesn't have any friends, and he is bullied at school by Marc Ruffnagle. Chester lives with his mother, who is white, but misses his father, who is Black and who left the family when Chester was very young. He does have an e mail address for his father, and surreptiously checks it, but hasn't heard back in a while. There have been some gifts over the years, most of which are related to investigation, so Chester suspects that his father is a spy and unable to communicate because he is on a mission. After school, Chester goes to the local bowling alley owned by his mother's friend, who "watches" him until his mother is off work, but this gives him plenty of leeway to go to the local mall and hang out in the area. His mother is dating Christopher, whom Chester really likes. He has a daughter, Aurora, whom Chester hasn't met. Her father is white, and her mother is Japanese, although we don't quite find out where her mother is. Christopher has a heart-to-heart with him and asks how he would feel about the relationship going forward, and Chester is fairly accepting of this situation. When Chester gets a clue sending him on a scavenger hunt, he thinks it is sent by his father. He meets a girl from his school, Skye, who has clues as well, and the two work together to solve the puzzle. They bowl together a bit, and think they have uncovered a plot to rob a bank. In the end, the scavenger hunt was arranged by someone Chester did not expect, and it leads to not unwelcome changes for him and his family. He also manages to stand up to Marc with the confidence he has gained through the hunt, has a good friend in Skye, and is able to deal with the changes in his life.
Strengths: The bowling alley is very cool and puts this into the small number of books set in bowling alleys. (Allen's How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy (2011), Sheinmel's Designed by Lucy (The Kindness Club #2) (2017), Gephart's In Your Shoes (2018) and Allegre's The Dream Weavers (2020)) I liked the description of Chester's behavior and how this shaped his life. He is not alone in pining for a parent. Christopher is a great character, and his relationship with the mother was one of my favorite parts. The scavenger hunt was interesting, and used Chester's skills well. I always enjoy Magoon's writing, and this was an entertaining read.
Weaknesses: The bank heist through me a little; Chester and Skye are left duct taped in an alley, but nothing more seemed to happen with that story line. Also, I was pretty sure for most of the book that Chester's father was in jail; in middle grade books, if the character suspects a parent is a spy, it is almost a sure thing that the parent is incarcerated. This wasn't the case.
What I really think: I was hoping that this would have an older middle grade feel like The Season of Styx Malone (which is a brilliant study in Kids Doing Stupid Things), but Chester's 6th grade experiences felt a bit younger.
September 30, 2024
SPOILERS ABOUND. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
The problem with Chester Keene Cracks the Code is not that his mother commits a parental sin so egregious I had to put the book down before I burst into flames. Her choices - as horrible as they are - make sense and are unfortunately, all too realistic.
(That's why I was so furious on Chester's behalf in the first place.)
No, what really grinds my gears is the execution of the fallout. I hate reading about people being wronged, but I understand it's in service of a greater good - a cohesive, moving narrative. What I don't appreciate is not being rewarded in the form of a proper follow through.
Chester is deeply betrayed by the one person he always thought he could trust. That is not something that clears up quickly. It's something that would have ripples for years if not the rest of Chester's life. I don't care that his mother does this in a book sense, what does bother me is the weight the book puts on Chester as the one who needs to simply get over it.
Parents can make mistakes. Parents can make huge, awful, life changing mistakes. Whether or not to forgive parental mistakes is a tremulous, irregular process. Acting like it's super easy only serves to buttress the harmful, dangerous belief in children are to blame for not being able to let a parental transgression go. It also implicitly reinforces 'but they're family!' rhetoric which allows abusive parents to continue to slither into their kids' lives long term.
As to be expected Chester gets distant from his mother right after the reveal. His mother spends several days not so silently crying so the entire time Chester feels guilty about his very normal, reasonable step back from her. There's something to be said about your emotions getting the best of you without your input, however, in this particular situation the reasoning does not matter. Impact does. She is not the most important person here. The fact that she's crying all the time and allows Chester to know she is, is atrocious behavior.
Chester's mother decides to take him to therapy to work through their conflict. I have no issues with this. They should go to therapy to work through it. Except this poses the question of if she could afford therapy this whole time then why didn't she take Chester before now? He's heavily neurodivergent coded for one thing so he could definitely use some extra/new coping mechanisms, but also considering the inside information she had on him, why not take him in general? She knew he was being bullied. She knew he was lying about it. So her plan was to let him keep getting bullied, keep getting more down on himself, keep getting more rigid in his approach thereby distancing himself even further from his peers...forever? All to maintain a ruse for her own selfish gain?
Secondly, this only further proves that therapy was a tool to make Chester forgive her not to help Chester process. The fact that she only took him after she was caught out for this when he definitely needed it before is evidence in and of itself.
The pressure doesn't only come from his mother. He gets it from Skye, and her father Christopher as well - though it is indirect on Christopher's part. Skye doesn't care that she was tricked only that she got to meet Chester. That's all fine and dandy, but that literally is meaningless. People react differently to the same situation. It's awful that Skye is so dismissive of Chester's feelings on the subject. Particularly because Chester is already internalizing that something is wrong with him for not wanting to play happy families immediately. He directly states "I'm slow, I guess. Everyone else knows how to shrug things off, while I'm still thinking, What just happened?" Why does he need to shrug it off? He's right to still be angry. No one else was betrayed. Of course, they don't care. He shouldn't feel this level of upset forever, but the first week or is perfectly acceptable.
Skye asks him if he's okay with their parents moving in together and Chester blows it off because ultimately, they'll just do what they want. She says that he doesn't get it, that's not how families work, everyone gets a say. Not really true, when Chester is actively being coerced to accept the new situation. Is he really getting his say when everyone has made their displeasure at his valid emotions clear? Skye literally tells him that her father is moping around because Chester's mom keeps saying no to moving in together.
Plus Chester admits his mom is lowkey packing to move despite saying no. So Chester is absolutely aware on every level that the only thing making everyone so unhappy is Chester's inability to let this grievance go. He's the source of his own unhappiness too because - to paraphrase Skye - he can't get out of his own way about the situation. I really liked Skye originally, but I resented the fact that Magoon in the name of making her so cool, and quirky had her totally ignore Chester's feelings. Chester does make things difficult. I'm not excusing his tendency to clam up. I just think that bulldozing over his reactions isn't the way either. It's like the author implicitly believes Chester is wrong inherently so how any of the supporting cast chooses to treat him is right fundamentally.
His mom tells him she doesn't want him to not let those who love him help him. But, that's not what's happening here. Chester is being emotionally browbeaten into ignoring his very understandable reaction to a traumatic incident. It's not so cut and dry when the one who loves him is the one who did this. How can he be expected to seek his mother out when she's the one who caused the trauma in the first place? And if he does have a problem letting people in, then it's pretty rich for her to be worried about it now when all she's done is prove to him people can't be trusted.
And did I mention that all of this pestering happens in SIXTEEN DAYS? They all expect him to be over it in literally like two weeks. It's reprehensible.
The timeline is so rushed as well. These people have never lived together and Chester just met Skye like three weeks ago yet Christopher thinks they should get married? Worse than that, at the end of the book they do. Not even an engagement period. Just straight to marriage. If I was Christopher and just found out about the terrible thing the woman I was thinking of marrying just did to her son, I would hit the brakes hard. I don't know if I would break up, but the questionable judgment would mean a serious conversation at the very least. I'm not getting married within a month of the fallout. Especially when Chester is struggling so much already - it's yet another way that everyone disregards him.
Christopher didn't even have a conversation with Chester to feel him about marrying his mom. He was just going to spring it on him and Skye as the secret answer to the scavenger hunt. After having known Chester a year he really thinks Chester would react well to that? Also, why is it such a secret he wants to propose in the first place? Chester's mom doesn't tell him that the reason she won't move in is because she wants a proposal. So she's just forcing this guy to read her mind instead of engaging in healthy communication. What a wonderful behavior to model for her children or the readers.
I'm heated just writing this review. I had to re-read some parts to gather my thoughts and I was stewing all over again. Family can be cut off. Family can make unforgivable mistakes. Family shouldn't manipulate you like this.
If the book had left it at there's hope on the horizon, Chester will be trying to move forward, long engagement, more therapy then it would have been 3 stars. As it stands now it's lucky to get 1 from me.
The problem with Chester Keene Cracks the Code is not that his mother commits a parental sin so egregious I had to put the book down before I burst into flames. Her choices - as horrible as they are - make sense and are unfortunately, all too realistic.
(That's why I was so furious on Chester's behalf in the first place.)
No, what really grinds my gears is the execution of the fallout. I hate reading about people being wronged, but I understand it's in service of a greater good - a cohesive, moving narrative. What I don't appreciate is not being rewarded in the form of a proper follow through.
Chester is deeply betrayed by the one person he always thought he could trust. That is not something that clears up quickly. It's something that would have ripples for years if not the rest of Chester's life. I don't care that his mother does this in a book sense, what does bother me is the weight the book puts on Chester as the one who needs to simply get over it.
Parents can make mistakes. Parents can make huge, awful, life changing mistakes. Whether or not to forgive parental mistakes is a tremulous, irregular process. Acting like it's super easy only serves to buttress the harmful, dangerous belief in children are to blame for not being able to let a parental transgression go. It also implicitly reinforces 'but they're family!' rhetoric which allows abusive parents to continue to slither into their kids' lives long term.
As to be expected Chester gets distant from his mother right after the reveal. His mother spends several days not so silently crying so the entire time Chester feels guilty about his very normal, reasonable step back from her. There's something to be said about your emotions getting the best of you without your input, however, in this particular situation the reasoning does not matter. Impact does. She is not the most important person here. The fact that she's crying all the time and allows Chester to know she is, is atrocious behavior.
Chester's mother decides to take him to therapy to work through their conflict. I have no issues with this. They should go to therapy to work through it. Except this poses the question of if she could afford therapy this whole time then why didn't she take Chester before now? He's heavily neurodivergent coded for one thing so he could definitely use some extra/new coping mechanisms, but also considering the inside information she had on him, why not take him in general? She knew he was being bullied. She knew he was lying about it. So her plan was to let him keep getting bullied, keep getting more down on himself, keep getting more rigid in his approach thereby distancing himself even further from his peers...forever? All to maintain a ruse for her own selfish gain?
Secondly, this only further proves that therapy was a tool to make Chester forgive her not to help Chester process. The fact that she only took him after she was caught out for this when he definitely needed it before is evidence in and of itself.
The pressure doesn't only come from his mother. He gets it from Skye, and her father Christopher as well - though it is indirect on Christopher's part. Skye doesn't care that she was tricked only that she got to meet Chester. That's all fine and dandy, but that literally is meaningless. People react differently to the same situation. It's awful that Skye is so dismissive of Chester's feelings on the subject. Particularly because Chester is already internalizing that something is wrong with him for not wanting to play happy families immediately. He directly states "I'm slow, I guess. Everyone else knows how to shrug things off, while I'm still thinking, What just happened?" Why does he need to shrug it off? He's right to still be angry. No one else was betrayed. Of course, they don't care. He shouldn't feel this level of upset forever, but the first week or is perfectly acceptable.
Skye asks him if he's okay with their parents moving in together and Chester blows it off because ultimately, they'll just do what they want. She says that he doesn't get it, that's not how families work, everyone gets a say. Not really true, when Chester is actively being coerced to accept the new situation. Is he really getting his say when everyone has made their displeasure at his valid emotions clear? Skye literally tells him that her father is moping around because Chester's mom keeps saying no to moving in together.
Plus Chester admits his mom is lowkey packing to move despite saying no. So Chester is absolutely aware on every level that the only thing making everyone so unhappy is Chester's inability to let this grievance go. He's the source of his own unhappiness too because - to paraphrase Skye - he can't get out of his own way about the situation. I really liked Skye originally, but I resented the fact that Magoon in the name of making her so cool, and quirky had her totally ignore Chester's feelings. Chester does make things difficult. I'm not excusing his tendency to clam up. I just think that bulldozing over his reactions isn't the way either. It's like the author implicitly believes Chester is wrong inherently so how any of the supporting cast chooses to treat him is right fundamentally.
His mom tells him she doesn't want him to not let those who love him help him. But, that's not what's happening here. Chester is being emotionally browbeaten into ignoring his very understandable reaction to a traumatic incident. It's not so cut and dry when the one who loves him is the one who did this. How can he be expected to seek his mother out when she's the one who caused the trauma in the first place? And if he does have a problem letting people in, then it's pretty rich for her to be worried about it now when all she's done is prove to him people can't be trusted.
And did I mention that all of this pestering happens in SIXTEEN DAYS? They all expect him to be over it in literally like two weeks. It's reprehensible.
The timeline is so rushed as well. These people have never lived together and Chester just met Skye like three weeks ago yet Christopher thinks they should get married? Worse than that, at the end of the book they do. Not even an engagement period. Just straight to marriage. If I was Christopher and just found out about the terrible thing the woman I was thinking of marrying just did to her son, I would hit the brakes hard. I don't know if I would break up, but the questionable judgment would mean a serious conversation at the very least. I'm not getting married within a month of the fallout. Especially when Chester is struggling so much already - it's yet another way that everyone disregards him.
Christopher didn't even have a conversation with Chester to feel him about marrying his mom. He was just going to spring it on him and Skye as the secret answer to the scavenger hunt. After having known Chester a year he really thinks Chester would react well to that? Also, why is it such a secret he wants to propose in the first place? Chester's mom doesn't tell him that the reason she won't move in is because she wants a proposal. So she's just forcing this guy to read her mind instead of engaging in healthy communication. What a wonderful behavior to model for her children or the readers.
I'm heated just writing this review. I had to re-read some parts to gather my thoughts and I was stewing all over again. Family can be cut off. Family can make unforgivable mistakes. Family shouldn't manipulate you like this.
If the book had left it at there's hope on the horizon, Chester will be trying to move forward, long engagement, more therapy then it would have been 3 stars. As it stands now it's lucky to get 1 from me.
July 21, 2022
Chester Keene is such a lovable character. He is quirky and and gets so much pleasure from his routine. I relate to Chester! Give me a day of recovery after my routine is messed up! But I digress.
Chester’s goal in life is to be a great spy, like his dad. His dad left years ago and the only clues left behind are birthday gifts and occasional emails. The desire to see his dad is starting to build up inside Chester, and just then a clue arrives at his front door. A girl at school gets the other half, and the game is afoot as this new opposite pair of lovable kids tries to solve the riddle. Chester knows his dad is in trouble and he has to solve this puzzle to save him. His routine is interrupted more than ever and they are so close to solving it! And then…
BAM.
The reader will see it coming long before Chester does. I won’t give away any spoilers. I expected the puzzle to be the climactic moment, but author Kekla Magoon sits in the hard space with Chester and makes us squirm in the uncomfortablenesses of the moment. We all want the part where everybody is “fine” and life goes on, cue happy ending…but she makes everybody wait for it. And I don’t think everybody will like that, but I do think it shows that Chester’s heart is real, even if it’s young. This is an honest middle grade story, and don’t worry, I think you’ll like the end! And you will DEFINITELY love Chester, Skye, Christopher, and Cynthia!
Chester’s goal in life is to be a great spy, like his dad. His dad left years ago and the only clues left behind are birthday gifts and occasional emails. The desire to see his dad is starting to build up inside Chester, and just then a clue arrives at his front door. A girl at school gets the other half, and the game is afoot as this new opposite pair of lovable kids tries to solve the riddle. Chester knows his dad is in trouble and he has to solve this puzzle to save him. His routine is interrupted more than ever and they are so close to solving it! And then…
BAM.
The reader will see it coming long before Chester does. I won’t give away any spoilers. I expected the puzzle to be the climactic moment, but author Kekla Magoon sits in the hard space with Chester and makes us squirm in the uncomfortablenesses of the moment. We all want the part where everybody is “fine” and life goes on, cue happy ending…but she makes everybody wait for it. And I don’t think everybody will like that, but I do think it shows that Chester’s heart is real, even if it’s young. This is an honest middle grade story, and don’t worry, I think you’ll like the end! And you will DEFINITELY love Chester, Skye, Christopher, and Cynthia!
July 26, 2022
Endearing characters and a mysterious puzzle make this middle grade novel a captivating read. Chester Keene, a biracial eleven-year-old, is “schedule oriented.” He follows a routine every day, and pays keen attention to details, as training for following in the footsteps of his absentee dad, whom Chester believes to be a spy. He has a close relationship with his mom, and spends his after-school hours bowling and playing laser tag. But then, a bully disturbs his equilibrium at school and at the bowling alley, and a kid named Skye (also biracial) befriends him, all of which also alters his comforting routine. It seems that he and Skye are supposed to work together to solve the series of enigmatic clues, which should lead them to, what exactly? His father’s secret spy mission? Add in Chester’s mom’s new boyfriend (a sympathetic character, by the way) and Chester’s life will never be the same.
I loved getting to know Chester, who may be neurodivergent, and Skye, a free spirit who becomes his first real friend. She is a wonderful foil for him. Trying to figure out whether Chester is realistic in his belief that his dad is behind the clues is fun, and worrying about whether the solution to the puzzle will bring good news makes for some suspense. Oh, and there is also a crime that the two friends solve while figuring out the puzzle. I loved reading about Chester’s journey in this heartfelt novel.
My only quibble was that the bully situation did not have a satisfying resolution.
I loved getting to know Chester, who may be neurodivergent, and Skye, a free spirit who becomes his first real friend. She is a wonderful foil for him. Trying to figure out whether Chester is realistic in his belief that his dad is behind the clues is fun, and worrying about whether the solution to the puzzle will bring good news makes for some suspense. Oh, and there is also a crime that the two friends solve while figuring out the puzzle. I loved reading about Chester’s journey in this heartfelt novel.
My only quibble was that the bully situation did not have a satisfying resolution.
January 3, 2023
Eleven-year-old Chester Keene likes things to be predictable and has a set of routines that bring him comfort. The son of an absent Black father and a white mother, Chester is likeable, relatable, and a character to root for. Little touches in this middle-grade novel such as how he has his father's email address and writes him just in case he might respond, how he goes to great lengths to avoid a bully, and how he becomes convinced that his father must be a spy once he starts responding to those emails flesh out this appealing character who is trying to make sense of the whereabouts of this man who surely must love him, right? When new friend, Skye, comes into his life, Chester realizes that they share an interest in scavenger hunts, puzzles and mysteries, and maybe, just maybe, they can work together to solve the biggest, most important mystery in his life. Plus, things are complicated by the presence of a new man in his mother's life. What's a boy to do? Eventually, Chester is able to let go of some of his wishes and fantasies and accept the love that has been right there all along. There's a lot to appreciate in this particular book, but I guessed what was going on with his father almost from the beginning, which spoiled the book for me. Younger readers probably won't have the same experience, and will love this one.
June 14, 2022
Chester Keene Cracks the Code has a lot of layers. Chester is navigating some challenges in his home life: his mom has a boyfriend (Christopher), the relationship is getting serious, and he hasn't seen his dad for over eight years. Middle School is a challenge for someone who likes things a certain way and the other kids are not kind, to say the least. When Chester finds some clues tied to his door and a girl at school has the other half of the set, they start forming a friendship while solving the puzzle. Along the way, they stumble upon a real crime.
I enjoyed the story and think it will appeal to some of my students. It is not a traditional mystery, despite the clues and crime solving that are in the story. It is more of a story about navigating relationships and complicated family dynamics. The students I feel would enjoy this story are not ones that would pick it up with the current cover. I like the cover, but the book is way more complex than the cover lets on. I think this one will need to be highlighted with a book talk or a read-aloud to get it into the hands of those that would enjoy it.
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed the story and think it will appeal to some of my students. It is not a traditional mystery, despite the clues and crime solving that are in the story. It is more of a story about navigating relationships and complicated family dynamics. The students I feel would enjoy this story are not ones that would pick it up with the current cover. I like the cover, but the book is way more complex than the cover lets on. I think this one will need to be highlighted with a book talk or a read-aloud to get it into the hands of those that would enjoy it.
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 29, 2022
Orderly, methodical biracial Chester Keene prides himself on keeping it all together. So when a bully starts picking on him at school, Chester doesn't tell his mom; he doesn't want her to worry. Instead, he emails his dad--who left when Chester was little and has kept a distance ever since--for advice. Secretly, Chester believes that he is dad is a spy who keeps his cover secure by keeping his family at a distance--why else would a parent abandon their kid?
While Chester waits for a reply, a coded message arrives on his doorstep. Chester is convinced that it's a message from his dad, but he can't solve it alone. Classmate Skye--who couldn't be more different from Chester--has also received a coded message, and convinces Chester that they should team up. As Skye and Chester work together to solve the riddles and follow one clue to another, their mission takes a dangerous turn with the unwitting discovery of a criminal plot.
I love how this novel is not what it seems: it's a mystery...but the mystery is much deeper than Chester perceives it to be. What begins as a code-cracking adventure ultimately morphs into a story of families, friendship, and the secrets that bring us together and tear us apart. Short chapters and memorable characters keep the pages moving.
While Chester waits for a reply, a coded message arrives on his doorstep. Chester is convinced that it's a message from his dad, but he can't solve it alone. Classmate Skye--who couldn't be more different from Chester--has also received a coded message, and convinces Chester that they should team up. As Skye and Chester work together to solve the riddles and follow one clue to another, their mission takes a dangerous turn with the unwitting discovery of a criminal plot.
I love how this novel is not what it seems: it's a mystery...but the mystery is much deeper than Chester perceives it to be. What begins as a code-cracking adventure ultimately morphs into a story of families, friendship, and the secrets that bring us together and tear us apart. Short chapters and memorable characters keep the pages moving.
September 9, 2022
Chester has never known his father but is convinced his father is a spy because his father sends him occasional gifts like binoculars, books on espionage, and spy kits. When Chester discovers an email address in one of the packages, he begins corresponding with his father. When a mysterious clue appears on his front door, Chester believes his father is in trouble and he must solve the puzzle to save his dad. At school a classmate named Skye appears at his lunch table with another mysterious clue and they realize that they must work together to solve the mystery. Spending their afternoons at the local bowling alley, Chester and Skye stumble upon a criminal conspiracy and mistakenly think this is the crime they must solve. Chester is a loner so it is a challenge for him to work with Skye. He is anxious and compulsively cleans his apartment and regiments his schedule because he hopes this will please his father. His relationship with his mother becomes strained as she grows closer to her boyfriend. Chester is also being bullied. Middle school is certainly stressful for Chester!
October 5, 2022
Trigger warning for readers who have an absent father or have alienation in their family. Chester's dad is a mystery to him, and he's determined to connect with him. Somewhat an unreliable narrator, Chester sends and receives emails that should seem a bit off to readers. Spoiler: mom has been posing as Dad for years. The author's ultimate message is supposed to be that a mother is enough, but at the same time Chester and his mother yearn for a "real" family. I winced every time Chester or his mother said, "He left us." MG mystery fans will likely enjoy the scavenger hunt which leads Chester and his soon-to-be stepsister to the prize - a proposal of marriage for Chester's mom. Bit of a butt bow Disney-esque ending with the wedding and possible call from Dad as Mom is about to go down the aisle. Chester ignores it and lets the call go to voice mail. =-(
pg178 Chester confronts mom (he doesn't know what she has done yet)
Just stop. It's not going to work. You might not like Dad anymore, and he might have left YOU, but I still need him. You have no right to mess that up for me. There's probably a law about it or something. (I wish)
pg193 Chester talks with Skye
C: I haven't heard from him. He's out there somewhere. I wish I knew where.
S: Doesn't your mom know?
C: Maybe. But she wants to keep us apart.
pg211 (Chester know his mom is hoping to remarry)
I get it now. This is why she wants to erase Dad from my life.
pg178 Chester confronts mom (he doesn't know what she has done yet)
Just stop. It's not going to work. You might not like Dad anymore, and he might have left YOU, but I still need him. You have no right to mess that up for me. There's probably a law about it or something. (I wish)
pg193 Chester talks with Skye
C: I haven't heard from him. He's out there somewhere. I wish I knew where.
S: Doesn't your mom know?
C: Maybe. But she wants to keep us apart.
pg211 (Chester know his mom is hoping to remarry)
I get it now. This is why she wants to erase Dad from my life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2024
Chester Keene is a biracial character who doesn't fit in super well at school. He is bullied at school, his mom isn't being fully honest about his biological dad, and he just is having kind of a tough time.
Unfortunately, he acts much younger than he is. It seems so strange that he is holding on to delusions that his dad is part of his life and he just never sees him. Then he gets mad and acts out against his mother, who is just trying her best...
I don't know. There are some cute parts - the little scavenger hunt that is created is interesting, but again, seemingly not quite right for the age of the characters. There were also some events that the main characters got themselves into that were completely unrealistic. I think I actually would have liked this book without those over-the-top scenarios that weren't necessary to the plot. The bullying was important, as is the issue with the father and the relationship between the mom and her boyfriend. But there were too many things that were out there that made this hard to get through.
Unfortunately, he acts much younger than he is. It seems so strange that he is holding on to delusions that his dad is part of his life and he just never sees him. Then he gets mad and acts out against his mother, who is just trying her best...
I don't know. There are some cute parts - the little scavenger hunt that is created is interesting, but again, seemingly not quite right for the age of the characters. There were also some events that the main characters got themselves into that were completely unrealistic. I think I actually would have liked this book without those over-the-top scenarios that weren't necessary to the plot. The bullying was important, as is the issue with the father and the relationship between the mom and her boyfriend. But there were too many things that were out there that made this hard to get through.
December 31, 2022
Adventurous story about a boy finding out what family means…
LIKES:
1) middle grade- I feel like I can put this immediately in my classroom library
2) biracial MC- representation matters! Never in my life and especially in middle school did I have access to books about people that looked like me and struggled with similar things
3) Chester’s mom- she reminds me of my mom in so many ways. Can’t give too much away with spoiling the story.
4) spy kids- I love that Chester and Sky become friends by completing the scavenger hunt. Looking for clues, getting into trouble, it was all very fun
DISLIKES:
1) this is a me thing, I don’t like stories where everyone is telling or guiding the MC to the write way and the MC is defiant to be defiant. Whether it’s a grown up or a child, it drives me nuts and it makes me feel like it’s manufactured drama. You don’t have to be so stubborn to grow.
LIKES:
1) middle grade- I feel like I can put this immediately in my classroom library
2) biracial MC- representation matters! Never in my life and especially in middle school did I have access to books about people that looked like me and struggled with similar things
3) Chester’s mom- she reminds me of my mom in so many ways. Can’t give too much away with spoiling the story.
4) spy kids- I love that Chester and Sky become friends by completing the scavenger hunt. Looking for clues, getting into trouble, it was all very fun
DISLIKES:
1) this is a me thing, I don’t like stories where everyone is telling or guiding the MC to the write way and the MC is defiant to be defiant. Whether it’s a grown up or a child, it drives me nuts and it makes me feel like it’s manufactured drama. You don’t have to be so stubborn to grow.
May 31, 2023
Plot
After school routines: Monday through Thursday are spent bowling alone, while Friday is spent playing laser tag with random other students who show up. Chester Keene likes his afternoons spent this way, and when his routine takes a twist he is pulled into a mystery. His dad has been sending him spy equipment for years, and lately they've been sparingly communicating over email. Now Chester is getting paper messages to solve a mystery! Clearly his dad is a government spy and needs Chester to figure something out for him!
But then Skye gets a clue that is similar to what Chester received, and the two of them have to work together to solve the clues. Chester is certain these clues are from his dad, but Skye thinks it's a game and doesn't take anything seriously.
This book has all sorts of questions for you to find out: Who is Chester's dad? Why won't he write more often? Why are the strange people at the bowling alley going out to smoke at the same time everyday? Can two kids solve the mystery before Chester's dad's time runs out?
Review
I enjoyed the realistic mystery between a biracial B/W boy on the spectrum, and the Asian American / white girl who befriends him [and the reason why she does so]. The "mystery" was somewhat easy to figure out [as an adult], but it was a mystery that was a good idea in thought, though the MC didn't understand it.
After school routines: Monday through Thursday are spent bowling alone, while Friday is spent playing laser tag with random other students who show up. Chester Keene likes his afternoons spent this way, and when his routine takes a twist he is pulled into a mystery. His dad has been sending him spy equipment for years, and lately they've been sparingly communicating over email. Now Chester is getting paper messages to solve a mystery! Clearly his dad is a government spy and needs Chester to figure something out for him!
But then Skye gets a clue that is similar to what Chester received, and the two of them have to work together to solve the clues. Chester is certain these clues are from his dad, but Skye thinks it's a game and doesn't take anything seriously.
This book has all sorts of questions for you to find out: Who is Chester's dad? Why won't he write more often? Why are the strange people at the bowling alley going out to smoke at the same time everyday? Can two kids solve the mystery before Chester's dad's time runs out?
Review
I enjoyed the realistic mystery between a biracial B/W boy on the spectrum, and the Asian American / white girl who befriends him [and the reason why she does so]. The "mystery" was somewhat easy to figure out [as an adult], but it was a mystery that was a good idea in thought, though the MC didn't understand it.
August 3, 2024
Round up to 3.5
I liked this book, but it wasn't my favorite. I liked Chester as a main character, and I enjoyed Chester and Skye as a duo, but I didn't love the inclusion of the crime as plot point, because I didn't feel like it went anywhere. I understand that it was part of the story because Chester had to believe his father was a spy who was in danger, but it was too coincidental that Chester saw them when he was running away and then was able to turn them in without drawing attention to himself. Then, they got arrested and that was it. It just seemed unnecessary. I did, however, like the conflict between Chester and his mother and how the story resolved. I just think that would have been enough to carry the story and the crime didn't add anything, but in fact, took some of the focus away from what the real story should have been.
I liked this book, but it wasn't my favorite. I liked Chester as a main character, and I enjoyed Chester and Skye as a duo, but I didn't love the inclusion of the crime as plot point, because I didn't feel like it went anywhere. I understand that it was part of the story because Chester had to believe his father was a spy who was in danger, but it was too coincidental that Chester saw them when he was running away and then was able to turn them in without drawing attention to himself. Then, they got arrested and that was it. It just seemed unnecessary. I did, however, like the conflict between Chester and his mother and how the story resolved. I just think that would have been enough to carry the story and the crime didn't add anything, but in fact, took some of the focus away from what the real story should have been.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2022
Chester and his mom are getting along ok; Chester even likes his mom's current boyfriend ok. But--he's getting bullied at school and his (long-absent) dad has stopped responding to his emails. When a girl at school, Skye, starts to befriend him and coded rhyming messages for them to solve start appearing, things get more interesting.
This book can be a bit difficult to read--there are some hard things in Chester's life and the way he deals with them can be frustrating to those around him and to readers. I think he'd be described as neuro-atypical. But it is all sensitively described and ultimately a hopeful ending.
The puzzles are fun and a lot of it takes place at a bowling alley/laser tag/arcade place, which adds a unique layer. Oh, and there may or may not be an armed robbery.
This book can be a bit difficult to read--there are some hard things in Chester's life and the way he deals with them can be frustrating to those around him and to readers. I think he'd be described as neuro-atypical. But it is all sensitively described and ultimately a hopeful ending.
The puzzles are fun and a lot of it takes place at a bowling alley/laser tag/arcade place, which adds a unique layer. Oh, and there may or may not be an armed robbery.
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