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Silver Jaguar Society Mysteries #2
Hide and Seek
A fast-paced mystery from the author of CAPTURE THE FLAG!
José, Anna, and Henry are junior members of the secret Silver Jaguar Society, sworn to protect the world's most important artifacts. When they discover that the society's treasured Jaguar Cup has been replaced with a counterfeit, the trio and their families rush to the rain forests of Costa Rica in search of the real chalice. But when the trail runs dry, new mysteries emerge: Who can they trust? Is there a traitor in their midst? With danger at every turn, it will take more than they realize for José and his friends to recover the cup before it falls into the wrong hands.
José, Anna, and Henry are junior members of the secret Silver Jaguar Society, sworn to protect the world's most important artifacts. When they discover that the society's treasured Jaguar Cup has been replaced with a counterfeit, the trio and their families rush to the rain forests of Costa Rica in search of the real chalice. But when the trail runs dry, new mysteries emerge: Who can they trust? Is there a traitor in their midst? With danger at every turn, it will take more than they realize for José and his friends to recover the cup before it falls into the wrong hands.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2013
44 people are currently reading
896 people want to read
About the author
Kate Messner
131 books1,649 followersKate Messner is an award-winning author, TED 2012 speaker, and former middle school English teacher. Her books for kids include THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.,SUGAR AND ICE, and EYE OF THE STORM (Walker/Bloomsbury Dec. 2010) the MARTY MCGUIRE series (Scholastic), SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAY, and OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle, Books). Kate also wrote SPITFIRE and CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE, both Lake Champlain historical novels published by North Country Books.
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
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October 19, 2012Yep...I read this one. :-) Excited for April '13 when everybody else can read it, too!
April 20, 2022
Rating - 4.5 stars
Messner didn't disappoint. This second book in the series was very well written! I love how there were some Historical things implemented throughout the story, but it didn't take away from the story; it had a purpose. I also loved the suspense. There were so many times where I was worried that the characters would get out safely. I love it when that happens while reading a book!
But the middle of the book was a bit slow as the focus was on José since he was upset at his friends. Nevertheless, that didn't stop me from reading. xD And I will also mention that I dislike the first chapter of the book; it was an initiation of someone just accepted into the Silver Jaguar Society long ago. It was a little creepy because when she drank from the trophy, she "felt her ancestors reside in her" (paraphrase). Thankfully, that chapter was short and no mention of that appeared again.
All in all, this was a great book and I definitely want to read the third and final book!
Messner didn't disappoint. This second book in the series was very well written! I love how there were some Historical things implemented throughout the story, but it didn't take away from the story; it had a purpose. I also loved the suspense. There were so many times where I was worried that the characters would get out safely. I love it when that happens while reading a book!
But the middle of the book was a bit slow as the focus was on José since he was upset at his friends. Nevertheless, that didn't stop me from reading. xD And I will also mention that I dislike the first chapter of the book; it was an initiation of someone just accepted into the Silver Jaguar Society long ago. It was a little creepy because when she drank from the trophy, she "felt her ancestors reside in her" (paraphrase). Thankfully, that chapter was short and no mention of that appeared again.
All in all, this was a great book and I definitely want to read the third and final book!
February 16, 2013
I liked this one even more than the first. I think the setting was what did it for me. I loved being transported to the rain forest and seeing it through the eyes of children. I am more determined than ever to try a zip-line through the rain forest now.
The mystery was a challenge and had plenty of action. I don't tend to read mysteries that often, but am very glad that I was able to snag this one on Netgalley.
Review from my blog: http://readingtl.blogspot.com/2013/03...
Kate Messner has delivered another action-filled and intriguing mystery for her fans. José, Anna and Henry find plenty of danger and excitement as they help the Silver Jaguar Society try to find the missing Jaguar Cup. In this installment, readers are treated to unusual animals like the glass frogs and bullet ants as the young investigators tromp through the Costa Rican jungle. She also provided a cave excursion. The walls have glowing crystal formations and it all sounds quite amazing.
In addition to a colorful and lush setting, Messner has just the right balance of suspense, humor and action throughout the book. There are chases through the jungle, snot frogs, a zip line, a "swinging bridge of death" and many other bits of fun to bring a chuckle and a smile to the faces of readers. For the mystery lovers, there is plenty to puzzle out and try to solve as the junior Silver Jaguars work to recover the cup and keep each other safe. There are also a few other threads of the story to untangle since the friends are keeping a few secrets from each other. Of course this leads to some difficulties between the friends, but that adds to the believability as they fuss at each other on occasion. What is a bit harder to believe is that their parents are once again not really in the picture during the story, but that isn't terribly distracting. So much is going on that it is just a blip.
Hide and Seek has much going for it and with the wonderful sense of place that Messner has created, this book surpasses the first in my eyes. Hide and Seek will be a welcome addition to any library.
Extras:
Hide and Seek Resources Pinterest Board
Costa Rica Wildlife
The mystery was a challenge and had plenty of action. I don't tend to read mysteries that often, but am very glad that I was able to snag this one on Netgalley.
Review from my blog: http://readingtl.blogspot.com/2013/03...
Kate Messner has delivered another action-filled and intriguing mystery for her fans. José, Anna and Henry find plenty of danger and excitement as they help the Silver Jaguar Society try to find the missing Jaguar Cup. In this installment, readers are treated to unusual animals like the glass frogs and bullet ants as the young investigators tromp through the Costa Rican jungle. She also provided a cave excursion. The walls have glowing crystal formations and it all sounds quite amazing.
In addition to a colorful and lush setting, Messner has just the right balance of suspense, humor and action throughout the book. There are chases through the jungle, snot frogs, a zip line, a "swinging bridge of death" and many other bits of fun to bring a chuckle and a smile to the faces of readers. For the mystery lovers, there is plenty to puzzle out and try to solve as the junior Silver Jaguars work to recover the cup and keep each other safe. There are also a few other threads of the story to untangle since the friends are keeping a few secrets from each other. Of course this leads to some difficulties between the friends, but that adds to the believability as they fuss at each other on occasion. What is a bit harder to believe is that their parents are once again not really in the picture during the story, but that isn't terribly distracting. So much is going on that it is just a blip.
Hide and Seek has much going for it and with the wonderful sense of place that Messner has created, this book surpasses the first in my eyes. Hide and Seek will be a welcome addition to any library.
Extras:
Hide and Seek Resources Pinterest Board
Costa Rica Wildlife
March 29, 2013
Fun adventure through the rain forests of Costa Rica. We follow junior Jaguar Society members Jose,Anna and Henry as well as their parental counterparts,into the wild tropic rain forests to find a missing artifact that has been switched with a fake. The great part about this book is not the secret society preserving the world's treasures from the bad guys and the kids who magically bring down said bad guys but the boatload of knowledge shared about the rain forest and all it's flora and fauna. As we follow the kids on their mysterious hunt for the Jaguar Cup we are given an eco tour of the rain forest by Sophia, a young machete wielding guide who lives at the camp the kids are staying at while their parents are tracking down the bad guys in San Jose. There is a budding romance, scary chase scenes and enough snakes, spiders and howling monkeys to make any kid sit up and take notice. I read the advance through NetGalley but the book is due out in early April.
March 18, 2013
Kate Messner scores again with the second installment in her Silver Jaguar Society series. This time the Society's junior members, José, Henry, and Anna are off to Costa Rica to help save the Society's treasured Jaguar Cup. Lots of chapter ending cliff hangers await the reader as the kids try to outwit the bad guys in the jungle setting that includes venomous snakes, daunting ravine bridges, and zip lines. I love how the setting in this one presents its own challenges as the story evolves. Messner paints a vivid picture of the rain forest and the author's note about her research process at the back should not be missed. The students that I share books with as the Book Fairy, loved Capture the Flag, so I'm so excited to hand off the ARC to them. My own fifth grader, who snatched this out of my to-read pile before I could get to it, also gives it a big thumbs up.
July 25, 2013
I'm so glad I checked out the second book in the series from the library when I checked out the first! I could not put this book down. Another book that will soon be added to my classroom library.
September 29, 2021
Pretty good, it did get a little slow at some points, but the end scene was very good.
February 18, 2014
Anna, Henry and Jose are back for another adventure. This time they are headed to Costa Rica to find the legendary Jaguar Cup. The cup was supposed to be on display in Washington, DC, but a fake was in its place. Turns out the cup has been stolen and it is up to the Jaguar Society to find it. The kids are once again on their own with their parents stuck in San Jose. And once again the culprits are right under their noses. It is a race through the jungle with deadly snakes, bullet ants, swinging rope bridges and zip lines. It is a fast paced adventure mystery with lots of twists and turns.
I think Kate Messner writes great mysteries that kids will really enjoy. Anna, Henry and Jose are all smart and creative thinkers. I really liked Sofia and the knowledge of the jungle she brought to the book. I was glad this one didn't rely as heavily on the stereotypes as the first one. Anna isn't in junior investigative reporter mode the entire time and Jose's nose isn't always stuck in a book. Henry however is still the same video game obsessed kid he was in Capture the Flag. I think once Messner gets him totally fleshed out this series will really take off.
I think Kate Messner writes great mysteries that kids will really enjoy. Anna, Henry and Jose are all smart and creative thinkers. I really liked Sofia and the knowledge of the jungle she brought to the book. I was glad this one didn't rely as heavily on the stereotypes as the first one. Anna isn't in junior investigative reporter mode the entire time and Jose's nose isn't always stuck in a book. Henry however is still the same video game obsessed kid he was in Capture the Flag. I think once Messner gets him totally fleshed out this series will really take off.
February 24, 2017
This book leaves me with mixed feelings. The plot didn’t take off until well into it—the first half was fairly boring and the second half was quite exciting. Unfortunately, I doubt that a child who is a reluctant reader will reach the exciting bits—they will have given up well before that. I’ve given it three stars but it only just scrapes in at that.
The descriptions of the rainforest and its wildlife did appeal to me. The writing seemed to be begging for some colour photographs to illustrate it—but I guess it is not that sort of book. Another thing I like about this one is that, unlike some other series books I have read recently, this one is complete in itself. I didn’t feel the need to have read all the previous books in the series to make sense of it. And while it did end with one of the bad guys escaping so that he can return in future titles, the plot in this volume did feel complete.
I’d just like to add that this is the second Scholastic paperback I have read recently and in both of them I found the paper quality to be extremely poor. I appreciate that Scholastic try to keep their prices low but just how far do they have to go?
The descriptions of the rainforest and its wildlife did appeal to me. The writing seemed to be begging for some colour photographs to illustrate it—but I guess it is not that sort of book. Another thing I like about this one is that, unlike some other series books I have read recently, this one is complete in itself. I didn’t feel the need to have read all the previous books in the series to make sense of it. And while it did end with one of the bad guys escaping so that he can return in future titles, the plot in this volume did feel complete.
I’d just like to add that this is the second Scholastic paperback I have read recently and in both of them I found the paper quality to be extremely poor. I appreciate that Scholastic try to keep their prices low but just how far do they have to go?
February 26, 2013
Wow!!!! I absolutely loved this book! Living in dreary Ohio, it was wonderful to be transported off to tropical Costa Rica. The unique and extremely intelligent characters lead the reader on a great adventure to solve the mystery of the missing Jaguar Cup. I also enjoyed learning about all the cool creatures of the rainforest. Thanks, Kate Messner for another awesome mystery!!!
February 5, 2018
A fun read for 5th graders, this is the second in a series, but no need to read the first to understand the plot. Kate Messner teaches readers about ecotourism, endangered species, and animal adaptations within a mystery solved by children. It's a great book to read with kids who are also studying ecosystems.
February 28, 2015
Jose and his friends work on their own in the rain forest of Costa Rica to find where the real Jaguar Cup is while their parents track down leads in the city. Jose must learn to trust his friends and to overcome his fears as they get closer to the bad guys.
April 20, 2020
Hide and Seek is a mystery book for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. This book follows José, Anna, and Henry, junior members of the secret Silver Jaguar Society, as they embark on an adventure to find the missing Jaguar Cup. It is up to the members of the Silver Jaguar Society to protect the important artifacts of the world. When the Jaguar Cup replaced with a fake, the three kids travel with their parents to Costa Rica in search of it. While in Costa Rica they are faced with one challenge after another as they search to catch the thieve and reclaim the Jaguar Cup.
When discussing the rainforest in my classroom, I will have my students read this book. Although this book is not based on a true story, the setting of the book is based on the actual Costa Rican rainforest. By studying the rainforest prior to or alongside reading this book, students will be able to picture the events of this story thus allowing them to better comprehend the text. I could also use this book to talk about endangered and exotic animals. The investigators encounter a number of different animals on their adventures, so I think it would interesting to study some of the animals discussed the book. Students could choose which animal they which to learn more about and research that particular animal to share about with the class.
Hide and Seek was a WOW book for me. The detail used to describe the setting throughout the book made me feel as though I was there with the in Costa Rica with these investigators. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time as I was continually curious about what would happen next. I often found myself trying to piece the clues together alongside the investigators while I was reading. This is a fun and engaging book that I think students will love reading.
I read this as an e-text.
When discussing the rainforest in my classroom, I will have my students read this book. Although this book is not based on a true story, the setting of the book is based on the actual Costa Rican rainforest. By studying the rainforest prior to or alongside reading this book, students will be able to picture the events of this story thus allowing them to better comprehend the text. I could also use this book to talk about endangered and exotic animals. The investigators encounter a number of different animals on their adventures, so I think it would interesting to study some of the animals discussed the book. Students could choose which animal they which to learn more about and research that particular animal to share about with the class.
Hide and Seek was a WOW book for me. The detail used to describe the setting throughout the book made me feel as though I was there with the in Costa Rica with these investigators. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time as I was continually curious about what would happen next. I often found myself trying to piece the clues together alongside the investigators while I was reading. This is a fun and engaging book that I think students will love reading.
I read this as an e-text.
November 5, 2018
The book I read “Hide and Seek” by Kate Messner was a book I liked because it was exciting and adventurous. My favorite character was Jose because he was very fun and he went on a lot of adventures. He was very relatable sometimes and relatable characters are my favorite from any type of book. Sophia was annoying at times but she was my second favorite character in the book. She was cool and could do a lot of stuff that was dangerous. My favorite quote from the book was “ only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” That statement is very relatable and helps me in times that I am to scared to do something. My least favorite character was Mortimer Loupe because he hurt some animals. I was very happy when he got bit by a bullet ant. He was very bad and he turned on everyone so fast for his own gain.
September 13, 2021
Thinking of reading a different genre, i chose this book. I’ve always loved to watch or read stories of small heroes, just like this one.
The setting of this adventure in a primary forest of Costa Rica is fascinating, making me feel like going to an adventure, trying out a zip line and meeting other types of animals.
I like the storyline; it’s kind of predictable but i couldnt guess the ending. Jose, Henry, Anna and their new friend, Sofia are trying to save the missing Jaguar Cup from a professional artifact thieves, accidentally. The escape is hard and tiring but ends with a wise plan.
I would recommend readers of any age to read this book if you want to imagine escaping a thick forest. Plus, the description of the forest and the animals are based on a real life experience by Kate Messner! 🏃🏻
The setting of this adventure in a primary forest of Costa Rica is fascinating, making me feel like going to an adventure, trying out a zip line and meeting other types of animals.
I like the storyline; it’s kind of predictable but i couldnt guess the ending. Jose, Henry, Anna and their new friend, Sofia are trying to save the missing Jaguar Cup from a professional artifact thieves, accidentally. The escape is hard and tiring but ends with a wise plan.
I would recommend readers of any age to read this book if you want to imagine escaping a thick forest. Plus, the description of the forest and the animals are based on a real life experience by Kate Messner! 🏃🏻
March 29, 2018
I would rate this book three stars out of five. I would rate it three stars because about three-fourths of the book seemed rather boring to me. At the beginning of the book I really didn’t understand what Jose, Anna, and Henry were doing. Second, the characters were sightseeing for a long time during the book. Third, the author wasn’t very clear at the end of the book. Finally, the best part was at the end, when Loupe gets stung by bullet ants because it was really funny. That is why I would rate this book three stars.
May 21, 2018
This turned out to be my least favorite Kate Messner book. I love her ability to connect with young readers by presenting characters with conflicts they can identify with. Her writing is normally edgy and exciting, but these strong points did not translate well to this mystery/thriller, which relied on plot for the energy of the story.
June 23, 2017
Think of Enid Blyton's Secret 7 mystery books, add a contemporary setting and conservation message, and you've got something along the lines of this entertaining, action-packed mystery for children in Grade 4-6.
July 16, 2018
Anna, Henry, and Jose end in Costa Rica trying to locate the Jaguar Cup. Liked the themes of facing your fears and working together. Messner includes interesting details about the rain forest ecosystem.
September 13, 2025
My 10-year olds and I loved the book since we were reading it while in Costa Rica and when we returned home.
It was fun to read so many bits that matched so closely with our Costa Rica experience. Plus, we love a good mystery!
It was fun to read so many bits that matched so closely with our Costa Rica experience. Plus, we love a good mystery!
November 20, 2017
It was a good book, but the first one was better.
December 10, 2017
Great adventure and mystery set in Costa Rica.
August 30, 2018
The exciting adventure of the Silver Jaguar Society takes the kids to Costa Rica, to the Rainforest. Great insights of the animals, temperature, food, and adventure.
November 26, 2019
3.5. Great kids book
August 16, 2020
Read this series with the kids ... with a few "we wouldn't do this in real life, right?!" caveats, I highly recommend!
November 10, 2020
I hated it it was boring and I read it for my book report and my teacher said that it was to young for me and I’m in 6th grade it was pretty bad
December 3, 2020
Solid 3rd/4th grade mystery option--well written, good characters, fine who-done-it to hand to your kiddo or read to them.
March 14, 2021
A good second book to a promising youth adventure series.
July 6, 2021
Review by E.B. : "A great book. Recommend for ages 12+."
March 10, 2017
I love this series. Kate Messner creates an action packed mystery with wonderful descriptions of locations involved. The locations, which are obviously well researched, come alive with sights, noises, and smells as the characters go through the story. If there is a down side, the characters could be better developed. While the action propelled me through the story, at the end I felt like I really didn't understand the characters very well. I highly recommend the series both for girls and boys, and personally look forward to the next one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews