Revenge of Superstition Mountain

Missing on Superstition Mountain #3

by Elise Broach, Aleksey Ivanov (Illustrator)

In the third and final book in this action-packed trilogy, the Barker brothers and their good friend Delilah secretly climb up to Superstition Mountain one last time. There are still mysteries to solve—is the creepy librarian really the ghost of Julia Thomas from a century before? What was their uncle Hank's role in discovering the gold mine? Can they still get into the gold mine after the avalanche that nearly crushed them? Does their cat, Josie, have mysterious powers? And, most of all, who is trying to kill them?

Elise Broach delivers a page-turning finale to this top-drawer adventure trilogy.

A Christy Ottaviano Book

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Friendship

294 pages, Hardcover

Published August 26, 2014

About the author

Elise 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...

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars -- I love this author and this series. I am sad that I have finally read the last of the trilogy. But as Dr. Seuss once said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." This one involved the Barker brothers (Simon, Henry, & Jack) and their new best friend, Delilah, adding family, outsmarting bad guys, solving mysteries, and finding treasure - old & new. I love these characters, especially Henry with his wise words and old soul sayings. All of this added up to a really enjoyable time for me.

Favorite Quotes:
"Henry supposed that they (his parents) balanced each other out, and that maybe this was what you did when you chose somebody to marry -- tried to find someone who could fill your gaps." -- Omniscient narrator

"Maybe change was like that -- not steady and reliable, but gradual, unpredictable, and full of setbacks ... one step forward, two steps backward." -- Henry's thoughts

"Henry suddenly realized that the end point of life wasn't a cemetery. How could it be? Life went on and on, in letters and desks and inherited houses, in loves that lasted, in the tiny mysterious particles of genetic material that flowed through Uncle Hank and Mr. Barker and now through Henry himself. Uncle Hank wasn't gone. He was still here, in all of them, in so many different ways." -- Omniscient narrator

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part was when the mystery of what was really going on with the historical society was solved, and also when the gold for the three brothers was found. My least favorite part was when there was a flash flood and an avalanche when they were in the mountain again, and they barely managed to make it home and clean up in time for them not to get caught by their parents doing what they shouldn't be doing again.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying conclusion to the Superstition Mountain trilogy.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series was great from start to finish

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very satisfactory ending to the series--lots of adventure and so much more. Life lessons are learned, friendships are formed. Still slightly disappointed that no one was jabbed by a cactus spine with all the running through desert going on, but there's plenty of other desert intrigue to make up for it ;-)

I'm looking forward to my trip to the area in May. Definitely going to hike in the Superstitions (but on an established trail!).

[Alayna McCalla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great, it was a mystery. My favorite part is when they are in the mountains and something bad happens, (i cant tell you what.) I liked this book because it keeps you on edge. This book is the 3rd and the last in the series and it was my favorite one, because it was farther into the story so more things happen. I think people who like mystery books would love this book.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Barker brothers are back in the final installment of the Superstition Mountain trilogy. They and their friend Delilah found the mine in the mountains before it was buried by an avalanche in the last book. In this book they are trying to figure out what the mysterious historical society group is up to. They are back at the ghost town trying to find clues about the deathbed gold of Jacob Waltz and trying to figure out all the clues their uncle left them. The clues lead them to his long-time girlfriend and a plot in the cemetery. They also have to get back up to the mine and return the gold they took before the curse takes hold.

I read the first book in this series but not the second one. I am sure I missed out on some details but this final book does a nice job reminding the reader what has happened in the past. I like the fact that the mystery is based on actual historical events even if the contemporary people are not. I think that lends an aura of authenticity to the events in the books. I also enjoy the fact that this is also a book about family and the Barker family is very present although the parents do not seem to be as aware of their children's actions as they probably should be. Overall this is a fun mystery series for middle grade readers.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mysteries that have been puzzling the three Barker brothers and their friend Delilah are resolved in this the final book in the series. I won't spoil the fun for potential readers, but I will say that Uncle Henry turns out to have had a more complicated life than his family had realized. The youngsters once again barely escape death when they return to Superstition Mountain. Anyone who loves a good mystery or two and might relish a nighttime visit to a cemetery will enjoy this one. The characters are well drawn, and the competitive nature of Henry and Simon and their strange feelings toward Delilah as well as the odd behavior of Josie, the family cat, are described effectively here. One of the best parts of the book is how the author solves many of the mysteries while also leaving some events unexplained. Such is the way of life. Henry's reminder from his uncle to live well is a wonderful reminder for us all.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Revenge of Superstition Mountain is the third and final installation of a trilogy, which combines an old-fashioned style mystery with a modern day family. The three Barker brothers and their friend Delilah search for a missing gold mine on Superstition Mountain which leads to several harrowing adventures in a cemetery and during a flash flood in the mountains. This title wraps up the loose ends from the previous books. Legends from the Apache Indians and the Superstition Mountain range in Arizona are incorporated in the text and an author's note points out that there have been at least 7 deaths in the area since 2009. References to Uncle Hank dating around or possibly having "a kid or two we never knew about" seem inappropriate for younger readers.

[Clare Rossetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written third book in a series. I have not read the other two but was still able to follow the plot. I fully plan to read the first two volumes and add them as well to my library. There is several mysteries interwoven in the text-where is the mine and who are the people in town who are doubles for the characters from the past? What is their true goal? The children in the story are believable and would be good for a character study by students. The black and white illustrations are a great support for the text and they build the suspense that builds to an ending that is reasonable and leaves the reader feeling that reading this tale was time well spent.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

This whole trilogy should have been cut down to a single book. After having to wade through three mediocre books, the resolution was underwhelming. The so-called climax was not very exciting, and then everything got tied up nicely with little work.

Despite the historical basis for the story, it did not rise to the level of even a run-of-the-mill Hardy Boys mystery. Thoroughly ignorable.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fitting end to a great trilogy. This one was necessary to tie up loose ends, but it didn't have as much action as the others. Nonetheless, I readily recommend this to third through fifth/sixth grade readers. It's a fun adventure for the younger set.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting adventure and action throughout. Good ending to the trilogy. A little predictable but kids will appreciate having everything tied up with a bow.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was kind of scary. I like the mystery in it. But it was a very good book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love her writing. She is very descriptive and keeps my daughter guessing.

[Paula Tennill]

It was amazing

I love this book, it was full of suspense and adventure. This was in my opinion the best one, but I loved the series.