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The Mystery of Mystic Mountain
A girl tackles a summer filled with mystery, treasure, and learning to be her true self in this middle grade adventure that’s a modern-day Holes set on a dusty dude ranch in Montana.Becca Soloway’s perfect summer goes up in smoke when her mom flees a looming divorce by dragging Becca to a Montana resort. To make matters worse, her mom’s hasty booking lands them not at a spa, but an aging dude ranch called Far Away. Becca is miserable until she meets the wrangler’s son, Jon, who shows her what might be the first clue to a century-old the lost treasure of a Robin Hood–like outlaw known as Pearlhandle Pete. As they slowly uncover the true history of Pete, venture into the mountains, search haunted ghost towns, and are threatened by a treasure-hunter-social-media star, Becca discovers that treasure is in the eye of the beholder and the important things in life are always worth fighting for.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published October 22, 2024
5 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Janet Fox
30 books260 followersAuthor of award-winning fiction and non-fiction for young readers. (NOT Janet Kaye Fox)
Published books:
"Get Organized Without Losing It" (middle grade, Free Spirit Publishing, 2017, new edition)
"Faithful" (young adult, Penguin/Speak, 2010)
"Forgiven" (young adult, Speak, 2011)
"Sirens" - (young adult, Speak 2012)
"The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle" - (middle grade, Viking, 2016)
"Volcano Dreams" - picture book, Web of Life Books, September 2018
"The Artifact Hunters" - middle grade, Viking 2020
"Carry Me Home" - middle grade, Simon & Schuster 2021
"Wintergarden" - picture book, Neal Porter, 2023
Published books:
"Get Organized Without Losing It" (middle grade, Free Spirit Publishing, 2017, new edition)
"Faithful" (young adult, Penguin/Speak, 2010)
"Forgiven" (young adult, Speak, 2011)
"Sirens" - (young adult, Speak 2012)
"The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle" - (middle grade, Viking, 2016)
"Volcano Dreams" - picture book, Web of Life Books, September 2018
"The Artifact Hunters" - middle grade, Viking 2020
"Carry Me Home" - middle grade, Simon & Schuster 2021
"Wintergarden" - picture book, Neal Porter, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 8, 2024
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
“To mend a broken heart, put two together.”
When her parents decide to take some time away from each other to have a chance to find themselves, before an impending divorce, thirteen-year-old Becca Soloway thinks she's going to spend a month of her summer with her mother relaxing at a luxurious spa. Instead, because of her mother's less than attentive booking skills, they wind up at a less than stellar dude ranch in Montana, Far Away Ranch - 'this place may be old, but it’s hiding something magical inside its walls.' Becca is all set to be as miserable as possible, until she meets the wrangler's son, Jon, who asks her to join him on a treasure hunt, in the hopes of finding 'the long-lost buried treasure of the mysterious, elusive outlaw, Pearlhandle Pete. 🤠 As she and her friends set off on the dangerous and cryptic adventure to uncover The Mystery of Mystic Mountain, in the hopes of finding it before a zealous-treasure-hunter YouTube star discovers its first, Becca learns a little bit about herself and learning the importance of what the true treasures in life are worth fighting for. 💎🫶🏻
“Because having his friendship and this scavenger hunt was suddenly super important. Otherwise, all she’d be doing was feeling miserable about what she was missing, and why her family seemed to be collapsing around her.”
With 'so many puzzles and mysteries, so many questions' - but the interesting part is that it doesn't only relate to the buried treasure Becca and her friends are in search for. As awesome and fun as it would be to stumble upon riches that could potentially even assist her with her only family's financial issues - mainly ones which she overheard about herself that has been weighing on her heavily, not realizing that she could have ever been a burden to her parents - Becca is hopeful that it could help her figure out her own feelings about who she really was and what was truly important.' The kinds of friends - old and new - who will accept her for who she is and not the mask she pretends to be. 😥 And for those two forces to coincide and build up together was nicely done. I liked seeing Becca embrace new challenges and take courage in herself; to be a better and likeable person to Jon and the other kids on the ranch. It's a relatable feeling of wanting to impress others, despite the shoddy situation we may be in, but to see Becca appreciate that which she wanted to hide, was a rewarding moment. 👏🏻👏🏻
I was pleasantly surprised that we got to have another perspective of Jon and how his own past ties into the treasure he hopes to find. His own personal struggles with his father's job - his ties to the ranch - his desire to befriend Becca because of his own loneliness as the only kid here - it was believable and touched upon nicely. 'Jon wished he could feel a change made from love. Or even friendship.' ❤️🩹❤️🩹 I really liked how they became friends and trusted each other with their feelings and fears; that scene when he confessed his sadness was such a palpable and real one - one not hinted with attraction, but friendship - compassionate and caring. And for Jon to bring that part of Becca out - to understand the strengths and good in her was done well. 🫂
“There was something beyond what he could see and touch, something bigger than himself, bigger than even the treasure, big enough to change everything. It was all part of the plan.”
And amidst the emotional onslaught, there is also a steady balance of adventure and danger and intrigue that is nicely played out - 'high, majestic Mystic Mountain, which hovered behind Far Away Ranch like a protective spirit.' The secrets buried away that hide more truths than any of them anticipated. The risks they took and the challenges they faced were written in a believable way, and I liked hunting down the clues along with them. There truly is something mystical about seeking out a connection to the past - one in which, we don't know any truth to, but hope it will hold the answers we're hoping for. And to see others just as desperate - if not even more crazed in their search for it - definitely spices up the action! 😅 And Tad proved to be - an engaging villain, I'll definitely give him that. Not so much of a caricature, but one that made the threat and desperation in finding the treasure before him all that more necessary. So, to tie in well with not only the nature of their surroundings, as well as the present day mold that middle grade readers of now will relate to was effectively done. ✨
I liked that the author did not beat around the bush in giving Becca a chance to express how upset she was with her parents' divorce; it showed a lot of maturity and I appreciated that she did not hesitate in being honest with her mother. The fears and insecurities she had about the changes the divorce would bring to their lives and their hearts - 'would her dad slice her mom out of the picture like that?' 🥺 But, as much as the divorce was a looming discomfort over her heart, I don't think it effectively played out towards the end; her mother did assuage her concerns, but how easily she was able to handle it otherwise felt a bit rushed and not as believable as I would have liked. 😐 I was happy for her, as Becca was, too, but it did not quite work for me; it felt a little too hasty and - not unpredictable, but just seemed a bit too convenient. The addition of the mystical feels definitely was an interesting touch; I liked how it played an effective part in certain scenes, how it amped up the ghostly and eerie vibes, a haunting presence that was striving for the truth to come out. At one point, I actually thought a ghost would appear, but even the wispy mist was enough to heighten the mood. 👍🏻
“Now, don’t you worry. There’s always a reason folks land here at Far Away Ranch. Trust the plan.”
But, I also felt that it didn't quite seem fitting for a few parts - namely with Jon's Grandmother; it did not translate as effectively as it could have, which kinda threw me off. While the eventual reveal was a bit predictable, I enjoyed reading the build-up to it; how the kids pieced the puzzles together and the eventual closure that came with it. It was a heartwarming and sincere rush, one that was fitting to each of them. What made it slightly more difficult to appreciate was the formatting and retelling of the histories; as in the style of story-telling was a bit confusing and not as clear as it could have been. 😕 I get that it was intended that way - so that when the pieces would fall into place, it would be an impactful one, but it was hard to follow through. It could have benefited by having a chapter break in the narrative, rather than it read as a continuation into the story. It would have then sunk in more, rather than this choppiness that made it harder for me to get into the past, which definitely held a lot of heart and thought to it, but just didn't hit me as hard as it could have. 😞
The ending was a sweet and wholesome one. one that shined well in showing Becca's growth and the future in which she would be more confident and assured of herself. Pearhandle Pete's past, too, was a heartbreaking one; it made Becca appreciate the treasures that she has been blessed with - the love and possibilities and friendships she has been given, as compared to what Pete had to go through. 'Maybe it’s never too late to learn something about myself. About who I am and what’s important.' That life may not follow a concrete plan, but it is those struggles in our lives and those of yesteryear that teach us to be better people. And while the dude ranch had not been where she wished to have spent her summer, but the experiences and relationships she walked away with, was more than she ever thought she could have had, and for what she is truly grateful for. 💌
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
“To mend a broken heart, put two together.”
When her parents decide to take some time away from each other to have a chance to find themselves, before an impending divorce, thirteen-year-old Becca Soloway thinks she's going to spend a month of her summer with her mother relaxing at a luxurious spa. Instead, because of her mother's less than attentive booking skills, they wind up at a less than stellar dude ranch in Montana, Far Away Ranch - 'this place may be old, but it’s hiding something magical inside its walls.' Becca is all set to be as miserable as possible, until she meets the wrangler's son, Jon, who asks her to join him on a treasure hunt, in the hopes of finding 'the long-lost buried treasure of the mysterious, elusive outlaw, Pearlhandle Pete. 🤠 As she and her friends set off on the dangerous and cryptic adventure to uncover The Mystery of Mystic Mountain, in the hopes of finding it before a zealous-treasure-hunter YouTube star discovers its first, Becca learns a little bit about herself and learning the importance of what the true treasures in life are worth fighting for. 💎🫶🏻
“Because having his friendship and this scavenger hunt was suddenly super important. Otherwise, all she’d be doing was feeling miserable about what she was missing, and why her family seemed to be collapsing around her.”
With 'so many puzzles and mysteries, so many questions' - but the interesting part is that it doesn't only relate to the buried treasure Becca and her friends are in search for. As awesome and fun as it would be to stumble upon riches that could potentially even assist her with her only family's financial issues - mainly ones which she overheard about herself that has been weighing on her heavily, not realizing that she could have ever been a burden to her parents - Becca is hopeful that it could help her figure out her own feelings about who she really was and what was truly important.' The kinds of friends - old and new - who will accept her for who she is and not the mask she pretends to be. 😥 And for those two forces to coincide and build up together was nicely done. I liked seeing Becca embrace new challenges and take courage in herself; to be a better and likeable person to Jon and the other kids on the ranch. It's a relatable feeling of wanting to impress others, despite the shoddy situation we may be in, but to see Becca appreciate that which she wanted to hide, was a rewarding moment. 👏🏻👏🏻
I was pleasantly surprised that we got to have another perspective of Jon and how his own past ties into the treasure he hopes to find. His own personal struggles with his father's job - his ties to the ranch - his desire to befriend Becca because of his own loneliness as the only kid here - it was believable and touched upon nicely. 'Jon wished he could feel a change made from love. Or even friendship.' ❤️🩹❤️🩹 I really liked how they became friends and trusted each other with their feelings and fears; that scene when he confessed his sadness was such a palpable and real one - one not hinted with attraction, but friendship - compassionate and caring. And for Jon to bring that part of Becca out - to understand the strengths and good in her was done well. 🫂
“There was something beyond what he could see and touch, something bigger than himself, bigger than even the treasure, big enough to change everything. It was all part of the plan.”
And amidst the emotional onslaught, there is also a steady balance of adventure and danger and intrigue that is nicely played out - 'high, majestic Mystic Mountain, which hovered behind Far Away Ranch like a protective spirit.' The secrets buried away that hide more truths than any of them anticipated. The risks they took and the challenges they faced were written in a believable way, and I liked hunting down the clues along with them. There truly is something mystical about seeking out a connection to the past - one in which, we don't know any truth to, but hope it will hold the answers we're hoping for. And to see others just as desperate - if not even more crazed in their search for it - definitely spices up the action! 😅 And Tad proved to be - an engaging villain, I'll definitely give him that. Not so much of a caricature, but one that made the threat and desperation in finding the treasure before him all that more necessary. So, to tie in well with not only the nature of their surroundings, as well as the present day mold that middle grade readers of now will relate to was effectively done. ✨
I liked that the author did not beat around the bush in giving Becca a chance to express how upset she was with her parents' divorce; it showed a lot of maturity and I appreciated that she did not hesitate in being honest with her mother. The fears and insecurities she had about the changes the divorce would bring to their lives and their hearts - 'would her dad slice her mom out of the picture like that?' 🥺 But, as much as the divorce was a looming discomfort over her heart, I don't think it effectively played out towards the end; her mother did assuage her concerns, but how easily she was able to handle it otherwise felt a bit rushed and not as believable as I would have liked. 😐 I was happy for her, as Becca was, too, but it did not quite work for me; it felt a little too hasty and - not unpredictable, but just seemed a bit too convenient. The addition of the mystical feels definitely was an interesting touch; I liked how it played an effective part in certain scenes, how it amped up the ghostly and eerie vibes, a haunting presence that was striving for the truth to come out. At one point, I actually thought a ghost would appear, but even the wispy mist was enough to heighten the mood. 👍🏻
“Now, don’t you worry. There’s always a reason folks land here at Far Away Ranch. Trust the plan.”
But, I also felt that it didn't quite seem fitting for a few parts - namely with Jon's Grandmother; it did not translate as effectively as it could have, which kinda threw me off. While the eventual reveal was a bit predictable, I enjoyed reading the build-up to it; how the kids pieced the puzzles together and the eventual closure that came with it. It was a heartwarming and sincere rush, one that was fitting to each of them. What made it slightly more difficult to appreciate was the formatting and retelling of the histories; as in the style of story-telling was a bit confusing and not as clear as it could have been. 😕 I get that it was intended that way - so that when the pieces would fall into place, it would be an impactful one, but it was hard to follow through. It could have benefited by having a chapter break in the narrative, rather than it read as a continuation into the story. It would have then sunk in more, rather than this choppiness that made it harder for me to get into the past, which definitely held a lot of heart and thought to it, but just didn't hit me as hard as it could have. 😞
The ending was a sweet and wholesome one. one that shined well in showing Becca's growth and the future in which she would be more confident and assured of herself. Pearhandle Pete's past, too, was a heartbreaking one; it made Becca appreciate the treasures that she has been blessed with - the love and possibilities and friendships she has been given, as compared to what Pete had to go through. 'Maybe it’s never too late to learn something about myself. About who I am and what’s important.' That life may not follow a concrete plan, but it is those struggles in our lives and those of yesteryear that teach us to be better people. And while the dude ranch had not been where she wished to have spent her summer, but the experiences and relationships she walked away with, was more than she ever thought she could have had, and for what she is truly grateful for. 💌
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2025
A well-written MG mystery with a sweet protaginist and a solid cast of supporting characters. Fun clues are dropped all along the trail of a fully realized setting.
June 24, 2024
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
Becca Solway has her summer all planned; she's going to hang out with Kasie and the popular crowd at the beach, date Tommy, and not think about her parents fighting all the time. Instead, her mother whisks her away from Connecticut to Montana for a month at a spa resort. However, when they arrive, they realize that the booking was not made for the posh Get Away Ranch, with its masseurs and hot tubs, but rather the Far Away Ranch run by Terry, with iffy WiFi and even iffier food. Since it's already been paid for, the two must make do. Becca starts to go into the woods, but is stopped by Jon, whose father works at the ranch, and told she needs boots and Bear spray if she wishes to venture further. Back at the lodge, they see Tad Lochster, the YouTube star who is always posting about extreme adventures, and Becca is concerned that her mother looks at him with some interest. Jon, whose mother has passed away, has encouraged his father to come to the ranch based on the stories his Gram, who has also passed away, told him about Pearhandle Pete back in the last century. Jon thinks if he can find Pete's treasure, it would help his father, who is "buried in sadness". Becca is interested in the story even though she is still embroiled in friend drama between Kasie and her former best friend Ameerah back home, whenever there is WiFi. She also has odd run ins with the unhappy looking but cute Liam, as well as his sister, Finn. Jon and Becca have one clue to work with, and follow it into the mountains, where they narrowly escape a rattlesnake but find a clue in a metal canister with a picture and the word "mica" wedged on a rock ledge. When Becca is talking to Terry about the history of the ranch, she sees a display case with a slab of mica in it, and when she and Jon sneak down and get into the case, they find an envelope under the mineral. Tad knows what they are up to, and is also determined to find the treasure, and since Becca's mother seems to be off on her own without telling Becca what she is doing, Becca suspects her mother might be hanging out with him! When there's a trip to the ghost town of Piney Ridge, the kids are able to follow the clue for a "locked box", but almost get locked into a bank vault. They get a safety deposit box, and are rescued by Tad, but he later tries to steal it from them. There's a bear attack, more ghost sightings by Liam, who has ESP, and a lot of the story that Gram told Jon. When a clue is found in the grandfather clock at the ranch, Jon and Becca manage to arrange a five day family pack trip to find a cave. When Tad follows them, they learn that he might be buying the entire ranch from Terry, who is in financial difficulties, and that the sale might contain the treasure! Will the kids be able to find out secrets about the past and thwart the YouTube star?
Strengths: Who doesn't want to be able to spend a month at a dude ranch in Montana? Sign me up! Becca makes the most of her visit, and is glad to help out Jon with her knowledge of geology. A treasure hunt would also be a lot of fun, and there was something about Jon and Becca joining forces with Liam and Finn that felt very much like a Donna Parker mystery. There's some old timey history, a sad family story, and various kinds of treasure-- I don't want to spoil too much here! The inclusion of Tad makes this a little more modern, and I rather enjoyed Becca's mom's new diversion and her new lease on life.
Weaknesses: There's a LOT going on here. As popular as friend drama is in middle grade literature, I would have removed that from the book, since the friends are back in Connecticut. Also, ghost towns featured largely in kids fiction from the 1950s-1970s (think about the Brady Bunch's adventure to one), but that was fifty or more years ago. Would there still be a safety deposit box intact? The clues would have had to hang around for well over a hundred years, if not 140. Nobody ever dusted the mica?
What I really think: Despite the Scooby-Doo like villain (Tad actually stomps, and I could imagine him muttering "meddling kids" to himself!), and the suspension of disbelief about the canisters wedged in rock ledges, I really enjoyed this book. Young readers who enjoy clue oriented mysteries and outdoor adventures will pick this one up, especially with this great cover.
Becca Solway has her summer all planned; she's going to hang out with Kasie and the popular crowd at the beach, date Tommy, and not think about her parents fighting all the time. Instead, her mother whisks her away from Connecticut to Montana for a month at a spa resort. However, when they arrive, they realize that the booking was not made for the posh Get Away Ranch, with its masseurs and hot tubs, but rather the Far Away Ranch run by Terry, with iffy WiFi and even iffier food. Since it's already been paid for, the two must make do. Becca starts to go into the woods, but is stopped by Jon, whose father works at the ranch, and told she needs boots and Bear spray if she wishes to venture further. Back at the lodge, they see Tad Lochster, the YouTube star who is always posting about extreme adventures, and Becca is concerned that her mother looks at him with some interest. Jon, whose mother has passed away, has encouraged his father to come to the ranch based on the stories his Gram, who has also passed away, told him about Pearhandle Pete back in the last century. Jon thinks if he can find Pete's treasure, it would help his father, who is "buried in sadness". Becca is interested in the story even though she is still embroiled in friend drama between Kasie and her former best friend Ameerah back home, whenever there is WiFi. She also has odd run ins with the unhappy looking but cute Liam, as well as his sister, Finn. Jon and Becca have one clue to work with, and follow it into the mountains, where they narrowly escape a rattlesnake but find a clue in a metal canister with a picture and the word "mica" wedged on a rock ledge. When Becca is talking to Terry about the history of the ranch, she sees a display case with a slab of mica in it, and when she and Jon sneak down and get into the case, they find an envelope under the mineral. Tad knows what they are up to, and is also determined to find the treasure, and since Becca's mother seems to be off on her own without telling Becca what she is doing, Becca suspects her mother might be hanging out with him! When there's a trip to the ghost town of Piney Ridge, the kids are able to follow the clue for a "locked box", but almost get locked into a bank vault. They get a safety deposit box, and are rescued by Tad, but he later tries to steal it from them. There's a bear attack, more ghost sightings by Liam, who has ESP, and a lot of the story that Gram told Jon. When a clue is found in the grandfather clock at the ranch, Jon and Becca manage to arrange a five day family pack trip to find a cave. When Tad follows them, they learn that he might be buying the entire ranch from Terry, who is in financial difficulties, and that the sale might contain the treasure! Will the kids be able to find out secrets about the past and thwart the YouTube star?
Strengths: Who doesn't want to be able to spend a month at a dude ranch in Montana? Sign me up! Becca makes the most of her visit, and is glad to help out Jon with her knowledge of geology. A treasure hunt would also be a lot of fun, and there was something about Jon and Becca joining forces with Liam and Finn that felt very much like a Donna Parker mystery. There's some old timey history, a sad family story, and various kinds of treasure-- I don't want to spoil too much here! The inclusion of Tad makes this a little more modern, and I rather enjoyed Becca's mom's new diversion and her new lease on life.
Weaknesses: There's a LOT going on here. As popular as friend drama is in middle grade literature, I would have removed that from the book, since the friends are back in Connecticut. Also, ghost towns featured largely in kids fiction from the 1950s-1970s (think about the Brady Bunch's adventure to one), but that was fifty or more years ago. Would there still be a safety deposit box intact? The clues would have had to hang around for well over a hundred years, if not 140. Nobody ever dusted the mica?
What I really think: Despite the Scooby-Doo like villain (Tad actually stomps, and I could imagine him muttering "meddling kids" to himself!), and the suspension of disbelief about the canisters wedged in rock ledges, I really enjoyed this book. Young readers who enjoy clue oriented mysteries and outdoor adventures will pick this one up, especially with this great cover.
November 11, 2024
I love the map on the first pages, I am highly a fan of books that have maps so I can see what the world looks like. This is the story of Becca who is our FMC and she is in seventh grade going into eighth grade. She is in that age where middle schoolers start noticing boys and girls and vice versa. She is looking forward to the summer relaxing at a beach and her and her mother and at a place called faraway which does not have a beach. Becca's mom has someone else books the trip and it is not what they expect. You end up at a ranch vacation which is similar in name to the other resort stay in another town over. And how is that this is the worst summer of her life when she was expecting the best summer of her life.
I really quite enjoyed the story overall as the author knows how to write an engaging middle school read for adults who like me haven't truly grown-up or middle school kids. Becca's mom is like many moms who made a mistake and is trying to make the best of it even though they are booked for a month at a place that they were not expecting. I like that part of the story as a mom sometimes things happen, and we learn to make the best of it. I was very realistic, and I liked this point. Her mom and dad are going through troubles and back once to go home but knows that is not the best idea since she doesn't want her parents to drift more apart. I don't have any experience with parents who are having trouble since I had a family that was not broken when I was a kid however I could see how that would need to be important, and I like the author incorporating that into the story for kids who are going through that kind of a thing with their own parents. I also love that the ends how Becca comes to terms with her summer and finds that what she received was exactly what she needed maybe not what she wanted that is also a great point that the author makes!
I highly recommend this book to middle schoolers who are going through family problems and also want to take a trip to a place that is off the beaten track!
I really quite enjoyed the story overall as the author knows how to write an engaging middle school read for adults who like me haven't truly grown-up or middle school kids. Becca's mom is like many moms who made a mistake and is trying to make the best of it even though they are booked for a month at a place that they were not expecting. I like that part of the story as a mom sometimes things happen, and we learn to make the best of it. I was very realistic, and I liked this point. Her mom and dad are going through troubles and back once to go home but knows that is not the best idea since she doesn't want her parents to drift more apart. I don't have any experience with parents who are having trouble since I had a family that was not broken when I was a kid however I could see how that would need to be important, and I like the author incorporating that into the story for kids who are going through that kind of a thing with their own parents. I also love that the ends how Becca comes to terms with her summer and finds that what she received was exactly what she needed maybe not what she wanted that is also a great point that the author makes!
I highly recommend this book to middle schoolers who are going through family problems and also want to take a trip to a place that is off the beaten track!
September 24, 2024
✨Book Review✨
🧙⛰️🐴The Mystery of Mystic Mountain 🐴⛰️🧙
Synopsis:
Nearly 13-Year-Old Becca + Mother-Daughter Summer Getaway After Becca’s Parents Announce Their Separation + Spa Booking Error Turns Into A Stay at a Dude Ranch with Sketchy WiFi + Treasure-Hunting Mystery + Family Secrets + A Need for Bear Spray + A YouTube Star + A Whole Lot of Drama Back Home
My thoughts:
🤔 Whew! There’s a lot going on here! So much to unpack! We’ve got parents possibly separating, friend drama back home, a spa resort mix-up, a new (possible) friend Jon who is dealing with the loss of his grandma, a long-lost treasure to find, a suspicious (and annoying) YouTube star who seems to be spending a lot of time with Becca’s mom, bears to look out for, possibly some otherworldly spirits lurking about, and some gentle thrills and chills. I told you! It’s a lot!
🤔 It took about ¼ of the way into the book to really get into the mystery. I, personally, would have appreciated more focus on the mystery, but I think many middle grade readers will appreciate the family and friend drama.
🤔 The language used is very relatable and current. I caught the words “bougie” and “jelly.”
🤔 Once I got into the mystery, I was hooked! I also thought that the book included some very thoughtful conversations about some tough topics such as death, grief, friendship, family dynamics, and being true to yourself.
Who is going to love it? Middle Grade Readers who love….
❤ Treasure-Hunting Mysteries
❤️ Dusty Dude Ranch Settings (Montana)
❤️ Family and Friend Drama
❤️ Holes by Louis Sachar
📢This one releases October 22, 2024! You can preorder now!
🥰Thank you to @SimonandSchuster Books for Young Readers and @NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
🧙⛰️🐴The Mystery of Mystic Mountain 🐴⛰️🧙
Synopsis:
Nearly 13-Year-Old Becca + Mother-Daughter Summer Getaway After Becca’s Parents Announce Their Separation + Spa Booking Error Turns Into A Stay at a Dude Ranch with Sketchy WiFi + Treasure-Hunting Mystery + Family Secrets + A Need for Bear Spray + A YouTube Star + A Whole Lot of Drama Back Home
My thoughts:
🤔 Whew! There’s a lot going on here! So much to unpack! We’ve got parents possibly separating, friend drama back home, a spa resort mix-up, a new (possible) friend Jon who is dealing with the loss of his grandma, a long-lost treasure to find, a suspicious (and annoying) YouTube star who seems to be spending a lot of time with Becca’s mom, bears to look out for, possibly some otherworldly spirits lurking about, and some gentle thrills and chills. I told you! It’s a lot!
🤔 It took about ¼ of the way into the book to really get into the mystery. I, personally, would have appreciated more focus on the mystery, but I think many middle grade readers will appreciate the family and friend drama.
🤔 The language used is very relatable and current. I caught the words “bougie” and “jelly.”
🤔 Once I got into the mystery, I was hooked! I also thought that the book included some very thoughtful conversations about some tough topics such as death, grief, friendship, family dynamics, and being true to yourself.
Who is going to love it? Middle Grade Readers who love….
❤ Treasure-Hunting Mysteries
❤️ Dusty Dude Ranch Settings (Montana)
❤️ Family and Friend Drama
❤️ Holes by Louis Sachar
📢This one releases October 22, 2024! You can preorder now!
🥰Thank you to @SimonandSchuster Books for Young Readers and @NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2025
Seventh grader, Becca is looking forward to a summer on the Long Island Sound beach near her Connecticut home with new popular “friends” as she turns away from her bestie and fellow Mathlete nerd, Ameerah. But her parents have been fighting with such rancor, Becca’s mom arranges for a 3-week vacation at Far Away Ranch in the Piney Woods near Mystic Mountain in Montana! No spa amenities here! However, she meets Jon, son of the head wrangler, and finds a kinship over a puzzling mystery. Steeped in history, the two get entwined in a treasure hunt for the lost loot of outlaw, Pearlhandle Pete and Jackson P. Cooke, founder of the log ranch. Becca excels at puzzles and riddles, and cooperates with Jon to solve the convoluted clues. Along the way she makes other friends as well, and learns who she really wants to be: kind, closer to her mom, and a good friend. With a complicated plot (involving a vile social media influencer) and tangled clues, it’s a good read for middle-grade mystery lovers.
October 24, 2024
I love a story set in Big Sky country and the promise of a Holes type of mystery treasure hunt was so inviting. And they put horses on the cover! 🐴
One of the best things about this modern dude ranch mystery was the lack of internet access. At the beginning there is almost no connection to be had. That forced the Becca, Jon, and the other kids at the ranch to spend time outside. They will eventually team up to solve a mystery. Instead of "loving treasure" they will learn to "treasure love." And there is a character named Pearlhandle Pete. 🤠What?! Next to the horses that might be my favorite part.
A big thank you to my Goodreads friend Amina for posting a review on this book. She was not as big of a fan as I was, but in my defense I was just in Big Sky country (near Bozeman) to visit family earlier this month.
A big thank you to Simon & Schuster for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Happy Publication Week!🥳
One of the best things about this modern dude ranch mystery was the lack of internet access. At the beginning there is almost no connection to be had. That forced the Becca, Jon, and the other kids at the ranch to spend time outside. They will eventually team up to solve a mystery. Instead of "loving treasure" they will learn to "treasure love." And there is a character named Pearlhandle Pete. 🤠What?! Next to the horses that might be my favorite part.
A big thank you to my Goodreads friend Amina for posting a review on this book. She was not as big of a fan as I was, but in my defense I was just in Big Sky country (near Bozeman) to visit family earlier this month.
A big thank you to Simon & Schuster for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Happy Publication Week!🥳
December 27, 2025
Becca is looking forward to a fun summer spa getaway with her mom and is hoping that her parents' time away from each other will help them realize how much they don't want to get divorced. But when she and her mom end up at a dude ranch, it's anything but spa-like! And her mom and dad seem to be enjoying the time away from each other too much. But when she finds some other kids her age who are also struggling with different family issues and they realize the ranch has a century-old mystery, they decide to solve it!
Cute middle grade mystery with family and friendship issues.
6:33hr
Cute middle grade mystery with family and friendship issues.
6:33hr
July 26, 2024
Almost-13-year-old Becca Soloway relishes the chance to bond with her mom on a girls-only vacation following her parents' decision to separate, but when a booking error strands them at a dude ranch with no wi-fi or spa treatments, Becca is drawn into a treasure-hunting mystery that turns up restless spirits.
Readers willing to overlook some inconsistencies in plot and characterization will find this contemporary update of Holes to be a fun summer read.
Readers willing to overlook some inconsistencies in plot and characterization will find this contemporary update of Holes to be a fun summer read.
May 25, 2025
It took me a little while to get into this book and story. There is lots going on and the storytelling is inconsistent, making some of the plot points hard to put together. You have to be willing to suspend your disbelief with several parts of the story and the ending will either seem very sweet or very disappointing depending on what you were hoping for.
September 11, 2025
This is a great story for middle readers. The protagonist dealt with relatable issues and was easy to cheer for. I loved the emphasis on friendship, being true to yourself, and teamwork. The mystery was fun to solve with clues dropped in along the way and there was a sweet little twist at the end.
Want to read
June 23, 2024"a modern-day Holes set on a dusty dude ranch in Montana"
sold
sold
Read
September 23, 2024Reviewing for a professional journal
November 18, 2024
Nancy Drew had real problems to solve and would learn and grow she could be solving this mystery! Beautifully paced!
November 21, 2024
Really entertaining adventure/mystery novel. Lots to keep kids entertained, even if the big plot twist was pretty predictable
February 17, 2025
Sweet and packed with action, a nice summer read though a bit forgettable.
March 12, 2025
Loved this mystery, loved the Montana setting, loved the characters!
July 22, 2025
Terrible! The characters weren't relatable in the least, and john was SOO overly dramatic. DO NOT RECOMEND
November 26, 2025
Middle grade fiction, adventure. Becca is excited about her summer ahead- a chance to hang out with the popular kids and see what she's been missing. But her parents want some time apart, so Becca gets dragged to a dude ranch out west. The internet is spotty, bear spray is apparently a legitimate need, and Becca is not sure how to entertain herself. She finds Jon, the wrangler's son, who is about her age. He confides that he is trying to solve a real life mystery/treasure hunt. Together they start to explore the ranch, finding clues, and solving riddles. But social media star Tad has also ended up at Far Away Ranch, and seems a little too interested in their hunt.
This story features both a male and female protagonist, with a friendship and purpose bonding them together rather than any romance. There are adventures both with and without adults, and also discussions about what kind of a person you want to be. This is a really fun book, with the mountain setting making it different from so many contemporary children's books.
This story features both a male and female protagonist, with a friendship and purpose bonding them together rather than any romance. There are adventures both with and without adults, and also discussions about what kind of a person you want to be. This is a really fun book, with the mountain setting making it different from so many contemporary children's books.
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