The Adventures of Peter Tate

by James King

Peter Tate has no idea that he is the most famous child in the country. Orphaned at an early age and raised in total isolation by a foster family of survivalists, he spends his days learning skills such as self-defense, weaponry, and bug eating. Peter dislikes the survivalist ways of the Judds and finds solace solving math problems and playing soccer. He yearns to see the world beyond the Judd Compound and discovers that he has a special gift – a photographic memory.Peter’s life takes a dramatic turn on his eleventh birthday when his true guardian, Jake Hartman, arrives with the news that Peter is the heir to a great fortune. Jake brought Peter to the Judds ten years earlier after a failed kidnapping attempt left Peter an orphan. The kidnapping had been carried out by someone close to the Tate family, and as the primary heir to the family fortune, Peter’s life was – and still is – in constant danger. Jake explains that the Judd family, albeit strange, offered a safe haven until Peter was old enough to learn the terms of his father’s will. According to the will, Peter takes full control of the family fortune upon his twenty-first birthday. Until then, he is to attend a very special school – Tate Academy. Founded and funded by Peter’s father, the exclusive school accepts only the top students in the country and entrance is based purely on merit – except in Peter’s case.Even though Peter quickly finds a roommate and best friend, the soccer star Carlos Hernandez, he still struggles to fit into the exclusive school. Peter’s spoiled and obnoxious cousin, Maximilian Tate, also attends the school. Peter’s run-ins with Maximilian and his sidekick Quinn frequently lead to trouble. Peter’s photographic memory helps him discover a hidden room and tunnels in the Civil War-era buildings that make up the school campus. Peter’s initial exploration of these hidden tunnels ends with an attempt on his life. Could it be Bill Campbell, the head of Tate Industries and the executor of the Tate estate, or Dr. Swarm the Headmaster at Tate Academy, or one of Peter’s surviving relatives – Uncle Morton, Aunt Eileen or their son Maximilian? Could Peter trust his guardian and the Head of Security at Tate Academy, Jake Hartman? Or is there someone else who stands to profit from the death of the richest boy in the world? Join Peter as he seeks to uncover his past in order to understand his future.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2013

About the author

There is more than one author in the database with this name. Not all books on this profile belong to the same person.

Reviews

[Dede Janzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could see this book becoming a movie. It starts out as a failed kidnapping attempt on Peter Tate. His guardian takes him to a compound that now days we would call "off the grid" until his 11th birthday. On his 11th birthday the guardian returns to the compound and picks up Peter and Peter finds out that he is the wealthiest kid in the world and he starts his new life at Tate Academy an Elite school founded by his deceased father. The book goes on about the school, his new friend and roommate, his soccer skills, and how someone is trying to murder him. In all the twists and turns it came as a surprise to me the attempted murderer. I really enjoyed this book and give it 5 stars.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy and fast story.

This story is a solid 3 stars. It was not groundbreaking but it was a nice story with a clean ending. The story is basically following Peter Tate through these adventures as he tries to solve the mystery on who killed his parents. It's not long that it drags on and it has a rewarding ending. If you like short middle grade stories then this is for you.

[Doreen Ashbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable to read. The plot kept my interest and my reaction to the characters was predictable. The one problem that I had was Peter's age - I realize that the circumstances of his upbringing gave him an advantage, but I just couldn't grasp an eleven year old pulling off some of the things that he managed. That being said, it was still fun book to read.

[Allison Hopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Adventurous

If teenage boys actually read books...mine doesn't...I believe this book would hold their attention. Adults, too. I read it in a day. A kidnapping, secrets, jealousy, a little blood, lol...it's all in there.

[Marissa Picone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read.

This book was a good quick read. The plot pulled me in and the character development was good. There were a few surprises as well.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the story cute, but fairly predictable. Great for a middle-grader, especially a boy.

I received this book through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Hikes in Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. Murder, kidnapping, survivalists, mysteries and unexplained happenings, vast inheritances, friends, enemies and some you can't tell if they're one or the other, all begin swirling around a young boy on his eleventh birthday. Someone is trying to kill him, for reasons unknown. But his keen mind holds keys, clues, and even a secret weapon!

Enjoyed this very much, and highly recommend it. Viewing other reviews, I noticed one suggesting it would make a good movie. I agree.