First to Find

by Catherine Arguelles

Featuring Girls In STEM, a missing best friend, and the intrigue of geocaching, FIRST TO FIND is a high stakes adventure where kids are the heroes of their own stories.
Everyone assumes that 12yo Caitlin Mallory’s best friend Maisy Sutton drowned in the American River on Memorial Day weekend. But when Cait and her other best friend Lio find Maisy’s favorite bracelet in a geocache, they know Maisy might still be alive. As Cait and Lio search the woods along the river, new geocaches appear that contain more treasures connected to Maisy, and new friends shed light on possible suspects in Maisy’s disappearance. Working together, the friends hunt down the geocaches before other catchers intercept the clues, extinguishing the trail.

176 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2024

About the author

Catherine has worked as a counselor with middle school students, a fundraiser for non-profits, and is the proud parent of two feminist readers and three feline lap warmers. She lives in Northern California.

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the past few months, my daughter had been asking me to read her a geocaching book, but I couldn’t find one that fit the bill. Then, I stumbled upon this book not long after it was published. We ordered it on Amazon, planning to save it for Christmas, but we couldn’t wait and started reading it together right away. Each night, we read a little at a time, and she was captivated from the very beginning.

As we got closer to the end, our reading sessions stretched from the usual 15–20 minutes to much longer because she just couldn’t put it down—she had to know what happened next. Even her older brother overheard us reading and became intrigued. Soon, he was listening to every word, just as hooked as his sister.

They both absolutely loved the story and were completely captivated from start to finish. After we read the final page, my son immediately asked, “When does the sequel come out?” They insisted I give it five stars. It’s been so fun to see them so engaged with a book and its story.

[Catherine Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A signed copy of this book appeared in my little free library and I was intrigued by the premise. First to Find was a fun, fast-paced mystery with a twist I didn’t see coming. I finished it in an afternoon and really enjoyed it.

[Christine Letizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First to Find is a such a great find!

I enjoyed Catherine Arguelles' middle grade book, Flip Turns, and I was curious about a middle grade story with geocaching. First to Find is a MG mystery that takes place near Sacramento and centers around Caitlyn's missing friend, Maisy. When a mystery cacher drops new caches that seem to contain items connected to their missing friend, Caitlyn and Lio have to piece together the clues to find the girl and learn what happened to her.

I adored Caitlyn's determination to find her missing friend and unravel the mystery surrounding her disappearance. Cait's dynamic with her longtime friend, Lio, made them the perfect team, and geocaching was seamlessly blended into their journey to learn the truth.

This is a fun read with some surprising twists and turns. I think middle grade fans will absolutely love it like I did.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a perfect summer read. This page-turning mystery is not only engaging and intriguing, it also has lots of exciting twists and turns. Readers will enjoy the use of geocaches as clues to a missing girl's whereabouts, and the clues are skillfully revealed in a way that are plausible and will appeal to young readers interested in cracking the codes. Young audiences will also relate to Cait and her friends--and Cait offers a great representation of girls in STEM. Highly recommended for any and all library shelves!

[Lee Miao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes law enforcement doesn't have the time to really pursue all their cases. So when twelve-year-old Caitlin finds her best friend is still missing over the summer, she uses creative clues to go the extra mile. And thank goodness she does! I loved this mystery to not only learn about geocaching but also appreciated a girl’s determined outlook that led to hope. Middle schoolers with deep friendships will be inspired—get your copy now!

[Lisa Schmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

First to Find is a fast-paced mystery with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end! I especially liked how it introduces geocaching to kids who love the thrill of a treasure hunt. It has a very Nancy Drew feel with a modern-day spin. Be forewarned . . . After reading this book, your kids will want to go geocaching!