Manhunt

Silver Jaguar Society Mysteries #3

by Kate Messner

When the world's greatest masterpieces are stolen, it's up to three kids to track down the culprits! Henry, Anna, and Jose head from Boston to Paris for their most dangerous mission to solve the mystery of an international art heist! Shortly after they arrive, they learn that a member of the Silver Jaguar Society is working as a double agent, passing information to the criminal gang the Serpentine Princes -- but who could it be? When the senior members of the Society go missing, it's up to Henry, Anna, Jose, and their smug new comrade, Hem, to mount a rescue while staying hot on the trail of a missing masterpiece. Running around -- and below -- a foreign city filled with doppelgangers, decoys, and deceit, the three sleuths discover they're the only hope for the Society's survival!

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Adventure, Art, Childrens, Novels, Young Adult

309 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 24, 2014

About the author

Kate 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

Reviews

[Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this series just keeps getting better. The Silver Jaguar Society's mission in Paris is well-researched, well-written, and a whole lot of fun!!!

**I read an ARC courtesy of Netgalley**

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first book. Messner brings Paris to life, creates complex new characters and heaps plenty of troubles on Henry, Anna and Jose.

#bookaday -- 2

[Abby Irwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. I liked some parts but most of it wasn't as good as the other books. I kept waiting for Henry's big breakthrough but it never happened. I was super excited for this one so overall a little disappointing.

[Melissapalmer404 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #103 Read in 2014
Manhunt by Kate Messner (YA)

This is the third book in a young adult mystery series but I was able to have no issues with not reading the two prior books (though I did order the first book in the series to read because I enjoyed this one so much). Henry, Anna and Jose are junior members of a secret society committed to keep artistic masterpieces safe. Their parents or aunts and uncles are adult members of this society and are trying to recover multiple stolen pieces while protecting those not yet taken. This book had a good mystery to it and good literary and artistic allusions. Fans of Chasing Vermeer would like this series. I would recommend it for middle school to high school students. I borrowed this book from my town library.

http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manhunt by Kate Messner - Mystery/Adventure – 4th grade and up – so happy I had the time to read this book. Brilliant adventure, especially for those who want to mentally romp around Paris while suspensefully reading through pages to see what will happen next to their favorite characters. I just never wrap my mind around the idea that people want to steal brilliant artwork from galleries which can be admired by hundreds/thousands to hide it away for just a few eyes or even one set of eyes… So many missing art mysteries in the world… Love this series, quite recommended!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me want to jump on a plane and head to Paris. I want to see those catacombs!

[Erica Donoho · Rating 4 out of 5]

My family loved reading this series together. My criticism and caution would be an overuse of words like stupid and dumb. While I realize these are not terrible words, the repetition of them made the book feel less readable. The words we read stick in our minds and come out of our mouths in conversation. I think books for students can be written in a beautiful way without these words throughout the text.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA mystery novel where kids and parents worked together to thwart the thieves as they race across the world to rescue pieces of art.
While there are some kids that seem to go against what is right, the main kids of the story are always seeking to do right, despite their confusion. I didn't see anything that would hard for readers age 10-15.

[Susanne Scheppmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute YA mystery. My 11 year old granddaughter reads this series, so I am too.

[Jez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Silver Jaguar Society books are like putting a puzzle together. Even when it's time to turn off the lights for bed, it's hard to do so because I'm wondering what will happen next.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with my 11-year old and we were both on the edge of our seats. Great fun read!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great series to read aloud with kiddos ... action, adventure, mystery ... I enjoyed them as much as the kids!

[Yvonne Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting! And it takes place in Paris!

[Galion Public Library Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by E.B. : "Had a lot of action. You could almost feel like [you] were there."

[Tina Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, entertaining JF mystery that takes place in Paris.

[Yajaira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manhunt written by Kate Messner was a really good adventure book. It is about a boy named Henry who is in the Silver Jaguar Society which is a group of people who go try to get back stolen artifacts. He has two friends who are also in the group named Ana and Jose. His friends parents are also in the Silver Jaguar Society and Henry's mom was in it too but she had died while on a case, so Henry had to go everywhere with his aunt. In this mission they had to fly out to Paris to find all the missing art and the Mona Lisa. While there, their parents left them in a bookstore with a lady named Ursa, who was a nice worker there. They also met another member named Hem, who Henry didn't like very much. Their parents and aunt never came back after a meeting so Hem thought it'd be a good idea to take them to different places to look for clues and try to find the Mona Lisa painting. They went to so many places and Henry decided not to keep looking for it because he was tired of listening to what Hem said, at this point Henry thought Hem worked for the bad guys. He went back to the bookstore where he told Ursa everything because he needed someone to talk to. He felt better afterwards and decided to call his dad to go take him back home. His dad said he would fly out and take him home the next morning. When Henry told the other members he was leaving they were all sad but understood his reasons to leave. He woke up the next morning, at breakfast and waited for his dad to come. His dad got to the store and a few moments later the bad guys showed up in a van and took everyone but Ursa (who was shockingly part of the bad group) and Henry who managed to escape. He went to look for the painting and left a note for the bad group telling them he had found the Mona Lisa and would trade it for the people they kidnapped. A girl from the society said she agreed but when she left his family and friends outside it turns out not to be them. It was random people wearing the members clothing. Henry asked them where she had gone and they told him the place. It was a museum open to the public and so he went in and saw the girl who had fooled him. He secretly took the keys from her pocket and opened a big door to where his family and friends were. They ran out and the bad guys chased after them. They got to a place where the police arrested the bad guys and in the end they all found out that the Mona Lisa painting Henry thought he gave away, was actually a decoy and the Mona Lisa was safe in a case at a Museum.

I think the theme of this story is don't judge a person by the way they look or seem to be. I think this is the theme because at the beginning Henry had a bad feeling about Hem and thought he was part of the bad group when really Hem was really trying to help. Henry never suspected anything about Ursa because she seemed nice and caring and then turns out to be part of the bad group.
Henry in this book really changes throughout the story because in the beginning he was scared to go out looking for the painting knowing the dangerous things that can happen but after his family and friends were taken he becomes braver and does everything he can to go save his family.

I do recommend this book for people who like adventurous books because in this book they went all over Paris. It had a great description of the places, it felt like you were in there with them and was a pretty easy book to read

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the third (and possibly final?) book of the Silver Jaguar Society series, Anna, Jose, Henry, and British-born junior society member, Hem, find themselves in Paris, following the trail of the Serpentine Princes in the wake of a major international art heist. At first, the adult members of the society are very protective of the kids and leave them to stay in a French bookstore with a chaperone. When the adults go missing, however, the kids become their only chance of rescuing the Mona Lisa and stopping the Princes once and for all.

This is a plot-driven story, so it is no surprise that the strongest element is the plot itself. Though the writing style is very simple and straightforward, the plot line includes many twists and turns. Adult readers might see the twists coming, but most kids will be caught off guard and pleasantly thrown for a loop.

The story is carried mainly by dialogue. At some points, the dialogue flows very naturally and seamlessly works in the necessary exposition. At other points, when Hem is the speaker, the language becomes very mature in tone and the voice less believable as that of a child. There are also a number of adult characters who use pat phrases when speaking to kids that don't ring true either.

There are a number of threads in this story that are not completely resolved, which is annoying, particularly if this book is the last of the series. This book's adventure also comes to an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending which feels rushed and leaves too much room at the end of the story for unnecessary maudlin reflection over what the future might hold for the kids' friendship. Kids who read for the action might not even read the last couple of chapters.

Though there are a few moments of quality writing in this story, much of the book is simply mediocre. The one-dimensional characters who each only have one real interest (journalism for Anna, Harry Potter for Jose, video games for Henry and map-making for Hem) are hard to connect with and, at times, annoying in their eagerness to face danger. There is enough suspense to keep readers hooked until the mystery is solved, but it takes more than that to be truly successful as a novel.

Those who have read Capture the Flag and Hide and Seek will probably want to read Manhunt to satisfy their curiosity. Other action-adventure readers might be better off with a Boxcar Children book instead (Also, Messner might consider writing some nonfiction. The author's note was great and provided lots of interesting information in accessible language.)

[Carol Royce Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure how I let this book slip under the radar. Perhaps it was the timing of its release - which was the start of the summer and close to the ending of the school year. Anyway, I finally got on top of things and bought and devoured this wonderful new installment to the Silver Jaguar Society Mysteries. This book focused heavily on Henry, who is feeling out of sorts because he's whisked off to Paris on a new mystery just at the time when his little sister is being born, and he feels left out of the loop, especially when he learns that there are complications because of her early birth. Now in Paris, Henry is swept up with the uber-enthusiasm of Anna and Jose and a new character, Hem, who Henry is suspicious of from the start. When their parents (or Henry's case, aunt) go missing, the foursome are lead about Paris following Hem and mysterious clues left on a bulletin board in a bookstore. Famous artwork has disappeared throughout the world, and in Paris the Louvre has lost the Mona Lisa, as well as many other famous pieces. Of course, the Serpentine Princes are to blame, and they are holding the pieces, as well as the foursome's parents hostage until Vincent Goosen's son is released from prison. They are also demanding the Mona Lisa, but who has it and where is it? It's up to the Junior team to find out.

I am so thankful to Kate Messner for this wonderful series - so often I am asked for good mysteries for students - and now I always point to the Silver Jaguar series first. The books are fast paced and hold this adult's attention, so are sure to hold the attention of students. They are also well researched, and in this installment the kids will follow Anna, Henry and Jose to Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Catacombs and many other historic places of Paris.

[Amy Allgeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so HOT with my book club kids that I had to read the third installment (well, not had to...wanted to!). I love these books and the kids with all of the adventure. Manhunt was really fun for me because of the Paris aspect (my favorite city!). I think any kid that has loved this series, will love this book just as well as the first & second.

However, even though I kept reading it and wanting to find out what happens, there were a few things that bugged me. In all of the Silver Jaguar Society books, they have an aspect of basically no parents involved with the children during the story. The kids are usually left alone for an absurd amount of time with little parental/adult involvement. It bugged me a little in the first & second one, but Manhunt had a lot of this. Again, I get that it's fiction, etc. but it was a bit much reading about Henry spending the night in front of the Notre Dame, receiving a blanket from a homeless man. If a child reads this, I hope a teacher or a parent talks to them about this and reiterates that it's obviously NOT okay to go wandering off on their own nor to spend the night on a park bench/interact with homeless people. Another thing that bugged me was that it repeatedly said the kids shouldn't contact the authorities and I feel that kids should know that they can always contact an authority if they need help.

So, that's it on my critique of the book. Again, I really did like it and love the adventure/Paris aspect. My book club kids will love this one!

[Amanda Northrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having not read the first 2 books in this series, Capture the Flag and Hide and Seek, I was really glad that Kate Messner did such a great job of making this book make sense without that background knowledge.

The mystery in this book involves hunting down the stolen Mona Lisa through lots of Paris landmarks while being pursued by scary dudes.

Manhunt is well-researched and wonderfully written. I've never been one to fantasize about visiting Paris, but Messner made me feel totally present in the dusty environs of Notre Dame, the Catacombs, Shakespeare & Co, and the Conciergerie. I loved the photos provided in the author's note at the end, and I know kids will love that too.

My only complaint is that the primary protagonist, Henry, was really really annoying for the first half of the book. He is constantly complaining, whining, and pouting. It was painful to be reading his perspective because I really just wanted to wack him in the head. Luckily he got better when the danger quotient ratcheted up.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea that Manhunt is the third book in a series, but luckily it doesn't really matter if you've read the first two books or not. Messner sufficiently summarizes relevant information that Manhunt is readable on its own, without bogging down the narrative with a lengthy rehashing of past events.

The premise--the kids are junior members of a secret society that protects the world's treasures--is a bit hokey, but exactly the kind of plot that kids find intriguing. As a grown-up, the lack of parental oversight is frustrating, but it's what enables the events to occur, and a kids' adventure book wouldn't be nearly as exciting with grown-ups following the kids everywhere.

Messner has managed to cram quite a bit of historical information into the book, and her incorporation of real-life places (like Notre Dame and Shakespeare & Co.) will connect kids to the story even more. Those who have been to Paris will thrill in recognizing the places described; those who haven't will be inspired to travel there.

Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.

[June Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Silver Jaguar Society series. The other books are CAPTURE THE FLAG and HIDE AND SEEK. Having now read all three, I have thoroughly enjoyed each one.

The three junior members of the society are in Paris with their relatives, who are the senior members of the society, to solve another case involving famous paintings that are disappearing from famous buildings. When they arrive, they go to a bookstore which appears to be the temporary home base. Their family members leave them there and tell them to stay.

Well, knowing these three criminal minds, staying put and not being part of the investigation is not satisfactory. They embark on their own investigation.

As always, MANHUNT lives up to my expectations of Messner's books. I love the mystery she develops as the book moves along, the twists and turns when you think there is an end, and the descriptions of the actual places where the book takes place. Having never been to Paris, I got a new glimpse of places that I didn't know existed in Paris.

I have given it the word series in the hope that there are more adventures about the Silver Jaguar Society.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed the descriptions of various scenes in Paris as well as all the famous spots the junior members of the Silver Jaguar Society visit, I was annoyed at the adult members for putting those kids at risk. While the adults are away, Henry, Anna, and Jose try to figure out what's been happening to all those missing paintings. The book starts out strong with various art thefts occurring one by one, but when all the adults disappear and the youngsters are left to their own devices, I shuddered in fear for them. While nothing bad happens other than a lot of anxiety and close calls, plenty of bad stuff could have happened. Anna and Jose barely had roles in this one, which focused on Henry and his annoyance at the urbane Hem. While Henry's complaining might have been realistic, it got old pretty fast. I wanted to know more about all of these youngsters, but there was more emphasis on plot development and scene setting than character development. Fans of the earlier two titles in this mystery series are likely to enjoy this one as well.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

As junior members of the Silver Jaguar Society, Henry, Anna and Jose always seem to find themselves in the center of a mystery. When a large amount of famous artwork is stolen all around the world, they are taken by Henry’s Aunt Lucinda and others to Paris to help find the artwork and stop the notorious Serpentine Princes gang. But when the adults go missing, and nobody can find them, it’s up to the kids to solve the mystery!

A cute mystery tale without much complication or confusion, but I worry that the kids seem too young for a teen audience (even the 12 year olds). Luckily, their ages are never said, but their attitudes and actions lean towards younger rather than older. The cover is cute - the three kids searching Paris for clues - but it too skews young. There is decent white space, the typeface is large, and there are drawings of maps and notes throughout (and there are awesome borders of first chapter pages lined with bones).

[Holly Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this latest installment of the Silver Jaguar Society mystery series. Anna, Henry, and Jose are back, and we're introduced to Hem. Is he friend or foe? This time the three friends get involved in an international art heist, and someone is a double agent, but who? We get to go to Paris in this one, and since I've been there, it made it fun to picture the places mentioned, especially the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. The ending seems to leave it open for more adventures involving our three friends. I sure hope so! Couple of fun things I posted about while reading: the teacher in the book is Mr. Sharp. ;-) I also loved that there is an excellent example of "close reading" of a poem the kids found. This book pairs up well with Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett and Moxie and The Art of Rule Breaking by Erin Dionne.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I returned to the novel quest list I've been reading with my son with Manhunt by Kate Messner. Manhunt is another art heist novel and I was hoping it would be more engaging than the last one I read and it did not disappoint. The kids in this novel are the descendants of famous artists and historical figures. The adults in their lives are part of the super secret Silver Jaguar Society and they are tasked with protecting the world's art from thieves. When art pieces are lifted all across the world one night, the adults are pulled into rescuing the art and in turn the kids become involved. They all end up in Paris on an adventure that takes them all across the city. I loved the cultural and historical significance of the book. It had some great action sequences that I think kids would be really excited by. And I loved the note from the author explaining more about the historical landmarks.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my full review here: http://misstiffreads.blogspot.com/201...

The Junior Members of the Silver Jaguar Society are in quite a pickle this time as dozens of pieces of art go missing all around the world as the clock strikes midnight. Henry, Anna, and Jose are taken by their parents, and aunt, to Paris to work with the society against the Serpentine Princes. They met Brit Hem, who instantly rubs Henry the wrong way, and the two settle on an uneasy peace when the adults fail to return back to headquarters one night. Then it's up to the kids to not only find the adults, but find the Mona Lisa as well. Plenty of actual landmarks become hiding places and Henry and the gang must keep searching before it's too late.

[Brenda]

Manhunt includes a diverse ensemble of characters with one being a descendant of an indentured servant, a Mexican artist and Paul Revere. Then Messner places them in the setting of Paris giving all the historical details of the setting to enrich the story. These details are woven into the plot, so sometimes it is the characters themselves that relay the information via a conversation or it's the tour guide at the Louvre. With the children free to roam the city there is plenty of action, as well as a mysterious message to unravel, art and literary references and maps and drawings. The Author's Note includes information and photographs from the author's research and visits to the locations mentioned in the book.

[Dan Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever read a book where, when you get to the end of a chapter you can't wait to see what comes next, yet at the same time you're afraid to go on because you just know something bad is going to happen, then I think you're likely to thoroughly enjoy this book. This is the third book in the author's Silver Jaguar Society mystery series, and in my opinion, it's the best of the three. The action was nonstop, can't put it down good. If you're going to read this one I do recommend that you read the entire series in order. This is a series which I will easily, and readily, recommend to my students.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy - ARC from the publisher

Kate Messner does a fantastic job of keeping the action moving and keeping the reader guessing. In this newest mystery we don't really learn a whole lot more about the three main characters, but we do get a rip roaring ride through Paris. Once again Henry Anna and José end up in a situation where they have to step up and act to save art and the lives of others for the Silver Jaguar Society. There are chases, thieves, double agents, catacombs and skeletons galore. Messner has created a fantastic mystery that I will be happy to put into the hands of my students.