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On The Run #3
Now You See Them, Now You Don't
CATCH THEM...
One man holds the key to freeing Aiden and Meg Falconer's parents from prison: a mysterious figure named Frank Lindenauer. Aiden and Meg must cross the country to try to catch him... even as the FBI tries to catch them first.
In California, Aiden and Meg fall in with a crowd that already has its share of trouble. They want to believe they've found friends who will help them out. But if they're not careful, these "friends" will sell them out instead.
...IF YOU CAN.
One man holds the key to freeing Aiden and Meg Falconer's parents from prison: a mysterious figure named Frank Lindenauer. Aiden and Meg must cross the country to try to catch him... even as the FBI tries to catch them first.
In California, Aiden and Meg fall in with a crowd that already has its share of trouble. They want to believe they've found friends who will help them out. But if they're not careful, these "friends" will sell them out instead.
...IF YOU CAN.
146 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2005
64 people are currently reading
680 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Korman
249 books4,425 followersGordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books. Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
June 30, 2025
Awesome book. Probably the best in the series so far. Beginning with an airport chase, it instantly has you hooked. Once again, Aiden and Meg's chemistry is both fun and amusing to read. However, my favorite character in the whole series has to be the coffee-loving FBI agent Emmanuel Harris. His sarcasm is absolutely hilarious. Good book.
November 4, 2017
Rereading this series to my kids. Fast-moving plot. I liked how the strategy that worked in book two no longer worked in book three.
March 19, 2019
Great mystery and suspense with adventure and action tied in.
May 19, 2015
Aiden and Meg Falconer are still on the run. The kids are currently trying to free their parents from prison. They are trying to find Frank Lindenauer who may have the evidence to free them. Aiden and Meg found some information of where Frank might be staying. The Falconers try to keep a low profile, so they used their mom’s frequent flyer card, and they fly to California. Meg and Aiden made a big scene at the airport, and somebody turned them in, and now the FBI agents are on to them. While walking through a park Aiden sees this guy pull a knife on someone and he jumps in front of him and tackles the guy. Now the Falconers have to flee quickly before the cops get there. When walking the streets of LA, they notice a suspicious car following them around. Finally the car catches them, and the Falconers are scared for their life. Then the person that gets out of the car is the kid that Aiden saved from getting stabbed at the park. Once they meet this kid they find out he is part of a gang and is running from the cops too. To help the Falconers out they let the kids stay with them until they get a plan together.
Aiden is the older one of the Falconers. He is a very brilliant kid, and most of the time he knows when to make the right move. Meg, on the other hand, just follows her brother’s leads and most of the time helps them escape any situations that they might get in.
I would recommend this book to all kids in middle and high school that have a brother or sister. This book shows that siblings can actually work together and just not fight all the time. When you put minds together great things can happen.
This book mostly takes place in sunny California. The house the kids stay in is in LA, so it’s very dry there too. There are tall buildings all over the city.
Aiden is the older one of the Falconers. He is a very brilliant kid, and most of the time he knows when to make the right move. Meg, on the other hand, just follows her brother’s leads and most of the time helps them escape any situations that they might get in.
I would recommend this book to all kids in middle and high school that have a brother or sister. This book shows that siblings can actually work together and just not fight all the time. When you put minds together great things can happen.
This book mostly takes place in sunny California. The house the kids stay in is in LA, so it’s very dry there too. There are tall buildings all over the city.
August 3, 2024
This story marks the halfway point of this series but as I discovered previously there is a second series with the same characters, the Kidnapped series has another three volumes, so you could see this as the third of 9 stories featuring the Falconer's.
Two years ago in the summer of 2022, Korman published his 100th book. Yes you read that correctly, his hundredth book. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then I have read over 45 of his books. I am starting to make a serious dent in his canon, with each one I read I am entertained and often challenged. My son often reads these books to me or with me. And now my youngest daughter has started reading them. I have been jumping around on different series and from his oldest works to his newest. There are so many great read in the Korman’s collection.
My son and I started reading Gordon Korman books together a few years ago, when he was given one as an end of year gift by his teacher. She gave the whole class the same Scholastic edition and wrote a note to each student in their copy of the book. Prior to that I had a read a few of his contributions to the 39 Clues series and had enjoyed them. My son and I have mostly been reading his more recent titles. We listened to this one on a recent road trip. The series consists of:
Chasing the Falconers
The Fugitive Factor
Now You See Them, Now You Don't
The Stowaway Solution
Public Enemies
Hunting the Hunter
The description of this volume is:
“One man holds the key to freeing Aiden and Meg Falconer's parents from prison: a mysterious figure named Frank Lindenauer. Aiden and Meg must cross the country to try to catch him... even as the FBI tries to catch them first.
In California, Aiden and Meg fall in with a crowd that already has its share of trouble. They want to believe they've found friends who will help them out. But if they're not careful, these "friends" will sell them out instead.”
Unlike many of Korman’s books the chapters do not have titles, in either of the first three books in the series. The premise of the series, at least from the three volumes reminds me of Conspiracy 365 January by Gabrielle Lord, also from Scholastic but published 5 years after this series. At the end of the volume is no preview of the next instalment, but all 6 volumes published in just over a year.
Aiden and Meg are on the run from a juvenile corrections facility. Not because they have been convicted of anything, but because their parents have and they are the most notorious criminals in recent history. The kids are trying to track down the one person who can clear their name. The longer they are on the loose the more they seem to need to break the law. They are trying their best but are desperate to clear their parent’s names. They had found a way to cover hotels and even book flights, but as often appears to be the case, things seldom seem to go their way. They pull an amazing vanishing act at an airport that ends up on lock down in LA. They save the life of a gang leader and get embroiled in conflict they do not have the time for. But they do find they have some friends, even when they find out who they really are. But the bald man is also on their trail and the only clue they have appears to lead to a dead end.
This story had some serious conflict, some great risk, and more than a few close calls. It is another excellent offering in a great series! This story and series is a darker than many of Korman’s offerings. The pace is excellent. The characters are masterfully written. You will find yourself cheering for Aiden and Meg again and again. It is a story young readers will latch onto and be desperate to know what happens next! Another excellent read from Korman’s skilful pen!
Two years ago in the summer of 2022, Korman published his 100th book. Yes you read that correctly, his hundredth book. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then I have read over 45 of his books. I am starting to make a serious dent in his canon, with each one I read I am entertained and often challenged. My son often reads these books to me or with me. And now my youngest daughter has started reading them. I have been jumping around on different series and from his oldest works to his newest. There are so many great read in the Korman’s collection.
My son and I started reading Gordon Korman books together a few years ago, when he was given one as an end of year gift by his teacher. She gave the whole class the same Scholastic edition and wrote a note to each student in their copy of the book. Prior to that I had a read a few of his contributions to the 39 Clues series and had enjoyed them. My son and I have mostly been reading his more recent titles. We listened to this one on a recent road trip. The series consists of:
Chasing the Falconers
The Fugitive Factor
Now You See Them, Now You Don't
The Stowaway Solution
Public Enemies
Hunting the Hunter
The description of this volume is:
“One man holds the key to freeing Aiden and Meg Falconer's parents from prison: a mysterious figure named Frank Lindenauer. Aiden and Meg must cross the country to try to catch him... even as the FBI tries to catch them first.
In California, Aiden and Meg fall in with a crowd that already has its share of trouble. They want to believe they've found friends who will help them out. But if they're not careful, these "friends" will sell them out instead.”
Unlike many of Korman’s books the chapters do not have titles, in either of the first three books in the series. The premise of the series, at least from the three volumes reminds me of Conspiracy 365 January by Gabrielle Lord, also from Scholastic but published 5 years after this series. At the end of the volume is no preview of the next instalment, but all 6 volumes published in just over a year.
Aiden and Meg are on the run from a juvenile corrections facility. Not because they have been convicted of anything, but because their parents have and they are the most notorious criminals in recent history. The kids are trying to track down the one person who can clear their name. The longer they are on the loose the more they seem to need to break the law. They are trying their best but are desperate to clear their parent’s names. They had found a way to cover hotels and even book flights, but as often appears to be the case, things seldom seem to go their way. They pull an amazing vanishing act at an airport that ends up on lock down in LA. They save the life of a gang leader and get embroiled in conflict they do not have the time for. But they do find they have some friends, even when they find out who they really are. But the bald man is also on their trail and the only clue they have appears to lead to a dead end.
This story had some serious conflict, some great risk, and more than a few close calls. It is another excellent offering in a great series! This story and series is a darker than many of Korman’s offerings. The pace is excellent. The characters are masterfully written. You will find yourself cheering for Aiden and Meg again and again. It is a story young readers will latch onto and be desperate to know what happens next! Another excellent read from Korman’s skilful pen!
March 5, 2019
The book that I read for February is “On The Run #3 Now you see them,Now you don’t” by Gordon Korman. This is the 3rd book in the “On The Run” series. In this book Aiden and his sister Meg are still on the run. The plot of this book is way more interesting than the last book.I like this book way more than the last one. My reasoning is because It was way more action packed than the last book. An example of this is on page 134, when a FBI agent is looking for the siblings in a rehab center. Man at front counter “Don’t know what you’re talking about man. I never saw any kids,” FBI agent “ Does Twenty-five grand jog your memory” Guy at counter “Ah man” FBI agent “Be smart Boaz. Think what you can buy with that much money, Just tell me what you know.” My favorite character is still Aiden, because he so laid back during all things. An example of this is on page 89 when he enters the rehab center, without his sister meg which he lost in a huge crowd he says “ man, I'm just going to ask the guy at the counter if I can call someone and hopefully he lets me. My favorite quote from the book is From a cab driver when they hopped in his cab he said “Hotel? You want go to Hotel? You better not be tourists” I felt like this added humor to a more serious book. A major theme of this book is Family First. First of all thats what the entire series is about since they are trying to exonerate their parents. and second Aiden is always looking out for his younger sister page 67 says “Meg hated riding the bus,which was slow,hot and smelly but Aiden Insisted they save their taxi money.
February 22, 2023
Following the one clue they have Meg and Aiden head to California. When goodhearted Aiden saves a man's life the two kids become the guests of a gang. At least it's a sort of safe place to be, the cops probably won't find them....but living with a gang has other problems. Finally finding what they hope is Frank Lindenauer's house the kids have high hopes. Frank is the only person they know of who can clear their parents name and get them released from prison. But things can never be that easy. It seems like hiding and running from the law is going to be their entire life....it's draining for them.
This is a fast paced book with twists and turns everywhere. Very fun to read. The kids are great characters that you can really get behind and root for as they try to do the right thing.
This is a fast paced book with twists and turns everywhere. Very fun to read. The kids are great characters that you can really get behind and root for as they try to do the right thing.
November 27, 2017
My 10 year old nephew requested this book as a gift, saying he'd read the first two in the series with his dad--we could only find it used, and I read it one day after giving it to him. I hadn't read the first two in the series, but most of what happened seemed to be explained within this book--at least as best I could tell from my nephew's later efforts to summarize the series for me.
The plot was interesting, but I think moreso to a tween than an adult. The basic story is that two kids are trying to keep at least one step ahead of those trying to catch them while also trying to get evidence to clear their parents. Slight stretching of the imagination to have two kids being able to outwit a number of adults, but . . .
The plot was interesting, but I think moreso to a tween than an adult. The basic story is that two kids are trying to keep at least one step ahead of those trying to catch them while also trying to get evidence to clear their parents. Slight stretching of the imagination to have two kids being able to outwit a number of adults, but . . .
March 13, 2021
This book was amazing!!! There is not a single boring part in this book. There is always something crazy happening. (Aiden and Meg literally jumped off a building to escape.) Anyways, I give this book five stars because I always wanted to keep reading it. No matter how late it was, or how tired I was. I couldn't put the book down! I recommend this book to people looking for a good book to read, something exciting to read, an action book, and mystery book. I always felt connected to the book. I can't wait to read book four!
June 22, 2025
This series just gives me heart attacks with each book I read. There is always a life or death scenario occuring. I sense this series might become dragged out too much, but I am now halfway through the series and we'll see what the other half of the series brings. This series is definitely unrealistic, but it's a good time.
February 7, 2025
I feel like I identify with that rooster that stutters, Foghorn Leghorn.
Nnow, hold on, nnow, I think y’all told me this was a trilogy, didn’t you?
Note to mom: this book has a couple characters without names that … hmmm… well, I wonder about them. Will they return later in the series?
Nnow, hold on, nnow, I think y’all told me this was a trilogy, didn’t you?
Note to mom: this book has a couple characters without names that … hmmm… well, I wonder about them. Will they return later in the series?
March 20, 2018
Meg and Aidan hang out with a street gang in this book, which opened up the discussion of what a gang is. Another fast-paced read.
March 22, 2018
I read this book before #2, because it came in to the library first. :D It was pretty easy to skip a book and still get what was happening. Another good book by Korman!
September 24, 2018
Exciting
October 10, 2018
I remember reading these in elementary school! I still think about them sometimes.
January 22, 2019
Review pending 😄
March 4, 2019
Seriously just read the series it's amazing and a short read.
June 10, 2019
4.5
This series continues to impress me
This series continues to impress me
August 28, 2019
Gordon Korman is a great kids author. If you want your kids to read, get them great books like this. How these two kids constantly elude authorities is both entertaining and humorous.
August 12, 2022
Amazing feats of escape by these two!
April 22, 2025
I decided to reread the series ten years later, and was not disappointed! As great as I remember!
September 28, 2025
that was a good book. hairless Joe was just showing up every where. great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2025
I literally couldn’t stop reading. Nothing like an action-packed adventure story! Especially with fugitives still evading capture. (& someone trying to murder them!)
June 7, 2018
This book was great! I loved it, but then...I will always love these Kidnapped books! This book is the third book in the On the Run books.
Read
December 13, 2016Kevin T Swafford
December 12, 2016
English 10 - 2
Author's background
Gordon Korman is the author of On the Run 1: Chasing the Falconers. Gordon has published so many book, he has multiple series and this is the first book of the season “ On the run “. He is an Canadian
Literature time period
Chasing the Falconers is a book based in today's society, it had the same laws as today's, people worry about the same thing. People are also treated the same as they are today.
Setting
It mainly takes place in Los Angeles, at a rehabilitation center, a foreclosed suburb house, airport, and Venice Beach.
Characters
Aiden is the older one of the Falconers. He is a very brilliant kid, and most of the time he knows when to make the right move. Meg on the other hand, just follows her brother’s leads and most of the time helps them escape any situations that they might get in.
Theme
The theme takes place in today's society, it has the same rules, laws, and people are treated as they are this very day. Family is the most important thing.
Plot Summary
Aiden and Meg Falconer are still on the run. The kids are currently trying to free their parents from prison. They are trying to find Frank Lindenauer who may have the evidence to free them. Aiden and Meg found some information of where Frank might be staying. The Falconers try to keep a low profile, so they used their mom’s frequent flyer card, and they fly to California. Meg and Aiden made a big scene at the airport, and somebody turned them in, and now the FBI agents are on to them. While walking through a park Aiden sees this guy pull a knife on someone and he jumps in front of him and tackles the guy. Now the Falconers have to flee quickly before the cops get there. When walking the streets of LA, they notice a suspicious car following them around. Finally the car catches them, and the Falconers are scared for their life. Then the person that gets out of the car is the kid that Aiden saved from getting stabbed at the park. Once they meet this kid they find out he is part of a gang and is running from the cops too. To help the Falconers out they let the kids stay with them until they get a plan together.
Literary Device
Irony ‘it feels so good to be where our parents have once been’.
Symbolism ‘my brain feels like thousands of rocks in a bag”
Memorable Quotes
“Were never gonna get our parents out of prison if were in jail” - meg
“Mom and dad are in prison for life and were their only way out” - aiden
“ Were finally free again and can work on mom and dad now “ - meg
December 12, 2016
English 10 - 2
Author's background
Gordon Korman is the author of On the Run 1: Chasing the Falconers. Gordon has published so many book, he has multiple series and this is the first book of the season “ On the run “. He is an Canadian
Literature time period
Chasing the Falconers is a book based in today's society, it had the same laws as today's, people worry about the same thing. People are also treated the same as they are today.
Setting
It mainly takes place in Los Angeles, at a rehabilitation center, a foreclosed suburb house, airport, and Venice Beach.
Characters
Aiden is the older one of the Falconers. He is a very brilliant kid, and most of the time he knows when to make the right move. Meg on the other hand, just follows her brother’s leads and most of the time helps them escape any situations that they might get in.
Theme
The theme takes place in today's society, it has the same rules, laws, and people are treated as they are this very day. Family is the most important thing.
Plot Summary
Aiden and Meg Falconer are still on the run. The kids are currently trying to free their parents from prison. They are trying to find Frank Lindenauer who may have the evidence to free them. Aiden and Meg found some information of where Frank might be staying. The Falconers try to keep a low profile, so they used their mom’s frequent flyer card, and they fly to California. Meg and Aiden made a big scene at the airport, and somebody turned them in, and now the FBI agents are on to them. While walking through a park Aiden sees this guy pull a knife on someone and he jumps in front of him and tackles the guy. Now the Falconers have to flee quickly before the cops get there. When walking the streets of LA, they notice a suspicious car following them around. Finally the car catches them, and the Falconers are scared for their life. Then the person that gets out of the car is the kid that Aiden saved from getting stabbed at the park. Once they meet this kid they find out he is part of a gang and is running from the cops too. To help the Falconers out they let the kids stay with them until they get a plan together.
Literary Device
Irony ‘it feels so good to be where our parents have once been’.
Symbolism ‘my brain feels like thousands of rocks in a bag”
Memorable Quotes
“Were never gonna get our parents out of prison if were in jail” - meg
“Mom and dad are in prison for life and were their only way out” - aiden
“ Were finally free again and can work on mom and dad now “ - meg
April 5, 2017
I am not saying much but this was a good book. The series is perfect for me because I like short reads. They fly to LA. :):):):)
February 26, 2016
*Spoilers*
Meg is being held at the police station. Aiden is out on the streets. Together, the siblings are their incarcerated parents' only chance for release. Dressed as a policeman and sporting a dime-store moustache, Aiden walks into the police station and walks out with his sister. Even Meg is impressed with this daring stunt of her normally logical, pragmatic brother. The appearance of the anonymous bald assassin propels them onto the run again. They hop a plane to LA, where they escape by traveling the luggage route out, just before LAX is swarmed by police.
The way the Falconer kids' quest for justice and desire for protection of the innocent consumes them is reflected in their saving of an LA gang leader from murder. Grateful, he shelters them even after finding out who they are. Most of the gang come to like the plucky siblings, but there are enemies as well as friends. A sleazy member with a counterfeit operation on the side is quickly turned traitor by the offer of a reward for the Falconers' capture.
A key in a box of random junk, which belonged to Frank Lindenauer and was given to them by his ex-girlfriend, leads to a locker, then to a street with a changed name and a building that's not what it was...But all the run around leads to a shocking truth. Frank, the only person who can vouch for Mr. and Mrs. Falconer, was himself working with the terrorists. Now the kids must find him and bring him to justice.
Following a number on a reward poster that leads to a nursing home also leads into a trap and almost gets them killed by the assassin following them. Thanks to intervention by the gang leader Aiden saved, and a jump off the roof in wheelchairs, the kids are once more free. Wherever they are, they are grateful for loyal friends they find, but their quest for their parents leads them on. But not before they deliver the traitorous gang member and his counterfeit operation to the FBI. Just another problem solved on the trail to justice.
Meg is being held at the police station. Aiden is out on the streets. Together, the siblings are their incarcerated parents' only chance for release. Dressed as a policeman and sporting a dime-store moustache, Aiden walks into the police station and walks out with his sister. Even Meg is impressed with this daring stunt of her normally logical, pragmatic brother. The appearance of the anonymous bald assassin propels them onto the run again. They hop a plane to LA, where they escape by traveling the luggage route out, just before LAX is swarmed by police.
The way the Falconer kids' quest for justice and desire for protection of the innocent consumes them is reflected in their saving of an LA gang leader from murder. Grateful, he shelters them even after finding out who they are. Most of the gang come to like the plucky siblings, but there are enemies as well as friends. A sleazy member with a counterfeit operation on the side is quickly turned traitor by the offer of a reward for the Falconers' capture.
A key in a box of random junk, which belonged to Frank Lindenauer and was given to them by his ex-girlfriend, leads to a locker, then to a street with a changed name and a building that's not what it was...But all the run around leads to a shocking truth. Frank, the only person who can vouch for Mr. and Mrs. Falconer, was himself working with the terrorists. Now the kids must find him and bring him to justice.
Following a number on a reward poster that leads to a nursing home also leads into a trap and almost gets them killed by the assassin following them. Thanks to intervention by the gang leader Aiden saved, and a jump off the roof in wheelchairs, the kids are once more free. Wherever they are, they are grateful for loyal friends they find, but their quest for their parents leads them on. But not before they deliver the traitorous gang member and his counterfeit operation to the FBI. Just another problem solved on the trail to justice.
March 10, 2013
I read book 3 of On the Run: "Now You See Them, Now You Don't" by author Gordon Korman. Before you read this review I highly recommend you read the first 2 books. At the beginning of this book Aiden and Meg are at the airport writing a letter to their parents and are going to buy a tickets but agent Emmanual Harris has tracked their frequent flier points and is now on their trail. They see some agents coming for them and this is where it begins.
My favorite part in this book is when they are running from the agents in the airport. They end up running into the bag exchange after having to jump out of the back of the plane into a bag of luggage. They end up getting caught back there and have to run out of breath and sore.
My favorite character in this book is Bo one of the people in the gang they meet and stay with for a few days. He is friendly and is very grateful that Aiden saved him from a switchblade another gang member pulled on him. His gang members are also very grateful but you can read about them in the book.
That is my review on book 3 of On the Run. Read the book for the rest of the story.
Review By: Dylan Unruh
My favorite part in this book is when they are running from the agents in the airport. They end up running into the bag exchange after having to jump out of the back of the plane into a bag of luggage. They end up getting caught back there and have to run out of breath and sore.
My favorite character in this book is Bo one of the people in the gang they meet and stay with for a few days. He is friendly and is very grateful that Aiden saved him from a switchblade another gang member pulled on him. His gang members are also very grateful but you can read about them in the book.
That is my review on book 3 of On the Run. Read the book for the rest of the story.
Review By: Dylan Unruh
February 14, 2014
More impossible escapes, more danger and more excitement. One would not think Gordon Korman’s On the Run series would be all that different, but unlike a lot of action/thriller series, it’s not just the numbers on the spines that distinguish one book from another. Each book moves the plot forward while providing all the action and humour you can expect from Gordon Korman.
What distinguishes Now You See Them, Now You Don’t from the first two books is that we discover more about the mysterious Frank Lindenauer and we see the darker side of the inner city. Meg and Aiden finally make mistakes and it’s only luck that saves them at times, not their own ingenuity. This would be annoying except for the fact it shows they have flaws; they’re not the perfect fugitives. They are still clever enough to hold readers’ attention, but their flaws give them a lot more depth than they had before.
The premise of On the Run certainly isn’t unique (going on the run to prove someone’s innocence), but for the target age group it certainly will be. Even if you’ve read something like this before, Gordon Korman’s humour and action-packed writing will win you over. They’re quite short books, only around 100 pages, but I still re-read them once a year.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
What distinguishes Now You See Them, Now You Don’t from the first two books is that we discover more about the mysterious Frank Lindenauer and we see the darker side of the inner city. Meg and Aiden finally make mistakes and it’s only luck that saves them at times, not their own ingenuity. This would be annoying except for the fact it shows they have flaws; they’re not the perfect fugitives. They are still clever enough to hold readers’ attention, but their flaws give them a lot more depth than they had before.
The premise of On the Run certainly isn’t unique (going on the run to prove someone’s innocence), but for the target age group it certainly will be. Even if you’ve read something like this before, Gordon Korman’s humour and action-packed writing will win you over. They’re quite short books, only around 100 pages, but I still re-read them once a year.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews