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Stakeout
The Florida Keys has its share of dark secrets. Sea turtle eggs feed a mysterious superstition, and poachers lurk on sandy shores with money and murder on their mind. It’s up to three determined teens to save an ancient population from extinction.
A haunting promise compels Kenzie to save sea turtles by ending a rash of nest robberies. Fearless, wheelchair-bound Ana and savvy, troubled Angelo assist Kenzie in an undercover operation that grows increasingly complicated and treacherous. Problems compound as Kenzie fears losing her first romance, her mother's trust, and her own life.
Stakeout includes notes on the endangered hawksbill and loggerhead turtles as well as information about the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida.
2012 Green Earth finalist
REVIEWS
"This book is the perfect mystery. Full of suspense, action, and drama, Stake Out is one of the best mysteries I have ever read. It has just the right amount of family matters to balance out the plot, and the author paints such a vivid picture in my mind that I can almost smell the sea salt. The unexpected twists are just delightful! This book is great for people who love mysteries and people who love the environment. I liked this book so much that I will read it again and lend it to all of my friends. I highly recommend reading Stake Out by Bonnie J. Doerr."
~Flamingnet Teen Book Reviews
"Stakeout is a riveting read for younger readers and nature lovers."
~Midwest Book Review
Stakeout is the second book in the award-winning eco-mystery series by Bonnie J. Doerr. The first book, also set in the Florida Keys, won the 2011 EPIC Outstanding Children's Book Award. Here's what reviewers said about this book whose mystery centers around the endangered Key
"Island Sting is a fast-paced, environmental thriller that teens will tear into. Once you start reading, you’ll find yourself flipping pages as fast as you can, eager to find out what happens next. Great action, great characters, and a message that will resonate with readers of all ages."
~Frances O'Roark Dowell, Edgar-award-winning author of Dovey Coe, Chicken Boy, The Secret Language of Girls, and Shooting the Moon
"Impetuous Kenzie, dashing Angel, and a fascinating cast of four-legged characters make green go down easy in this fast-paced eco-mystery."
~Louise Hawes, award-winning author of Black Pearls, Waiting for Christopher, and Rosey in the Present Tense
"An exciting adventure, highly recommended."
~Midwest Book Review
"Action-packed...exciting...vivid descriptions of setting add to its appeal."
~Winston-Salem Journal
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A lifetime educator, Bonnie J. Doerr has taught students from kindergarten to college in eight states. Degrees in reading education, combined with a brief post as a science teacher, led her to write ecological mysteries. Years of teaching and living in the Florida Keys provided irresistible material. Her novels celebrate caring, involved, “green” teens who take action with attitude and a touch of romance. Her children’s book Kenzie’s Key was honored by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) with a grant for its use in environmental education. Her work has been included in Milkweed Editions literary field guides. When not at home with her heart in the Florida Keys, she lives in a log cabin in North Carolina.
A haunting promise compels Kenzie to save sea turtles by ending a rash of nest robberies. Fearless, wheelchair-bound Ana and savvy, troubled Angelo assist Kenzie in an undercover operation that grows increasingly complicated and treacherous. Problems compound as Kenzie fears losing her first romance, her mother's trust, and her own life.
Stakeout includes notes on the endangered hawksbill and loggerhead turtles as well as information about the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida.
2012 Green Earth finalist
REVIEWS
"This book is the perfect mystery. Full of suspense, action, and drama, Stake Out is one of the best mysteries I have ever read. It has just the right amount of family matters to balance out the plot, and the author paints such a vivid picture in my mind that I can almost smell the sea salt. The unexpected twists are just delightful! This book is great for people who love mysteries and people who love the environment. I liked this book so much that I will read it again and lend it to all of my friends. I highly recommend reading Stake Out by Bonnie J. Doerr."
~Flamingnet Teen Book Reviews
"Stakeout is a riveting read for younger readers and nature lovers."
~Midwest Book Review
Stakeout is the second book in the award-winning eco-mystery series by Bonnie J. Doerr. The first book, also set in the Florida Keys, won the 2011 EPIC Outstanding Children's Book Award. Here's what reviewers said about this book whose mystery centers around the endangered Key
"Island Sting is a fast-paced, environmental thriller that teens will tear into. Once you start reading, you’ll find yourself flipping pages as fast as you can, eager to find out what happens next. Great action, great characters, and a message that will resonate with readers of all ages."
~Frances O'Roark Dowell, Edgar-award-winning author of Dovey Coe, Chicken Boy, The Secret Language of Girls, and Shooting the Moon
"Impetuous Kenzie, dashing Angel, and a fascinating cast of four-legged characters make green go down easy in this fast-paced eco-mystery."
~Louise Hawes, award-winning author of Black Pearls, Waiting for Christopher, and Rosey in the Present Tense
"An exciting adventure, highly recommended."
~Midwest Book Review
"Action-packed...exciting...vivid descriptions of setting add to its appeal."
~Winston-Salem Journal
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A lifetime educator, Bonnie J. Doerr has taught students from kindergarten to college in eight states. Degrees in reading education, combined with a brief post as a science teacher, led her to write ecological mysteries. Years of teaching and living in the Florida Keys provided irresistible material. Her novels celebrate caring, involved, “green” teens who take action with attitude and a touch of romance. Her children’s book Kenzie’s Key was honored by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) with a grant for its use in environmental education. Her work has been included in Milkweed Editions literary field guides. When not at home with her heart in the Florida Keys, she lives in a log cabin in North Carolina.
- GenresYoung Adult
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2011
10 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie J. Doerr
5 books3 followersKidlit author. I observe. I read. I write. I dig. I pull. I plod. I need wide open spaces. Room to make my big mistakes. And if I can't be a good example, I'll just have to be a dire warning.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 10, 2012
Originally posted at: http://aurorareviews.blogspot.com/201...
We have found the modern day Scooby gang! Only instead of ghost stories, these teens are solving environmental crimes and changing the world. Or at least they're trying to change the world they live in.
Kenzie is a typical teenage girl who recently moved from New York City to the Florida Keys. She is becoming more independent and is learning how to push her boundaries. She's also dealing with the divorce of her parents, and her father's subsequent remarriage, as well as her mother's new boyfriend. The family issues in this story serve well as a backdrop to the other problems and are handled admirably.
Kenzie also has a crush on Angelo, who's portrayed so well, if I was that age, I probably would too. Her actions and reactions to events and circumstances throughout the story are very realistic for a girl of that age, from resenting mom's new boyfriend to making rash decisions without considering the consequences. Salty, the dog, is her ever present companion and partner in crime. He's the best friend every kid wants.
The secondary character of Ana is completely charming. I absolutely loved the way this girl is portrayed. She's strong and independent and won't allow anyone to do something for her that she can do herself. Ana is confined to a wheelchair, due to having spina bifida, but she doesn't let that stop her from doing anything the other kids do. Having grown up with a grandmother in a wheelchair and a family friend with spina bifida, and knowing firsthand how uncomfortable kids can be around people who are different, it's great to see this sort of thing included in the story.
As the mystery of who's stealing the turtle eggs progresses, we see the characters of the colorful island people emerge. The author does a fantastic job of painting a picture of the Florida Keys and what life there is like. It really made me want to visit the Keys, even though it's not an area I've ever previously had any interest in. I loved that the kids live in a place that makes them care about the environment and makes them want to make the adults care again, too.
The illustrations that are scattered throughout the book, along with the history added at the end about the art, add a lot to the story and serves to pull you deeper into the world of the Keys. It allows the kids to see what the different turtles being discussed look like as well as adding a fun element.
Part two in a series, Stakeout is a standalone read. It's a great story for kids who are interested in environmental issues or who love animals. It's also a great way to bring attention to these issues for others. A perfect summer read for any young teenager, boy or girl, this is a series that will get them hooked and keep them reading.
We have found the modern day Scooby gang! Only instead of ghost stories, these teens are solving environmental crimes and changing the world. Or at least they're trying to change the world they live in.
Kenzie is a typical teenage girl who recently moved from New York City to the Florida Keys. She is becoming more independent and is learning how to push her boundaries. She's also dealing with the divorce of her parents, and her father's subsequent remarriage, as well as her mother's new boyfriend. The family issues in this story serve well as a backdrop to the other problems and are handled admirably.
Kenzie also has a crush on Angelo, who's portrayed so well, if I was that age, I probably would too. Her actions and reactions to events and circumstances throughout the story are very realistic for a girl of that age, from resenting mom's new boyfriend to making rash decisions without considering the consequences. Salty, the dog, is her ever present companion and partner in crime. He's the best friend every kid wants.
The secondary character of Ana is completely charming. I absolutely loved the way this girl is portrayed. She's strong and independent and won't allow anyone to do something for her that she can do herself. Ana is confined to a wheelchair, due to having spina bifida, but she doesn't let that stop her from doing anything the other kids do. Having grown up with a grandmother in a wheelchair and a family friend with spina bifida, and knowing firsthand how uncomfortable kids can be around people who are different, it's great to see this sort of thing included in the story.
As the mystery of who's stealing the turtle eggs progresses, we see the characters of the colorful island people emerge. The author does a fantastic job of painting a picture of the Florida Keys and what life there is like. It really made me want to visit the Keys, even though it's not an area I've ever previously had any interest in. I loved that the kids live in a place that makes them care about the environment and makes them want to make the adults care again, too.
The illustrations that are scattered throughout the book, along with the history added at the end about the art, add a lot to the story and serves to pull you deeper into the world of the Keys. It allows the kids to see what the different turtles being discussed look like as well as adding a fun element.
Part two in a series, Stakeout is a standalone read. It's a great story for kids who are interested in environmental issues or who love animals. It's also a great way to bring attention to these issues for others. A perfect summer read for any young teenager, boy or girl, this is a series that will get them hooked and keep them reading.
Displaying 1 of 1 review