Over the Edge

Mysteries in Our National Parks #7

by Alane Ferguson

When Dr. Olivia Landon receives this anonymous e-mail shortly after broadcasting her controversial plan to save the condors, everyone thinks it's a crank threat except Dr. Landon's daughter Ashley. She's sure it's the handiwork of Morgan Rogers, self-proclaimed anarchist and computer geek.

Suspicions mount when the death threat almost becomes a reality, and Morgan is the only witness. Is he innocent or guilty? Journey into the maze of Morgan's cyberworld and find out!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Mystery Thriller

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Alane Ferguson was born in Cumberland, Maryland, in 1957. She attended the University of Utah and Westminster College where she studied journalism. Later, Alane became interested in writing for children, mostly, she says, to follow the example of her mother, successful author Gloria Skurzynski. Her mother has written over fifty-seven books for children, while Alane is currently completing her thirty-second. Alane and her mother co-authored a series for National Geographic. Their novel, WOLF STALKER, was the first work of fiction National Geographic had published in its as of then 109 year history. WOLF STALKER was nominated for the 1998 Mystery Writer's of America's Edgar Allan Poe Award and the newest and 13th book in the series, NIGHT OF THE BLACK BEAR, was launched in spring of 2007. A recipient of the 1990 Edgar Allan Poe Award as well as the Belgium's Children's Choice Award for her young adult novel SHOW ME THE EVIDENCE, Alane was also a nominee for her third young-adult mystery, POISON. She received a 2007 Edgar nomination for her young adult novel, THE CHRISTOPHER KILLER, the first in the Sleuth Forensic Mystery series. Alane won the Children's Crown Classic Award for CRICKET ANDTHE CRACKERBOX KID, the American Bookseller's Association's "Pick of the List" for her picture book entitled THAT NEW PET, and has been on numerous ALA Recommended Books for Reluctant Young Readers and Young Adult's Choice list.

Reviews

[Sarah B · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I had some bad news recently that really made it hard to read anything but this little adventure story got me back into reading again. I guess part of it is that the characters are familiar by now and I know they will be going on some exciting adventure in the National Parks.

So how did this one stand up to the previous books I have read in this series? I do think the others had been more interesting? There was a lot of whining and complaining in here (which may be good for the story plot) but it actually got on my nerves somewhat. And the most bizarre thing is in this one it was actually Ashley who was the one doing it and not her brother Jack! I sure never expected that!

And even though there was some danger in here I really did not find this one all that thrilling? And everyone seemed to be bashing the new kid, Morgan. I also couldn't decide if I liked Morgan or not. No clue. It was too confusing with the combination of the bashing plus him saying he was innocent. The whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth?

So this is about the Grand Canyon and condors. I am amazed at how big these birds are! But by reading this I really did not get a sense of the canyon itself? I mean they never really go into the canyon or explore it any, which is kind of a huge disappointment. Only a few scenes up on a rim and other events take over the plot.

You can even see the fighting on the cover!

[Tammy]

My interest in the National Parks got me to pick up this series to see if it could be good for a read aloud for upper elementary kids. It seemed to hold up pretty well considering it was written 20 or so years ago, though there were a few dated things, such as the word "Net" used for the internet. Another concern for this book was the portrayal of a foster kid as the potential evildoer, but I think that part was handled pretty well. The main characters are a family of four- mother who is a wildlife biologist, photographer father, son Jack and daughter Ashley. And Morgan, the temporary foster kid. The issue is condors in the Grand Canyon that people are trying re-established there; however, one of the released birds was found dead from lead poisoning (from the carrion eaten). I wouldn't mind reading more from this series if I happen across any more used copies.

[Natalia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a mediocre book. It maybe okay for a quick read on vacation for an upper elementary school child or a lower middle schooler, but I would not particularly recommend it. If my child picks it up to read, I would not stop him, but I would not encourage him either. I personally found it cringingly bad toward the end and I started skipping pages just to get through the story and get it over with. I also found the writing weird at times and the story was trite and bland. I’m not going to read anything else by these authors. As I said before, the book is not really bad but it is not special in any way to spend ones’ time on it.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story, Jack and Ashley go with their parents to the Grand Canyon National Park where the giant condors are dying from lead pellets they are consuming. Jack and Ashley's parents take in a foster kid named Morgan who has a bad attitude. Morgan also likes computers. AS the story unfolds, Morgan is accused more than once of things he did not do and he has to prove himself over and over. A good story to read.

[Taryn MacGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as a family on a road trip after we left the Grand Canyon so it was fun to know all the places she referenced!

[Worms_and_Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 I liked it but the main issue I had was the foster kid for this book, Morgan. He was such a horrible person and stereotype until the last three chapters. In fact by the end, I barely even liked him. I’ve met plenty of actually anarchists who are nicer and less narrow minded than Morgan.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about the Grand Canyon caused problems among our family when we visited earlier this year. The written description of someone being pushed over a cliff into the canyon was so vivid that when we were there, one of our kids bit a lip until it bled pretty badly in fear - but of course, no one pushed us over into the canyon. It should be noted that afterwards, the child was able to hike some of the rim top trails and the Bright Angel trail partway down into the canyon without being troubled by fear.

Having said that, I actually liked this book and so did the fearful child. Some of the conversation regarding the Morgan character was interesting - debating the reasoning as to if hunting for sport is OK, why isn't killing people OK? The answer that's left in the book is just that it isn't, without explaining why. I wish the book had gone further to explain why, so maybe that's a good conversation starter. Of course, my particular kids aren't fond of hunting at all, so maybe that's not as much of an issue with them.

Morgan's fascination with death was a little creepy.

Also, there was the more tame issue of respect for others and the responsible use of the internet. I liked the statement that Rex made, "A computer is like a thief that steals our children," and Morgan's response, "You don't have to give up one world to visit another."

I've only read two books in this series, this one and "Cliff Hanger" about Mesa Verde, but it seems like they follow a pattern. The Landon kids seem to be very impressionable and one of them takes on the negative qualities of the foster child that they have for a time in their family. In the backdrop of a mystery and a national park, these negative qualities are examined and reasons are found for continuing with more positive qualities. Although the two books I've read have Jack absorbing the values of the foster child, my little reader tells me that in another book of the series, it's Ashley.

I would definitely say that this is a worthwhile read, especially for children on the brink of exploring the internet, but that it should come with a warning that it can be frightening for some children, especially ones that might visit the Grand Canyon.

[Evan Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book but there are better books in the series. I would recommend this book for young adults.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second title in the Mysteries in our National Parks series I've read recently, this one set at the Grand Canyon. The previous one was set in Zion, and these are two parks my husband and I are going to visit in Oct. I had hoped that I'd get some park information couched in a good story, but these weren't what I was expecting. You do get some information, but it tends to be on one very specific aspect of the park; this one was on the plight of the condors.

The four-member Landon family are the main characters in each book. In the two I've read, they also have in tow one or two foster children who at first appear to be villainous, but are redeemed by the end. That makes me slightly uncomfortable. These kids are, however, members of a race, social or cultural group that is often stereotyped and/or misunderstood, so perhaps the author is trying to broaden our horizons in that regard as well as evoking the strong sense of place of the park.

At any rate, they're okay, but not what I expected.

[Madeline Henricksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the Edge is book number seven in the "Mysteries in our National Parks" series. Jack and Ashley Landon are siblings in a family that temporarily houses foster children. Their family travels to our nation's many national parks and find mysteries waiting for them In this book, the pair find themselves at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Their mother, Dr. Landon, goes missing shortly after revealing her plan to save the condors. Morgan, the troublesome foster child they are currently housing, was the only witness to her fall over the edge of the Grand Canyon and Ashley thinks that he just might have pushed her. Jack and Ashley have to get to the bottom of their mother's disappearance before it is too late.

I really like this series because it is set in places I would want to see someday AND features animals in every book. I also love a good mystery!

[Thorn MotherIssues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle-grades fiction, features a foster family where the teen in emergency placement with them is a sullen hacker who's suspected of some cybercrimes. It's an easy read and the foster care subplot shouldn't end up too offensive to anyone, though some of the characterization is overbroad for my tastes. Apparently other books in the series include other emergency foster placements (though the scene where the social worker shows up at their house in the middle of the night with a teen in tow and then takes him out to he car so the family can decide whether to keep him was alarming, though I'm sure that's happened) and the father was himself in care as a child, which is a nice touch.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery is better than the last book I read in this series, The Hunted: A Mystery in Glacier National Park mainly because the culprit isn't given away in the prologue. Also I think the character Ashley is straddling the line between hardheaded and potentially annoying. I think if she was in any other kind of book she would be a very scary and dangerous character.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are going to Grand Canyon NP and I think it will be better than the book, but the book was also good.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I'm really into all things National Parks recently... and found this series in Boston. Nice and simple for kids, with good plot suspension. Also full of information (sometimes not so subtley)

[Susan Phelan]

An enjoyable MG mystery.

[Jody Kyburz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one of these National Park Mysteries...Grand Canyon, Condors, another foster kid, and another Indian Legend...

[Junessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better books in the series. Some cyberbullying and dark undercurrents so good for older kids.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable for the nature descriptions of the Grand Canyon and condors plus a good mystery with the addition of the computer geek, Morgan, a teenager being fostered by the family.

[Grace]

I thought it was really cool

[Lindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 310

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and fun. Nice book centered on a mystery in the Grand Canyon.