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Framed #2
Vanished!
Florian Bates—the only kid on the FBI Director’s speed dial and several international criminals’ most wanted lists—must uncover the truth behind a series of middle school pranks that may or may not involve the daughter of the President of the United States in this hilarious second novel in the T.O.A.S.T. Mystery series.
Middle school is hard. Solving cases for the FBI is even harder. Doing both at the same time— well that’s just crazy. But that doesn’t stop Florian Bates!
After helping the FBI solve an art theft at the National Gallery and uncovering a DC spy ring, Florian’s finding life at Alice Deal Middle School a little boring. But that’s all about to change! His FBI handler, Marcus, has a job for him! Is it a bank robbery? Counterfeit ring? International espionage? Actually it’s middle school pranks…
Sounds pretty ordinary except that the pranks are happening at a prestigious private school attended by the President’s daughter who may—or may not—be involved. So Florian and Margaret are going undercover to see if they can use their TOAST skills to figure out what’s going on before the media gets hold of the story.
However, once the crime-solving pair arrive at the school, they discover that there’s a lot more than a few pranks going on and the conspiracy of silence reaches all the way to the top. Then a student vanishes in the middle of a concert at the Kennedy Center and things take a sinister turn!
Can Florian and Margaret save the day? Or are they about to get toasted?
Middle school is hard. Solving cases for the FBI is even harder. Doing both at the same time— well that’s just crazy. But that doesn’t stop Florian Bates!
After helping the FBI solve an art theft at the National Gallery and uncovering a DC spy ring, Florian’s finding life at Alice Deal Middle School a little boring. But that’s all about to change! His FBI handler, Marcus, has a job for him! Is it a bank robbery? Counterfeit ring? International espionage? Actually it’s middle school pranks…
Sounds pretty ordinary except that the pranks are happening at a prestigious private school attended by the President’s daughter who may—or may not—be involved. So Florian and Margaret are going undercover to see if they can use their TOAST skills to figure out what’s going on before the media gets hold of the story.
However, once the crime-solving pair arrive at the school, they discover that there’s a lot more than a few pranks going on and the conspiracy of silence reaches all the way to the top. Then a student vanishes in the middle of a concert at the Kennedy Center and things take a sinister turn!
Can Florian and Margaret save the day? Or are they about to get toasted?
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
471 people are currently reading
1561 people want to read
About the author
James Ponti
57 books1,434 followersJames Ponti is the New York Times Bestselling author of three Middle Grade book series: the DEAD CITY trilogy about a secret society that polices the undead who live beneath New York City; the Edgar Award-winning FRAMED! series about a pair of Sherlockian tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, D.C.; and the all-new CITY SPIES about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 spy team.
James grew up in Atlantic Beach, Florida and lives in Orlando. He's a die hard fan of the Boston Red Sox, the USC Trojans, and the Italian National Soccer Team. He loves travel, writing, and spending time with his amazing family.
James grew up in Atlantic Beach, Florida and lives in Orlando. He's a die hard fan of the Boston Red Sox, the USC Trojans, and the Italian National Soccer Team. He loves travel, writing, and spending time with his amazing family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 377 reviews
November 17, 2023
Need to unmask a school prankster? Find a coin that’s been missing for 100 years? Or solve any crime big or small? Call Florian Bates! The boy can solve ‘em all. With love and support from his family and BFF, of course. :)
Florian Bates is a secret consultant to the FBI and an absolute charmer! He blushes and “gulps” and cries on roller coasters. Haha…Honestly, Florian is a joy to hang around. Just ask Margaret. Margaret (aka the Beast!) is Florian’s best friend and partner in crime and mystery solving. She’s a total rock star! And together they are an unstoppable mystery-solving force with a heart of gold and a competitive streak a mile long. I love watching these two in action. The way they gather and interpret small details to reveal a bigger picture and truth always leaves me in awe and a smile. Throw in FBI Agents Marcus Rivers and Kayla Cross (who may or may not be dating now) and you’ve got yourself an action-packed gem of a read.
This adventure has Florian and Margaret going undercover in an elite private school where a series of pranks have been causing mayhem. The mission is to infiltrate different school groups and befriend possible suspects to find the culprit. Of course, these two do that and much more. Florian finds a bully! Margaret discovers her assumptions of the school may be all wrong. And they both realize their case is transforming into something much bigger. They have a missing person on their hands! A missing friend in fact. Can they solve the mystery in time? A mystery chock full of history, jealousy, hidden passage ways, codes, and danger!
Florian, Florian, Florian. Just when I thought you couldn’t get any sweeter. You think and say stuff like this…
“I’ve always struggled with bullies. I think because on a basic level I don’t understand them. The clues I see and the mysteries I solve all involve me identifying logical patterns. But people being mean to other people just because they can get away with it doesn’t seem logical at all.”
The way Mr. Ponti seamlessly weaves in big hearted lessons into the action is dazzling to me. The messages never feel heavy handed or distracting. It’s just part of Florian’s journey. My favorite part of this book though is the way Margaret and Florian push each other to stand up for themselves and be more creative and to really get out of their comfort zones. More often than not, that’s where the big lessons in life live and breathe—in the moments or actions that scare us the most! Like Eleanor Roosevelt said…”You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.”
Which reminds me, before I go I have to shout out huge love for the DC setting. I loved running around the city. From the Kennedy Center to the White House! It’s all in here and more.
Jump in and join the fun! Come see if Florian faces his fears. Well…he’ll probably always be afraid of frogs and zombies, but come see if he faces his bully and solves the mystery. Come see if you can follow the clues with Florian and Margaret.
Highly recommended. I’m on to book 3…
March 2, 2019
I'm glad I didn't give up on waiting for this book, despite the fact that I had to wait almost two months for it to be returned because I really enjoyed it.
Anyways, as I was getting close to the end of the story, I noticed that the author used the same writing style in this book and the first book of the series. In other words, in the first chapter of both books, the author would introduce the protagonist, a seventh grader that works undercover for the FBI. Next, the author would smoothly transition into a scene that would take place later in the story and end the chapter when the protagonist makes a big breakthrough. After this, the author would start chapter 2 by going back to a few days ago, where all the trouble started. Then, he would start going through the story from there, all the way until the scene in chapter 1, until the finale of the story. This seems to be a smart way of attracting the reader's attention because the reader will become curious after chapter 1 and continue reading.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to any readers that might be interested in reading about two clever 12-year-old kids solving complex mysteries.
Anyways, as I was getting close to the end of the story, I noticed that the author used the same writing style in this book and the first book of the series. In other words, in the first chapter of both books, the author would introduce the protagonist, a seventh grader that works undercover for the FBI. Next, the author would smoothly transition into a scene that would take place later in the story and end the chapter when the protagonist makes a big breakthrough. After this, the author would start chapter 2 by going back to a few days ago, where all the trouble started. Then, he would start going through the story from there, all the way until the scene in chapter 1, until the finale of the story. This seems to be a smart way of attracting the reader's attention because the reader will become curious after chapter 1 and continue reading.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to any readers that might be interested in reading about two clever 12-year-old kids solving complex mysteries.
August 10, 2021
4,5 stars. Scribd.com English text, and translation for Portuguese + audio in English from Google Translate.
Synopsys: "An Edgar Award Winner for Juvenile Fiction. Perfect for mystery buffs with “elements of Alex Rider, James Bond, and Sherlock Holmes,” (School Library Journal) the Framed! series stars the only kid on the FBI Director’s speed dial and several international criminals’ most wanted lists!
Middle school is hard. Solving cases for the FBI is even harder. Doing both at the same time—well that’s just crazy. But that doesn’t stop Florian Bates!
After helping the FBI solve an art theft at the National Gallery and uncovering a DC spy ring, Florian’s finding life at Alice Deal Middle School a little boring. But that’s all about to change! His FBI handler, Marcus, has a job for him! Is it a bank robbery? Counterfeit ring? International espionage? Actually it’s middle school pranks…
Sounds pretty ordinary except that the pranks are happening at a prestigious private school attended by the President’s daughter who may—or may not—be involved. So Florian and Margaret are going undercover to see if they can use their TOAST skills to figure out what’s going on before the media gets hold of the story.
However, once the crime-solving pair arrive at the school, they discover that there’s a lot more than a few pranks going on and the conspiracy of silence reaches all the way to the top. Then a student vanishes in the middle of a concert at the Kennedy Center and things take a sinister turn!
Can Florian and Margaret save the day? Or are they about to get toasted?"
Synopsys: "An Edgar Award Winner for Juvenile Fiction. Perfect for mystery buffs with “elements of Alex Rider, James Bond, and Sherlock Holmes,” (School Library Journal) the Framed! series stars the only kid on the FBI Director’s speed dial and several international criminals’ most wanted lists!
Middle school is hard. Solving cases for the FBI is even harder. Doing both at the same time—well that’s just crazy. But that doesn’t stop Florian Bates!
After helping the FBI solve an art theft at the National Gallery and uncovering a DC spy ring, Florian’s finding life at Alice Deal Middle School a little boring. But that’s all about to change! His FBI handler, Marcus, has a job for him! Is it a bank robbery? Counterfeit ring? International espionage? Actually it’s middle school pranks…
Sounds pretty ordinary except that the pranks are happening at a prestigious private school attended by the President’s daughter who may—or may not—be involved. So Florian and Margaret are going undercover to see if they can use their TOAST skills to figure out what’s going on before the media gets hold of the story.
However, once the crime-solving pair arrive at the school, they discover that there’s a lot more than a few pranks going on and the conspiracy of silence reaches all the way to the top. Then a student vanishes in the middle of a concert at the Kennedy Center and things take a sinister turn!
Can Florian and Margaret save the day? Or are they about to get toasted?"
October 30, 2021
Another fun romp with 12-year-old Florian Bates and his BFF, Margaret Campbell. He is a secret FBI consultant, and they are asked to go undercover at a prestigious private school to stop escalating pranks there, that may involve or threaten the U.S. President’s daughter, Lucy. Once again, Florian and Margaret put his TOAST (Theory of All Small Things) skills to uncover a secret society at the Chatham School, Loki, and rescue Yin, a Chinese cello prodigy, who disappears during intermission at a performance at the Kennedy Center. I especially liked Florian's visit to the White House to do homework, including rescuing a lost treasure using his TOAST observations. Ponti has a well developed sense of middle school age kids and their mindsets, which is engaging for readers. Looking forward to reading Trapped.
October 4, 2017
Another home run for the T.O.A.S.T. series -- this series is so much fun!
February 7, 2019
This series continues to be strong. Florian and Margaret make an excellent team and it is great fun to watch the adults they meet as they realize how effective the TOAST method is. The focus of this mystery is a series of pranks at an elite Washington DC school. Florian and Margaret go undercover as exchange students and get to know the other students including the President's daughter (Lucy), one of Margaret's formidable soccer opponents (Victoria) and a Chinese music prodigy (Yin). Their case shifts and changes as they try to get a handle on it and ends in a surprising conclusion. The perfect pick for fans of quirky sleuths.
May 11, 2019
Anything can have more than one connotation. For example, when people hear the word "bridge", they literally think of the bridge that people walk on from one end to the other end; for people that play a string instrument, it might mean the piece of wood that holds the string in place. Yet, as a professional musician and a brilliant composer, Yin has a completely different definition of a "bridge" -- it's the bridge in a piece of music that connects the melody to the final verse.
April 23, 2021
12-year-old Florian Bates is juggling 7th grade and the FBI. As a special consultant, he and his best friend, Margaret Campbell, become undercover students at a prestigious private school. Someone has been pulling pranks that may involve the U.S. President’s daughter. Once again, Florian and Margaret put their TOAST (Theory of All Small Things) skills to use to connect the dots involving a secret society, Loki, and a Chinese cello player extraordinaire. FBI Agents Marcus Rivers and Kayla and Romanian Nic the Knife are back, too. An entertaining and enjoyable read. 4.5 stars.
July 2, 2017
Classic Style, Updated and Improved
This book series is highlighted by all of the elements that characterized classic teen mystery/adventure books of yore, (Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, even Enid Blyton's adventures), but freshened up and streamlined a bit.
We have a solid detecting duo, Florian and Margaret, the keystone of which is friendship and mutual respect. They work as a team, and even if this were just a school friendship/drama sort of book it would be appealing.
But then we get the mystery/adventure angle. You might be forgiven if you groan a bit when you read that these two are kid detectives who are on the "FBI Director's speed dial", but amazingly, that slightly arch setup doesn't get in the way of the story. You have to get these two into the middle of the action somehow, and that's just the easiest way. But, their "kidness" isn't the focus and, unlike many other series, the author doesn't waste a lot of page time trying to make the setup plausible. In that way it's more like Hardy, Drew and Blyton, where with a little bit of exposition the heroes are just in the adventure, and so let's move on.
And the mystery/adventure angle is well done. Solutions are based on logic and deduction, (that "Theory of All Small Things" bit), and never on coincidence or luck, (or, worst of all, eavesdropping on monologuing villains). I like most middle grade mysteries, but to be fair, lots of them take shortcuts in the logic and reasoning, and even basic plotting, department. Well, here we actually do observe and then reason our way to logical conclusions, and if you just treated these books as lessons in practical thinking you'd already be ahead of the game.
But, on top of all of that, the books are just fun. Dialogue is smart and often witty. The two heroes are exceptionally appealing. Supporting characters are also smart and engaging, so you get a nice ensemble effect. While there is enough lurking and hiding and sneaking and investigating, there is also attention paid to character and description, so the books are well rounded.
So, I found this to be a modern and fresh take on the kid detective genre - well balanced, well written, and appealing. A nice find. (Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This book series is highlighted by all of the elements that characterized classic teen mystery/adventure books of yore, (Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, even Enid Blyton's adventures), but freshened up and streamlined a bit.
We have a solid detecting duo, Florian and Margaret, the keystone of which is friendship and mutual respect. They work as a team, and even if this were just a school friendship/drama sort of book it would be appealing.
But then we get the mystery/adventure angle. You might be forgiven if you groan a bit when you read that these two are kid detectives who are on the "FBI Director's speed dial", but amazingly, that slightly arch setup doesn't get in the way of the story. You have to get these two into the middle of the action somehow, and that's just the easiest way. But, their "kidness" isn't the focus and, unlike many other series, the author doesn't waste a lot of page time trying to make the setup plausible. In that way it's more like Hardy, Drew and Blyton, where with a little bit of exposition the heroes are just in the adventure, and so let's move on.
And the mystery/adventure angle is well done. Solutions are based on logic and deduction, (that "Theory of All Small Things" bit), and never on coincidence or luck, (or, worst of all, eavesdropping on monologuing villains). I like most middle grade mysteries, but to be fair, lots of them take shortcuts in the logic and reasoning, and even basic plotting, department. Well, here we actually do observe and then reason our way to logical conclusions, and if you just treated these books as lessons in practical thinking you'd already be ahead of the game.
But, on top of all of that, the books are just fun. Dialogue is smart and often witty. The two heroes are exceptionally appealing. Supporting characters are also smart and engaging, so you get a nice ensemble effect. While there is enough lurking and hiding and sneaking and investigating, there is also attention paid to character and description, so the books are well rounded.
So, I found this to be a modern and fresh take on the kid detective genre - well balanced, well written, and appealing. A nice find. (Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
December 31, 2021
Another great spy book! Such a good story. Undercover 12 year olds for the FBI. This book even gave a tour of the White House and some history behind it. A fun twisty plot even involving CIA, China, and a kidnapping.
July 23, 2024
Rating: 3.9 / 5
Fun as this adventure also was, compared to the first there were just...whew, wayyyy too many twists and turns!
(And I never thought I'd be saying that, especially for a middle grade book!)
But...ahem, this really rather is all over the place, and while some twists are quite clever, others are just entirely too random, to the point that Florian figuring everything out just doesn't seem believable, since he's following microscopic bits of sand at times, as opposed to breadcrumbs.
Just saying.
Otherwise though, this was a pretty cool read, with an elite school as the setting for him and Margaret to embark on their newest set of mysteries--and yes, it does get to be PLURAL.
All in all, I would recommend it, though I would caution that seeing as it was slightly confusing even for ME, as an adult, I'm not sure that all kids will be experts in navigating this or anything like that. But, ahem, enter at your own risk, as they say!
Fun as this adventure also was, compared to the first there were just...whew, wayyyy too many twists and turns!
(And I never thought I'd be saying that, especially for a middle grade book!)
But...ahem, this really rather is all over the place, and while some twists are quite clever, others are just entirely too random, to the point that Florian figuring everything out just doesn't seem believable, since he's following microscopic bits of sand at times, as opposed to breadcrumbs.
Just saying.
Otherwise though, this was a pretty cool read, with an elite school as the setting for him and Margaret to embark on their newest set of mysteries--and yes, it does get to be PLURAL.
All in all, I would recommend it, though I would caution that seeing as it was slightly confusing even for ME, as an adult, I'm not sure that all kids will be experts in navigating this or anything like that. But, ahem, enter at your own risk, as they say!
February 1, 2023
This somehow managed to be even better than the first one!!!
February 2, 2018
La scuola media è difficile. Risolvere casi per l’FBI lo è ancora di più. Fare tutte e due le cose insieme, be’.. è una follia! Potete credermi, io lo so bene. Mi chiamo Florian Bates, ho dodici anni e, insieme alla mia amica Margaret, faccio il consulente per l’Unità Progetti Speciali dell’FBI. Aiutiamo l’FBI come Sherlock Holmes aiutava Scotland Yard, solo che Sherlock non doveva chiudere un caso e consegnare una relazione di letteratura tutto nello stesso giorno.
Vi ricordate del giovane investigatore Florian Bates? Lo abbiamo conosciuto in “F.B.I – Il caso dei quadri rubati di James Ponti”.
Florian Bates è stato assunto come risorsa segreta dell’FBI e ora un nuovo importantissimo caso si prospetta all’orizzonte: un vandalo sta mettendo scompiglio nella prestigiosa scuola media Chatam Country, in cui studia la figlia del presidente degli Stati Uniti. Ciò rende il caso ancora più delicato e l’FBI decide di infiltrare al suo interno Florian e la sua amica e collega Margaret.
Così i due ragazzi dovranno destreggiarsi tra nuove amicizie, compiti e un caso all’apparenza indistricabile.. Florian Bates è pronto a un nuovo imperdibile caso.
Ho scoperto James Ponti grazie al primo libro della serie dedicata a Florian Bates e non mi ha deluso neanche questa volta: con uno stile coinvolgente, l’autore ci porta all’interno di una scuola prestigiosa frequentata da figli di illustri personaggi ma ci vorrà poco per capire che superate le apparenze è una scuola media come le altre, con studenti che vogliono eccellere, studenti più o meno popolari, scherzi, amicizie finite e amicizie ritrovate..
Anche in questo romanzo, il caso è all’apparenza davvero complesso e vi ritroverete sicuramente sorpresi alla scoperta del colpevole.
James Ponti trasporta il lettore in una storia fresca, intrigante e anche divertente che sono certa conquisterà tutti gli animi investigativi dei lettori più o meno giovani.
Se amate Sherlock Holmes, Veronica Mars, Jessica Fletcher e tutti gli altri grandi investigatori DOVETE leggere le storie di Florian Bates perché fanno proprio al caso vostro!
E ora aspetterò con impazienza il terzo capitolo.. e voi?
Vi ricordate del giovane investigatore Florian Bates? Lo abbiamo conosciuto in “F.B.I – Il caso dei quadri rubati di James Ponti”.
Florian Bates è stato assunto come risorsa segreta dell’FBI e ora un nuovo importantissimo caso si prospetta all’orizzonte: un vandalo sta mettendo scompiglio nella prestigiosa scuola media Chatam Country, in cui studia la figlia del presidente degli Stati Uniti. Ciò rende il caso ancora più delicato e l’FBI decide di infiltrare al suo interno Florian e la sua amica e collega Margaret.
Così i due ragazzi dovranno destreggiarsi tra nuove amicizie, compiti e un caso all’apparenza indistricabile.. Florian Bates è pronto a un nuovo imperdibile caso.
Ho scoperto James Ponti grazie al primo libro della serie dedicata a Florian Bates e non mi ha deluso neanche questa volta: con uno stile coinvolgente, l’autore ci porta all’interno di una scuola prestigiosa frequentata da figli di illustri personaggi ma ci vorrà poco per capire che superate le apparenze è una scuola media come le altre, con studenti che vogliono eccellere, studenti più o meno popolari, scherzi, amicizie finite e amicizie ritrovate..
Anche in questo romanzo, il caso è all’apparenza davvero complesso e vi ritroverete sicuramente sorpresi alla scoperta del colpevole.
James Ponti trasporta il lettore in una storia fresca, intrigante e anche divertente che sono certa conquisterà tutti gli animi investigativi dei lettori più o meno giovani.
Se amate Sherlock Holmes, Veronica Mars, Jessica Fletcher e tutti gli altri grandi investigatori DOVETE leggere le storie di Florian Bates perché fanno proprio al caso vostro!
E ora aspetterò con impazienza il terzo capitolo.. e voi?
May 6, 2019
This book shows a theme of friendship. Pure, genuine friendship. Not the kind that is used to climb the social ladder. Not the kind that is used for revenge or personal gain. True friendship. Where you can sit in silence and just enjoy the other person’s company. Where you are comfortable telling anything and everything to the person. Where you can keep your friendship a secret because friendship, is for two people and not for everyone else to grab on and hunt down. Vanished, reminds us the meaning of true friendship in a cryptic and interesting way.
October 31, 2017
Love, love, love this series. I am in awe of James Ponit's amazing dialogue, and I adore Florian and Margaret. I'll recommend this one often, especially to readers who love puzzles and mysteries. Fans of the Mr. Lemoncello books or Book Scavenger will likely love this series, too.
November 21, 2021
I just love this series!! After finishing the first one, Framed!, I couldn't wait to start the second. It did not disappoint. I think this is absolutely perfect for middle elementary school and even for Middle School as a high interest, low level book. So clever. Two middle school students who live in D.C. and are employed secretively by the FBI to solve cases. Their method of using TOAST - Theory of All Small Things - looking at small clues to make sense of things and see what others may not. It's so well written and engaging. The books have both started with a hook - towards the end of the investigation. Then the rest of the book backtracks to tell the story ending with a recap of the first chapter to what we call a circle story. Super clever - I already started book three :)
November 25, 2025
This was even better then the first one!
July 19, 2025
I love this series. My husband and I, and kids 7-17, have laughed and debated the mystery. The kids are smart and humble, the mystery is good, and there’s a lot of information about DC.
February 19, 2017
James Ponti is quickly becoming one of my favorite children's authors. His T.O.A.S.T. Mystery series are clever and humorous. I think a lot of us can relate to Florian's awkward nerdiness and envy his friendship with the awesome Margaret. There are so many crafty clues that pop up that no character is safe from being a suspect. Ponti really knows how to write tween dialogue, keeping it smart and funny. Yes, I will say it, I LOL'ed often.
May 23, 2017
Loved it! I need book 3 now! A clever mystery that surprised me! Lots of red herrings and a sensible conclusion! I hope some of these supporting characters return... maybe TOAST will travel next book?
July 14, 2020
This series for kids is just really fun. Going to start the third one soon.
October 31, 2024
I loved this one just as much as the first one but in different ways. The mystery was just as intriguing and kept me at the edge of my seat. I love the new friends they met along the way. But I just ADORE this rock solid BFF relationship of Margaret and Florian. They are the perfect example of a healthy and positive friendship. They make sure they show each other their best selves, they are always there for each other, they tease but in loving way, they never put each other down but build. I love the FBI agents Marcus and Kayla. They are a fantastic adult support to this kid team of detectives. The plot is engaging and the dialogue funny but not obnoxious. I enjoyed learning more about the secret service and the history of the White House too. I loved the message “to trust the river”. I have more thoughts on it at the end of the spoiler section. I listened on audio and highly recommend that format.
SPOILERS and book notes:
Marcus Rivers oversees the Special Projects Team for the fbi. Marcus is trying to borrow a police boat but: “The harbor patrol was part of the Metropolitan Police Department, and Marcus was with the FBI. Those two groups are very protective of their turf and almost never work well together.” He finally lets them have a A Zodiac: is a small, inflatable boat that is known for its stability, durability, and maneuverability. F is so sea sick lol. One of their classmates disappeared on a field trip to the symphony! Go back nine days…. They have to go undercover to the middle school that the presidents daughter attends and see who is vandalizing and pranking. If it is the Pres daughter or if she is the victim etc. Bahah the principal of the prep school (snobby and stuck up) is a member of the church of Jesus Christ and served a mission. The kids figured it out. ““Don’t feel bad,” Marcus said. “He does that a lot.” He turned to Margaret and asked, “What do you call it again?” “Getting toasted,” she replied. “That’s right.” Marcus smiled and turned back to Dr. Putney. “You just got toasted.” Lucy’s the presidents daughter blends in and Victoria Tate or the school calls her “Queen Victoria” wants to stand out and is assertive. I love when she and Margaret go head to head. Lucy gives one word answers to F and everyone reacts to her in some way when they se her. “She is friendly with everyone but friends with no one.” It would be hard to be the presidents daughter. Everyone reacts to her except one girl: Becca. She avoids looking at her etc. suspicious… F is so so kind and so good at trying to be friends with Lucy. He started off by telling her super random embarrassing stories about himself and she asked him why he was: ““Because it must get old meeting strangers who know all about you, but who you know nothing about. So I thought I’d just tell you some of the most embarrassing things about me to try to even things out a little.” Here is one: ““I’m terrified of frogs because they can jump in six different directions, which makes it impossible to predict how they might attack you.” I punctuated this with a little shiver of fear. She kept walking, but I could see her working out the math in her head. Finally she stopped again and turned back toward me. “Forward, backward, right, left, and up,” she said, counting them off with her fingers as she listed them. “That’s five. What’s the sixth direction?” “Backward, up, and at an angle all at one time,” I answered, simulating the maneuver with my hand. “Just like a ninja. It’s the most terrifying of all because you think you’re safely behind him and then . . . boom . . . frog attack.”F still hasn’t told M that her dad is the notorious criminal Nic the Knife… yin is a suspect too. He is a cello prodigy and seemed like he was at two places at once and ditching his cello practice. I feel bad for this kid. And he has no friends. BUT F and M ask him to hang out and they sit by him at lunch NOT bc he is a suspect but bc he needed a friend. And he is really cool. I LOVE THIS. And then M writes a song about F and M friendship! And I am bawling and feeling so touched!! “I haven’t got a clue What I’m doing here with you I guess it must be true It’s just something that friends do But all throughout our history No matter what the mystery The thing that’s always true Is that it’s always me and you” now F is going to a study session at Lucy’s house WHICH IS THE WHITE HOUSE. He is given a code name of Lucy which is “Loki” to be able to get in. He is buds with the president now and is eating dinner with them lol. Awwww he agreed to sing the friendship song she wrote “I haven’t got a clue” as a duet with her!!! Even though he thinks his voice stinks! I am so touched by this friendship. ““So how are we going to do this? Alternate parts or sing harmony?” It took her a second to get what I was saying. “Does that mean you’re going to do the talent show?” “Yes,” I said. “I’m going to make a total fool of myself because you’re my best friend.” Her grin alone made it worthwhile.” POOR Yin! The Chinese government booooo. I’m so grateful I live in America. “Tai Shan is a panda,” he said with a little laugh. “He was born here at the zoo and was very popular but the government demanded he be returned to China. People begged for him to stay, but they refused and he’s there now.” “In what way could you be like that?” asked Margaret. “I am here by permission of my government,” he explained. “I have to go wherever they want me to. I have no choice.”” So since he is a symbol of the government people don’t like him. The Chinese guy that confronted him told him to fight the government and stay in America and be a symbol of freedom! Yeah easier said than done dude! I LOVE KAYLA AND RIVERs s much!!! “Kayla was an FBI agent and had been my instructor at the Quantico training center. She was part kindergarten teacher, part ninja warrior, all awesome. She was always smiling and bubbly yet could disarm a bad guy with a lightning-quick mixture of martial arts and gymnastics. And while they’d never actually admitted it, Margaret and I were convinced that Marcus and Kayla had started dating. Their arrival together was another clue in that direction.” Yin was the one that disappeared at the beginning of the book! To help find him M is going to go talk to Nic the Knife and get his perspective on things bc he has kidnapped F before. But SHE STILL DOESKT KNOW HE IS HER FATHER. That yes he is a crime boss but he LOVES her and wants to protect her from this world.
And they hit it off really well and he got to tell her how awesome she is! Aw! Lucy the presidents daughter and Yin the prodigy were secret friends!! Bc they have so much in common! And can just be genuine friends to each other. I love this. So it was Lucy that yin was sending all the secret notes to! And they passed notes in the locker and secretly met in the secret passage ways behind the practice rooms. she is the one who gave him his orioles baseball cap (bc it’s a song bird) for his bday that he loves. He is being shipped to a different country (Berlin then Tokyo) (and he never sees his family!)again so she told him to defect! ““It’s when someone gives up their citizenship and asks for protection from a foreign government,”. But the us governemnt (presidents daughter no less) can’t help bc it would be too embarrassing for china. But Lucy had no idea he was running away! Bc all their methods of communication were dwindling bc of the pranks pulled!! But then he got kidnapped while he was trying to defect! It was Yins handlers that did it all! The Loki and pranks and the kidnapping etc bc they didn’t want Yin defecting and then they would lose their jobs! Or worse! Happy ending! They find Yin! And it’s happy ending! He gets to go back to china and live with his family indefinitely! And then he can compose his music happily. Then F and Ms talent show! With both their parents sitting next to each other. And ““And there are Marcus and Kayla,” she said. “Fourth row center.” “Looks like a date to me.” “Looks like one to me, too,” she said, and laughed.” And then Lucy the presidents daughter and her secret service Malena were there too! Another friend perhaps? I love the message that Yin gave the two before about “trusting the river”. ““Back home we live near a river that my father and I like to kayak on,” he said. “When I’m writing music I always think of what he told me when he was teaching me how to paddle a kayak. He’d say, ‘Trust the river,’ because he didn’t want me to fight the current. It’s better if you let the river take you where it’s going and just make small adjustments.”. It’s a great message. It makes me think of trusting in Christ and then let the river of life take you. Christ will give you slight adjustments through the spirit as you go along.
SPOILERS and book notes:
Marcus Rivers oversees the Special Projects Team for the fbi. Marcus is trying to borrow a police boat but: “The harbor patrol was part of the Metropolitan Police Department, and Marcus was with the FBI. Those two groups are very protective of their turf and almost never work well together.” He finally lets them have a A Zodiac: is a small, inflatable boat that is known for its stability, durability, and maneuverability. F is so sea sick lol. One of their classmates disappeared on a field trip to the symphony! Go back nine days…. They have to go undercover to the middle school that the presidents daughter attends and see who is vandalizing and pranking. If it is the Pres daughter or if she is the victim etc. Bahah the principal of the prep school (snobby and stuck up) is a member of the church of Jesus Christ and served a mission. The kids figured it out. ““Don’t feel bad,” Marcus said. “He does that a lot.” He turned to Margaret and asked, “What do you call it again?” “Getting toasted,” she replied. “That’s right.” Marcus smiled and turned back to Dr. Putney. “You just got toasted.” Lucy’s the presidents daughter blends in and Victoria Tate or the school calls her “Queen Victoria” wants to stand out and is assertive. I love when she and Margaret go head to head. Lucy gives one word answers to F and everyone reacts to her in some way when they se her. “She is friendly with everyone but friends with no one.” It would be hard to be the presidents daughter. Everyone reacts to her except one girl: Becca. She avoids looking at her etc. suspicious… F is so so kind and so good at trying to be friends with Lucy. He started off by telling her super random embarrassing stories about himself and she asked him why he was: ““Because it must get old meeting strangers who know all about you, but who you know nothing about. So I thought I’d just tell you some of the most embarrassing things about me to try to even things out a little.” Here is one: ““I’m terrified of frogs because they can jump in six different directions, which makes it impossible to predict how they might attack you.” I punctuated this with a little shiver of fear. She kept walking, but I could see her working out the math in her head. Finally she stopped again and turned back toward me. “Forward, backward, right, left, and up,” she said, counting them off with her fingers as she listed them. “That’s five. What’s the sixth direction?” “Backward, up, and at an angle all at one time,” I answered, simulating the maneuver with my hand. “Just like a ninja. It’s the most terrifying of all because you think you’re safely behind him and then . . . boom . . . frog attack.”F still hasn’t told M that her dad is the notorious criminal Nic the Knife… yin is a suspect too. He is a cello prodigy and seemed like he was at two places at once and ditching his cello practice. I feel bad for this kid. And he has no friends. BUT F and M ask him to hang out and they sit by him at lunch NOT bc he is a suspect but bc he needed a friend. And he is really cool. I LOVE THIS. And then M writes a song about F and M friendship! And I am bawling and feeling so touched!! “I haven’t got a clue What I’m doing here with you I guess it must be true It’s just something that friends do But all throughout our history No matter what the mystery The thing that’s always true Is that it’s always me and you” now F is going to a study session at Lucy’s house WHICH IS THE WHITE HOUSE. He is given a code name of Lucy which is “Loki” to be able to get in. He is buds with the president now and is eating dinner with them lol. Awwww he agreed to sing the friendship song she wrote “I haven’t got a clue” as a duet with her!!! Even though he thinks his voice stinks! I am so touched by this friendship. ““So how are we going to do this? Alternate parts or sing harmony?” It took her a second to get what I was saying. “Does that mean you’re going to do the talent show?” “Yes,” I said. “I’m going to make a total fool of myself because you’re my best friend.” Her grin alone made it worthwhile.” POOR Yin! The Chinese government booooo. I’m so grateful I live in America. “Tai Shan is a panda,” he said with a little laugh. “He was born here at the zoo and was very popular but the government demanded he be returned to China. People begged for him to stay, but they refused and he’s there now.” “In what way could you be like that?” asked Margaret. “I am here by permission of my government,” he explained. “I have to go wherever they want me to. I have no choice.”” So since he is a symbol of the government people don’t like him. The Chinese guy that confronted him told him to fight the government and stay in America and be a symbol of freedom! Yeah easier said than done dude! I LOVE KAYLA AND RIVERs s much!!! “Kayla was an FBI agent and had been my instructor at the Quantico training center. She was part kindergarten teacher, part ninja warrior, all awesome. She was always smiling and bubbly yet could disarm a bad guy with a lightning-quick mixture of martial arts and gymnastics. And while they’d never actually admitted it, Margaret and I were convinced that Marcus and Kayla had started dating. Their arrival together was another clue in that direction.” Yin was the one that disappeared at the beginning of the book! To help find him M is going to go talk to Nic the Knife and get his perspective on things bc he has kidnapped F before. But SHE STILL DOESKT KNOW HE IS HER FATHER. That yes he is a crime boss but he LOVES her and wants to protect her from this world.
And they hit it off really well and he got to tell her how awesome she is! Aw! Lucy the presidents daughter and Yin the prodigy were secret friends!! Bc they have so much in common! And can just be genuine friends to each other. I love this. So it was Lucy that yin was sending all the secret notes to! And they passed notes in the locker and secretly met in the secret passage ways behind the practice rooms. she is the one who gave him his orioles baseball cap (bc it’s a song bird) for his bday that he loves. He is being shipped to a different country (Berlin then Tokyo) (and he never sees his family!)again so she told him to defect! ““It’s when someone gives up their citizenship and asks for protection from a foreign government,”. But the us governemnt (presidents daughter no less) can’t help bc it would be too embarrassing for china. But Lucy had no idea he was running away! Bc all their methods of communication were dwindling bc of the pranks pulled!! But then he got kidnapped while he was trying to defect! It was Yins handlers that did it all! The Loki and pranks and the kidnapping etc bc they didn’t want Yin defecting and then they would lose their jobs! Or worse! Happy ending! They find Yin! And it’s happy ending! He gets to go back to china and live with his family indefinitely! And then he can compose his music happily. Then F and Ms talent show! With both their parents sitting next to each other. And ““And there are Marcus and Kayla,” she said. “Fourth row center.” “Looks like a date to me.” “Looks like one to me, too,” she said, and laughed.” And then Lucy the presidents daughter and her secret service Malena were there too! Another friend perhaps? I love the message that Yin gave the two before about “trusting the river”. ““Back home we live near a river that my father and I like to kayak on,” he said. “When I’m writing music I always think of what he told me when he was teaching me how to paddle a kayak. He’d say, ‘Trust the river,’ because he didn’t want me to fight the current. It’s better if you let the river take you where it’s going and just make small adjustments.”. It’s a great message. It makes me think of trusting in Christ and then let the river of life take you. Christ will give you slight adjustments through the spirit as you go along.
July 17, 2022
Another amazing mystery featuring Young Sherlock, Florian Bates!
This book kept me guessing about the mystery up until that very last chapters (which is saying something, because I can usually guess most plot twists and mysteries ahead of time 😆), and to add onto it was a fun tale of friendship and what it means to be a true friend. Florian is his signature plucky self just as in book one, and it was fun going on another (if not quite a bit different) adventure in this book.
While the pacing, plot, etc of this book was really well done, the only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars is that it wasn't all that... gripping. Which I feel points back to the main character, in all honesty. I love how he's light on his feet and can instantly read a person using his TOAST skills, but beyond that he's not as dimensional as I would have liked. Personally, I think what would have excelled this book to the next level would be for Florian to deal with a few insecurities (maybe based on his level of observation) even beyond being afraid of a bully, which would truly make him a sympathetic character.
That being said, this book was still a really fun and exciting read, and had me grinning through several scenes.
This book kept me guessing about the mystery up until that very last chapters (which is saying something, because I can usually guess most plot twists and mysteries ahead of time 😆), and to add onto it was a fun tale of friendship and what it means to be a true friend. Florian is his signature plucky self just as in book one, and it was fun going on another (if not quite a bit different) adventure in this book.
While the pacing, plot, etc of this book was really well done, the only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars is that it wasn't all that... gripping. Which I feel points back to the main character, in all honesty. I love how he's light on his feet and can instantly read a person using his TOAST skills, but beyond that he's not as dimensional as I would have liked. Personally, I think what would have excelled this book to the next level would be for Florian to deal with a few insecurities (maybe based on his level of observation) even beyond being afraid of a bully, which would truly make him a sympathetic character.
That being said, this book was still a really fun and exciting read, and had me grinning through several scenes.
April 10, 2020
In Vanished both Florian and Margaret are asked to go undercover in a different school where there are some pranks going on and things seem to be escalating. It’s also a school that the president’s daughters goes too and it looks like someone is trying to blame the pranks on her.
Florian and Margaret have get in good with certain kids to try and find information. Florian has to become friends with the president’s daughter which wasn’t hard as she was a nice girl. While doing so he notices some things about another kid who practices music and how the woman who is with him is always watching.
This was another fun mystery adventure with the two kids FBI helpers and I really enjoyed the mystery and how they figured out what was going on. Florian even helps the president solve a mystery of where a certain artifact in the white house had gone.
I think young readers will enjoy this series and I would recommend it.
Florian and Margaret have get in good with certain kids to try and find information. Florian has to become friends with the president’s daughter which wasn’t hard as she was a nice girl. While doing so he notices some things about another kid who practices music and how the woman who is with him is always watching.
This was another fun mystery adventure with the two kids FBI helpers and I really enjoyed the mystery and how they figured out what was going on. Florian even helps the president solve a mystery of where a certain artifact in the white house had gone.
I think young readers will enjoy this series and I would recommend it.
April 10, 2019
Once there was a kid named Florian Bates. He is 12 years old and is in middle school. He also solves cases for the FBI. And he's back again in this new book. The FBI has a new case for him, too. There are middle school pranks happening at the president's daughter's school. Can Florian discover who did all the pranks? But he also has another case on his hands. When a student vanishes at a concert, Florian and his friend Margaret are on the case! A big mystery sparks.
I think this is a great book because I love mysteries. I think the age range for this book is age 8+.
I think this is a great book because I love mysteries. I think the age range for this book is age 8+.
January 21, 2022
Wonderful and I'm 98% certain the intended audience of MG kids (boys too, as the MC is a boy), would like it. The mystery is quite good and difficult to solve.
While at first blush, the conceit of two 7th grade kids helping the FBI seems ludicrous to an adult, the author really does a great job of convincing you it's possible (I assume 10 year old readers won't worry about that). And there is some fairly complicated international politics explained here, but in a way I think the audience will understand and find interesting.
I'm reading my way through the Edgar nominated books of last year, and honestly? This is the second best of them I've read, and it's "only" a book for kids.
While at first blush, the conceit of two 7th grade kids helping the FBI seems ludicrous to an adult, the author really does a great job of convincing you it's possible (I assume 10 year old readers won't worry about that). And there is some fairly complicated international politics explained here, but in a way I think the audience will understand and find interesting.
I'm reading my way through the Edgar nominated books of last year, and honestly? This is the second best of them I've read, and it's "only" a book for kids.
November 25, 2025
This was so much fun! I loved getting another adventure with Florian and Margaret and how all the small things tied together. 😍 I was trying to figure out what was going on the whole time, and Mikayla and I ended up finishing our buddy-read early because we were so intrigued.
Can't wait to read the last book in this series!
Can't wait to read the last book in this series!
July 30, 2019
It took months for me to make it past the first chapter, but then it was impossible to put down. Students will enjoy this rich and complex mystery featuring two seventh graders working covertly for the FBI. Well constructed. A must purchase.
March 11, 2021
I really liked this book! I give it five stars compared to most books, but four stars compared to the fist in the series. At some points I got lost, but overall I loved it so much! How does James Ponti come up with these things?
November 3, 2021
Really fun audiobook. Again, you do have to suspend reality for these, but it’s so well-plotted. I’m realizing each book starts with an intro and then flashes back for a significant portion of the story. I really enjoy that technique, but I didn’t find it quite as surprising in book 2.
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