Scanners

by Max Elliot Anderson

What do bar codes, scanners, tattoos, and 666 have to do with the life of a twelve-year-old boy? Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. Alex Peterman had a dream life. He could walk into the grocery store, pick out anything off the shelves, and walk back out without paying for it. Of course, it helped that his father owned Gilbert’s Grocery store. Alex and his friends, Noah Bates and Tim Price began working with him, in the store, for the summer. But it wasn’t long before some money was missing, a lot of money. And it always happened on the weekends. Alex didn’t care what it took, he was determined to catch the thief. Only he could never have imagined how big it was, or how many people were involved. He and his friends set up a secret fort, made from wooden delivery pallets that were stored up in a loft above the receiving area of the store. From that vantage point, they could watch anyone who came or went through the back doors. One day, the boys ran into a delivery man with the tattoo of a skull and swords on his arm. They decided to keep a close eye on this man. When they did, they saw him doing some pretty suspicious things around the store. The boys were convinced that this was the man who had been stealing from the store, but how? When they saw him again at the regional food convention, they were certain. Now Alex had to come up with a plan to catch him. But he wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

160 pages, Paperback

Published December 10, 2017

About the author

Max Elliot Anderson grew up as a struggling reader. After surveying the market, he sensed the need for action-adventures and mysteries for readers 8 – 13, especially boys.

Using his extensive experience in the production of dramatic motion pictures, videos, and television commercials, Mr. Anderson brings that same visual excitement and heart-pounding action to his stories. Each book has different characters, setting, and plot.

Ten middle grade books are published, ten more are under contract, with several additional manuscripts completed. Young readers have reported that reading one of his books is like actually being in an exciting movie. He is also a short story staff writer for Knowonder,com Magazine.

Books for Boys Blog: http://booksandboys.blogspot.com
Author Web Site: http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/index_1.html
My Youtube Videos http://www.youtube.com/user/Maxbooks1...

Reviews

[Viviane Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

We walk into a grocery store, supermarket, clothing store, book store, etc. We buy an item or items and pay after the bar code is scanned for each item. We never think twice about how that happens or how it can be misused for criminal purposes. This is Alex Peterman’s story about how he solves a crime happening in Gilbert’s Grocery Store, owned by Alex’s father. For several weeks his father has discovered that thousands of dollars are missing each week, particularly on weekends.
Alex and his friends Noah Bates and Tim Price, who also work in the store set about trying to find out who is stealing massive amounts of money. They also have a project going on at school. While watching the normal activities in the store, they decide to research the bar codes on every product and also the background of tattoos as one of the deliverers of groceries sports an unusual tattoo.
The story is fairly, evenly paced but picks up when the boys notice some shady events. Some of it is very funny as the boys in their boredom play some harmless but crazy games in the store’s aisles.
When they see one particular man sneaking around and looking very suspicious, they think they have their criminal. Imagine their surprise when they attend a regional food convention and see the same character lurking around.
No spoilers here – keep reading and discover just how bar codes can be used for wrongdoing and how the boys capture the criminals in a dangerous but exciting manner.
Fun read with plenty of suspense and a few good laughs mixed in between the mystery!

[Anne Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Elliot Anderson has done it yet again. He writes for kids, and I swear he must have the fastest fingers and the most vivid imagination in the land. This is another one I thoroughly loved, since I'm in my second kidhood. Five stars.

I'm asking a favor of you: If you buy this book, I would count it a personal favor if you would review it at least on Amazon. If you buy it for a young friend, they can't legally review--but you could ask their opinion in order to write a review where it will do the author some good.

Climbing down off my soapbox now.

About the book: Alex's dad owns a grocery store, but they are losing money--literally. Someone is somehow stealing from the store. Alex and his two buddies work for his dad in restocking the shelves on weekends or holidays--including summer holiday. Alex is determined to find out who and how.

He has a suspect, a sneaky-looking guy with a skull tattoo. Somehow, Alex just knows this guy is involved, and he and his friends set out to prove it.

You kids (and grownup kids) will love this one. Grab it from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

I was given a free copy of this book by the author, but the opinions and evaluations are my own.