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Young Whit #1
Young Whit and the Traitor's Treasure
Nine-year-old John Avery Whittaker and his family have just moved to the small town of Provenance, North Carolina. It's the 1930s, the midst of the Great Depression.
Johnny's father has taken a position as a professor at nearby Duke University. Now Johnny must not only deal with a new school, new friends, and a new bully, but also a decades-old scandal that has taname?rnished the Whittaker family's reputation, and an amazing mystery involving the contents of a musty old trunk.
After all these years, can Johnny discover the truth of what happened? And if he can, will it restore honor to the Whittakers -- or bring further shame to his family's name?
Johnny's father has taken a position as a professor at nearby Duke University. Now Johnny must not only deal with a new school, new friends, and a new bully, but also a decades-old scandal that has taname?rnished the Whittaker family's reputation, and an amazing mystery involving the contents of a musty old trunk.
After all these years, can Johnny discover the truth of what happened? And if he can, will it restore honor to the Whittakers -- or bring further shame to his family's name?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2018
20 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Phil Lollar
28 books18 followersPhil Lollar has created, written, produced, and performed in dozens of audio and video series, including Adventures in Odyssey, The Little Angels, Jungle Jam and Friends, Iliad House, Little Dogs on the Prairie, 3,2,1 Penguins, The Wubbulous World of Dr Seuss, The Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi Show, The Mr. Men Show, Olivia!, Tom & Jerry, and Space Racers, to name just a few. Two of those series have been credited with re-inventing the art of audio drama: Jungle Jam and Friends, and Adventures in Odyssey. A three-time Seneca Award winner for Excellence in Audio Drama, Phil has also written 20 books. He took a double BA in Radio/TV/Film and Philosophy from California State University Fullerton, and an MFA in Dramatic Writing and Video Production from California State University Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 15, 2022
This is the first book in the Young Whit series, and I can't wait to read the rest. If you're a fan of Adventures In Odyssey, or mystery stories, this is a great Middle Grade Christian fiction book.
Johnny Whitaker has moved to a new town with his family. Mysteries already start happening when he spots a boy near an abandoned house, and a mysterious figure with a knife lurking behind him. Johnny stumbles into treasure hunting, new found friendship, and trouble with the town bully. A great read that I'm really happy I read.
Johnny Whitaker has moved to a new town with his family. Mysteries already start happening when he spots a boy near an abandoned house, and a mysterious figure with a knife lurking behind him. Johnny stumbles into treasure hunting, new found friendship, and trouble with the town bully. A great read that I'm really happy I read.
February 6, 2020
I loved this book!! It was intriguing and very well written!! If you are a book nerd and an AIO nerd, please read this!!
YOU WILL LOVE IT! :D
YOU WILL LOVE IT! :D
May 20, 2021
This was a great little read aloud book with the kids. If you know Mr. Whitaker from "Adventures in Odyssey" then you will love this little set of stories from his youth.
Read
July 12, 2021I liked the way John Avery Whittaker kicked a piece of wood with a karate move and made it snap in half to scare away a bully.
January 14, 2022
Not Enough Depth on the Content for Educating Readers.
What an interesting time for Johnny to be alive and adventurous: The Great Bambino has just retired and a world war is not too far in the past. I know the feeling of getting lost in a good book but how exciting it must be to read a current, popular author's book and meet the same author, like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or J.M. Barrie.
And like both of these authors' most famous characters, Johnny seems to model the adventures and magic of Peter Pan with the science-minded investigative skills of Sherlock Holmes. It may come off as an unbelievable character at first, as he is the smartest and bravest, even outdoing adults.
With the introduction of the local bullies, there seems to be a nod at anti-colonialism, which is a grey area not to be painted black-and-white. In fact, the characters and other situations are very black-and-white, placing a blanket history and description over everything, from slavery to the civil war, colonialism, immigrants, and such. There's omissions of truth and a lack of depth in the content that the author chooses to "explore". I guess what I'm questioning is that one character is apparently a traitor and coward to his fellow soldiers of the Confederate Rebels. Then another character refers to the Rebels as "the bad guys" but there's no depth or discussion around this, only a shallow painting. Then Yankee General Sherman is mentioned but no depth goes into his bloody trail through the Carolinas and Georgia. Both sides of the Civil War are deserving of scrutiny and understanding. This also goes for the different slaves not represented in this book. They don't have to be presented but the dialogue is indicative that only one type of slave and one type of slave master existed.
With one of the bigger reveals, it felt like a very Scooby Dooish mystery. I didn't hate it and I'm not the target audience. By story's end, there's a small message of Christian faith with not so much focus on the character of God and a relationship with Him. I want to let my sons read this to see a take on standing up against bullies and reading and being brave but I also don't want to give them a logical fallacy type reading of slavery, colonials, and the Civil War.
What an interesting time for Johnny to be alive and adventurous: The Great Bambino has just retired and a world war is not too far in the past. I know the feeling of getting lost in a good book but how exciting it must be to read a current, popular author's book and meet the same author, like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or J.M. Barrie.
And like both of these authors' most famous characters, Johnny seems to model the adventures and magic of Peter Pan with the science-minded investigative skills of Sherlock Holmes. It may come off as an unbelievable character at first, as he is the smartest and bravest, even outdoing adults.
With the introduction of the local bullies, there seems to be a nod at anti-colonialism, which is a grey area not to be painted black-and-white. In fact, the characters and other situations are very black-and-white, placing a blanket history and description over everything, from slavery to the civil war, colonialism, immigrants, and such. There's omissions of truth and a lack of depth in the content that the author chooses to "explore". I guess what I'm questioning is that one character is apparently a traitor and coward to his fellow soldiers of the Confederate Rebels. Then another character refers to the Rebels as "the bad guys" but there's no depth or discussion around this, only a shallow painting. Then Yankee General Sherman is mentioned but no depth goes into his bloody trail through the Carolinas and Georgia. Both sides of the Civil War are deserving of scrutiny and understanding. This also goes for the different slaves not represented in this book. They don't have to be presented but the dialogue is indicative that only one type of slave and one type of slave master existed.
With one of the bigger reveals, it felt like a very Scooby Dooish mystery. I didn't hate it and I'm not the target audience. By story's end, there's a small message of Christian faith with not so much focus on the character of God and a relationship with Him. I want to let my sons read this to see a take on standing up against bullies and reading and being brave but I also don't want to give them a logical fallacy type reading of slavery, colonials, and the Civil War.
October 22, 2018
YOUNG WHIT AND THE TRAITOR'S TREASURE is epic! Mom started reading this to my younger sister while I was doing my piano lessons. Needless to say, my hands might have rested on the keys, but not a note was played. I was hooked on YOUNG WHIT AND THE TRAITOR'S TREASURE by the prologue! Then I begged to be able read the chapters to my sister - and I must admit, I read ahead and finished it, and read it again and again, three times already. I *love* this story. It is SO good!
My older siblings were raised listening to Whit's End on the radio, usually listening while the family commuted across Grand Rapids to church functions. Mom was able to get her hands on a couple of the Imagination Station VHS tapes back then, which were worn out so they were before my time. My oldest brother has fond memories of them and he was intrigued by the idea of a series involving Young Whit.
There is a mystery included and a race against time, and a matter of life and death as they get closer to discovering the truth and possibly clearing Whit's relative's name. Was Whit's relative a traitor? Or was it someone else? Who knows the truth and how can they find out? This is a seriously engaging book and one I highly recommend.
I was given a copy free by the publisher. My opinion is my own.
My older siblings were raised listening to Whit's End on the radio, usually listening while the family commuted across Grand Rapids to church functions. Mom was able to get her hands on a couple of the Imagination Station VHS tapes back then, which were worn out so they were before my time. My oldest brother has fond memories of them and he was intrigued by the idea of a series involving Young Whit.
There is a mystery included and a race against time, and a matter of life and death as they get closer to discovering the truth and possibly clearing Whit's relative's name. Was Whit's relative a traitor? Or was it someone else? Who knows the truth and how can they find out? This is a seriously engaging book and one I highly recommend.
I was given a copy free by the publisher. My opinion is my own.
October 5, 2018
Young Whit is a wonderfully well-written children's adventure tale that takes place in the 1930's in Provenance, N.C. Whit's father is a professor at Duke University.
The story is full of action, new relationships, bullies, mystery and suspense. As an adult, I enjoyed reading Young Whit and was captivated by Whit's intellect and ability to solve mysteries. His humor was also enjoyable.
The other characters were well-developed and added depth to the story. The ending was amazing, setting up the adventure for the next story in the series. This book would keep a younger child interested and an adult entertained as well.
I received a copy from Front Gate Media and voluntarily chose to review it.
The story is full of action, new relationships, bullies, mystery and suspense. As an adult, I enjoyed reading Young Whit and was captivated by Whit's intellect and ability to solve mysteries. His humor was also enjoyable.
The other characters were well-developed and added depth to the story. The ending was amazing, setting up the adventure for the next story in the series. This book would keep a younger child interested and an adult entertained as well.
I received a copy from Front Gate Media and voluntarily chose to review it.
September 8, 2020
Amazing book! Mystery themed and fun to read for a Christian book!
March 6, 2023
Will definitely convince the series with my boys.
October 18, 2022
Overall a good book. It could benefit from using a thesaurus though. A lot of word usage is repetitive when a good synonym would help. I enjoyed the book. It reminded me of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles a bit.
August 1, 2021
Turtle: great! Return to library.
March 14, 2022
This is a wonderful book, and definitely a must-read. 10/10
October 1, 2018
My daughter has loved every product in the Adventures in Odyssey line that we’ve used, and so she was excited to hear that there was a new book series releasing. We enjoy the positive messages, exciting sound effects, and faith references, but Young Whit & the Traitor’s Treasure is a book unlike any of their other products – and we loved it.
Firstly, this book is intended for young kids – Amazon lists the book for kids ages seven and up. It’s not your typical young reader, though. It’s a historical mystery, dealing with the battlefields of the Civil War, the prejudice that lingers in the South, and slavery. There are complex characters dealing with being the new kid in school, losing family, gaining a stepmother, bullying, and grief. The text is easy to read and the words flow, but this is not your ‘I like my cat’ kind of book. It would make a fantastic read aloud, and there are many things to discuss throughout the story, but it’s perfect for young and advanced readers.
Topping out at nearly 250 pages, it’s not your typical entry-level chapter book, either. There’s weight and heft to this book, and I love it. The length gives time for the authors to develop the storyline and the characters. I wish we’d had this book when my kids were this age, because deep, well-written books that are clean and encouraging for younger kids are really difficult to find, but this gives me high hopes for the rest of the series.
It’s not your typical Christian-book-for-kids, either. Like all Adventures in Odyssey books, the main characters are, well, of great character, but John isn’t yet a believer. While he has several strong examples in his life, he claims not to believe at the beginning of this story. I don’t think this is a bad sign, however; John obviously knows his way around the Bible and sees attending church services as a positive thing. This gave me the impression that while John may not believe right now, the series may develop his faith in a realistic journey-style. I like that the book didn’t come across as preachy or make it feel as if John was claiming other people’s faith as his own, but that he was discovering elements of faith for himself. I’m hoping to see this faith continue to grow and develop in subsequent books.
I want to read those other books, too. I love the plot lines in this book; they’re realistic, exciting, and fun to read. I love that there is both history and culture in this stories, and as a part-Scot who also had an ancestor at the Battle of Gettysburg, it was fun to read that scenario in a story. My Big Helper was excited to see so many references to our local areas: Charlotte, Raleigh, but especially Duke University, as this all helped to bring the setting to life for her.
Lollar and Arnold have penned a real winner with Whitt & the Traitor’s Treasure. I can’t wait to see what they do next!
I received a free copy of this book from FrontGate Media. All opinions are my own.
Firstly, this book is intended for young kids – Amazon lists the book for kids ages seven and up. It’s not your typical young reader, though. It’s a historical mystery, dealing with the battlefields of the Civil War, the prejudice that lingers in the South, and slavery. There are complex characters dealing with being the new kid in school, losing family, gaining a stepmother, bullying, and grief. The text is easy to read and the words flow, but this is not your ‘I like my cat’ kind of book. It would make a fantastic read aloud, and there are many things to discuss throughout the story, but it’s perfect for young and advanced readers.
Topping out at nearly 250 pages, it’s not your typical entry-level chapter book, either. There’s weight and heft to this book, and I love it. The length gives time for the authors to develop the storyline and the characters. I wish we’d had this book when my kids were this age, because deep, well-written books that are clean and encouraging for younger kids are really difficult to find, but this gives me high hopes for the rest of the series.
It’s not your typical Christian-book-for-kids, either. Like all Adventures in Odyssey books, the main characters are, well, of great character, but John isn’t yet a believer. While he has several strong examples in his life, he claims not to believe at the beginning of this story. I don’t think this is a bad sign, however; John obviously knows his way around the Bible and sees attending church services as a positive thing. This gave me the impression that while John may not believe right now, the series may develop his faith in a realistic journey-style. I like that the book didn’t come across as preachy or make it feel as if John was claiming other people’s faith as his own, but that he was discovering elements of faith for himself. I’m hoping to see this faith continue to grow and develop in subsequent books.
I want to read those other books, too. I love the plot lines in this book; they’re realistic, exciting, and fun to read. I love that there is both history and culture in this stories, and as a part-Scot who also had an ancestor at the Battle of Gettysburg, it was fun to read that scenario in a story. My Big Helper was excited to see so many references to our local areas: Charlotte, Raleigh, but especially Duke University, as this all helped to bring the setting to life for her.
Lollar and Arnold have penned a real winner with Whitt & the Traitor’s Treasure. I can’t wait to see what they do next!
I received a free copy of this book from FrontGate Media. All opinions are my own.
October 4, 2018
Did you curl up next to the radio about 7:30 listening to Adventures in Odyssey when you were a kid? Did your kids?
Well, I didn’t but my children certainly did!! We loved and still love John Avery Whittaker and the whole cast in Adventures in Odyssey. My boys would wake up on Saturdays to listen on an obscure radio channel they found through trial and error! We bought cassettes, then CDs with the stories so we could listen, at will, in the car while traveling the US.
Young Whit is a love, by Phil Lollar and David Arnold, and this book goes back to the main character John Avery Whittaker and introduces us to the boy. It is his history. It gives us insight into the back story of the lovable man who helps point everyone to Jesus and loves them unconditionally. His patient demeanor and his big heart win everyone over!
Meeting John as a boy, when he first moves to Provenance, North Carolina, is a charming experience. Walking through his adolescence, 6th grade year, and seeing how he meets new friends, makes a few “enemies” and figures out his way helps the reader see a little of themselves and their friends in him. If you have never moved, and therefore never been the new kid you see this experience through John’s eyes. If you have been, you can totally relate to his story!
I really loved this story. I read it to Anna the past few weeks and we both wanted to keep going to get to the next part! It was well written and a great story for all of our kids to get Whit’s backs story!
I HIGHLY recommend this book, since I would recommend ANYTHING Adventures in Odyssey. These books help connect with kids going through the tough years of life and help them figure out just who they are, and whose!
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of Young Whit in exchange for an honest review.
Well, I didn’t but my children certainly did!! We loved and still love John Avery Whittaker and the whole cast in Adventures in Odyssey. My boys would wake up on Saturdays to listen on an obscure radio channel they found through trial and error! We bought cassettes, then CDs with the stories so we could listen, at will, in the car while traveling the US.
Young Whit is a love, by Phil Lollar and David Arnold, and this book goes back to the main character John Avery Whittaker and introduces us to the boy. It is his history. It gives us insight into the back story of the lovable man who helps point everyone to Jesus and loves them unconditionally. His patient demeanor and his big heart win everyone over!
Meeting John as a boy, when he first moves to Provenance, North Carolina, is a charming experience. Walking through his adolescence, 6th grade year, and seeing how he meets new friends, makes a few “enemies” and figures out his way helps the reader see a little of themselves and their friends in him. If you have never moved, and therefore never been the new kid you see this experience through John’s eyes. If you have been, you can totally relate to his story!
I really loved this story. I read it to Anna the past few weeks and we both wanted to keep going to get to the next part! It was well written and a great story for all of our kids to get Whit’s backs story!
I HIGHLY recommend this book, since I would recommend ANYTHING Adventures in Odyssey. These books help connect with kids going through the tough years of life and help them figure out just who they are, and whose!
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of Young Whit in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2021
This was better than a three-star warrants. The story was interesting, had a lot of solid Christian themes, was great for little kids. Exciting and fun without being scary.
It was a little long for me. It seemed like we went on several tangents that weren't necessary, it took us forever to get where we needed to go.
It also seemed to ignore a lot of the Odyssey world. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not the Odyssey expert in the family (that would be my wife) but there is nothing connecting this to the world of Odyssey (at least not that I could find) it was a generic Goony-esque story that they slapped the name Jon Whittaker on to find an audience. There just wasn't enough there for me to be excited about the setting, and that's what really knocked this down for me.
It could have been Young Indiana Jones, Young Lara Croft, or Young Dirk Pitt and it all would have basically worked the same. That may be a little harsh on my side, but the story wasn't tied to the world of Odyssey, and in fact makes the world of Odyssey harder to timeline.
This was a good book; just don't expect to spend your time with the characters you already know and love from the 20+ years of Odyssey.
It was a little long for me. It seemed like we went on several tangents that weren't necessary, it took us forever to get where we needed to go.
It also seemed to ignore a lot of the Odyssey world. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not the Odyssey expert in the family (that would be my wife) but there is nothing connecting this to the world of Odyssey (at least not that I could find) it was a generic Goony-esque story that they slapped the name Jon Whittaker on to find an audience. There just wasn't enough there for me to be excited about the setting, and that's what really knocked this down for me.
It could have been Young Indiana Jones, Young Lara Croft, or Young Dirk Pitt and it all would have basically worked the same. That may be a little harsh on my side, but the story wasn't tied to the world of Odyssey, and in fact makes the world of Odyssey harder to timeline.
This was a good book; just don't expect to spend your time with the characters you already know and love from the 20+ years of Odyssey.
September 29, 2020
A bit far fetched, but intriguing and true to the character of John Avery Whittaker. It annoyed me that they called him Johnny. I thought he was called John-Avery as a kid? I read this aloud to my kids (ages 6 and 10). It’s not great as a read aloud. My ten year old wants to read the other books in the series.
July 29, 2020
I discovered the Adventures in Odyssey radio series many years ago. When I saw a book about Whit as a youngster, I was quick to borrow this book.
It was a fun read. Exploring events in Whit's past and his family tree made this a book that was hard to put down.
It was a fun read. Exploring events in Whit's past and his family tree made this a book that was hard to put down.
January 2, 2024
I read this book to my 6 year old son. He liked it a lot. I thought there was a lot of build up and a fast conclusion. There wasn’t much character development in it, but for what it was, (a book written for age 10), I think it was pretty good. We are going to start the second book in the series.
January 22, 2026
4.5 stars! Finished audiobook today. As always, the writers of Odyssey delivered an engaging story. At seventeen, I’m a HUGE fan of Odyssey and Focus on the Family, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this, and getting a peek into Whit’s childhood.
January 11, 2019
Could not put it down
August 27, 2021
so good
January 21, 2023
not good but not terrible.
February 14, 2024
4.5 stars.
This book has 233 pages not 240.
This book has 233 pages not 240.
June 3, 2024
Kids loved it- listened to it in the car
June 25, 2024
I love adventure and danger. This is a great book and I love it.
December 30, 2024
What a fun book! Especially if you’ve listened to Adventures in Odyssey, like I have. I can’t wait to read the next one!
May 10, 2025
Interesting…interested in where the series is going.
October 15, 2025
It’s a trust the process book
December 4, 2025
Excellent for kids!
November 19, 2024
(Review to come)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews