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Scouts
The story of a group of friends who set out to find a crashed meteor...but find mystery, danger, and fractures in their close relationships instead.
Annie, Beans, Rocky, and Fynn. They're the Scouts--best friends who do everything together. It's 1985, and with the summer before seventh grade winding down, the Scouts decide to secretly climb Old Man Basinger's silo to watch a meteor shower. When one meteor seems to crash nearby, the Scouts know they have to go find it.
But their fun overnight jaunt through the woods soon takes a turn when they come across a series of disturbing discoveries about the meteor, and find themselves on the run from the Mason clan who live in the wilderness. Bonds are tested when new kids join their adventure and true feelings are revealed. Will the Scouts survive this journey together, or will their unbreakable friendships prove vulnerable after all?
Annie, Beans, Rocky, and Fynn. They're the Scouts--best friends who do everything together. It's 1985, and with the summer before seventh grade winding down, the Scouts decide to secretly climb Old Man Basinger's silo to watch a meteor shower. When one meteor seems to crash nearby, the Scouts know they have to go find it.
But their fun overnight jaunt through the woods soon takes a turn when they come across a series of disturbing discoveries about the meteor, and find themselves on the run from the Mason clan who live in the wilderness. Bonds are tested when new kids join their adventure and true feelings are revealed. Will the Scouts survive this journey together, or will their unbreakable friendships prove vulnerable after all?
257 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 2019
111 people are currently reading
4683 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Greenland
22 books477 followersShannon Greenland is the award-winning and best-selling author of Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult books. She grew up in Tennessee where she dreaded all things reading and writing. She didn’t even read her first book for enjoyment until she was twenty-five. After that, she was hooked! When she’s not writing, she's usually traveling or hanging out with a rogue armadillo that frequents her backyard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
April 8, 2020
Many thanks to JIMMY Patterson for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
"Side by side we stand, looking down into the moonlit river."
What a twisty, quick novel about adventures and friendship!
So, what's this book about?
Annie, Beans, Rocky, and Fynn. They're the Scouts--best friends who do everything together. It's 1985, and with the summer before seventh grade winding down, the Scouts decide to secretly climb Old Man Basinger's silo to watch a meteor shower. When one meteor seems to crash nearby, the Scouts know they have to go find it.
But their fun overnight jaunt through the woods soon takes a turn when they come across a series of disturbing discoveries about the meteor, and find themselves on the run from the Mason clan who live in the wilderness. Bonds are tested when new kids join their adventure and true feelings are revealed. Will the Scouts survive this journey together, or will their unbreakable friendships prove vulnerable after all?
This book was described as Stranger Thing meets the Goonies and while the Goonies aspect is 100% there, I would say the Stranger Things aspect wasn't as much.
I blew through this book very quickly. It was definitely enjoyable but not four stars or above enjoyable, if that makes sense. It's like vanilla ice cream. You're not going to say no but you wouldn't purposely go looking for it.
Overall, this was a quick and thrilling middle-grade novel that makes for a great afternoon read!
Happy reading!
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October 20, 2020
Another 5 star read for the James Patterson Collection! I just loved it! This is a coming of age story of a group of friends that just saw a falling star hit Earth and they set out on an adventure to find it. They find that others are also searching for the star and they are dangerous. A meteorite, spooky woods, creepy mountain people, a skeleton and a bear in the camp! How could you want more? I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages!
August 9, 2019
A fun adventure for the younger reader!
Read
August 30, 2019It's 1985, the summer before 7th grade for Annie, Rocky, Fynn and Beans, a group of kids known as the Scouts. After witnessing a meteorite crashing to the ground, the scouts decide it would be fun to track down the aftermath of the meteorite. It also could be worth a lot of money. The novel follows the adventures of the scouts on their journey. There is also mysterious occurrences which invoke an interest in the story.
The novel has been compared to The Goonies and Stand By Me. But it is a lighter version.
The novel has been compared to The Goonies and Stand By Me. But it is a lighter version.
August 28, 2019
One of my jobs allows me to set up book displays, and I like getting an idea of what I'd like to put on those displays by actually reading the material. I had a very specific idea in mind, of getting together books that are similar to the television show Stranger Things. The description on the back of this book claims this book is like Stranger Things and The Goonies, so I wanted to read it to see how true that was considering that it's also a children's book, which obviously has to be written for younger readers.
I found an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) at work after its publication and read it along with the audiobook. It's most definitely written for younger readers and therefore I have no idea how to gauge the rating for them but, for me, I think it was just ok. It reminded me more of Goonies than Stranger Things, but I also don't think the writing itself made a lot of sense.
The story takes place in a small quiet town in the 1980s. A group of kids watches a meteor shower and sees one fall closeby. So they go on this mission to find it. On the way, they come across this family who seems to want to find the meteor just as badly, and will stop at nothing to make sure they find it first. Seems like a simple enough story, but it falls short on several occasions.
First, why the 1980s? The only truly significant thing about this setting is that none of the kids have cellphones (a rarity in 2019) and so they use a walkie talkie... once. The one other detail of the time was that one of the kids was wearing a Guns N' Roses t-shirt, which are still worn today in any age group. So why the 1980s unless it was to seem similar to Goonies or Stranger Things, the latter in particular being especially popular right now?
Second - and very much a spoiler, so stop reading now - the family the kids come across was actually hired by one of the kids' fathers, who works for the government, to keep the kids safe. They do this by stealing all their stuff, and tying them up, and threatening them. Really, this family's antics were only written in for the child-like fear of adults, but for people hired to keep the kids safe, why go through the extra trouble to potentially be put away for kidnapping? Why not just tell them, hey, we need you kids to be safe so go watch some television in the house. Although, the family is the only thing that reminded me of Goonies and, in particular, Mama Fratelli.
Third, the ending explained nothing. What they found was some government experiment, but it is never explained what it is, and the only hint of fantasy science fiction we get is that one of the kids THINKS she sees an alien as they are leaving and being driven home.
Fourth, while there are female characters in this book, which people might consider a coming-of-age, I think they could have been written better. There is so much animosity between them throughout most of the book. There is some sort of rivalry between the boys as well, but one of the girls is written as a liar who embellishes or exaggerates. I struggled enough with getting along with other girls growing up. If I had read this as a kid, I would have believed all girls weren't to be trusted because that's exactly how stories were written back then, and it took me a long time to realize that girlhood (now womanhood) is NOT a competition and the only reason I believed it was is because of how media likes to portray girls and women.
Now, there is one redeeming thing about this book, but it's something that probably won't get any attention now that the book is published. An ARC is a copy that may not have gone through the last editing overhaul, so there can be mistakes such as misspellings or the wrong punctuation. Well, I listened to the audiobook (which had all the changes made by publication) while reading the ARC and there was one not-so-minor detail changed. Of course, kids tend to be intrigued by ghost stories or urban legends, and there was one in this book while the kids were exploring, about the curses made on the land they were passing through. In the pre-edited ARC, the curses were made by Native Americans. In the audiobook, they were made by generic "mountain witches." It was an interesting and very welcome change, actually, since there are enough terrible stereotypes about Native Americans as it is. I'm glad that it was caught in the editing process and changed.
So, all in all, I don't think I would recommend this. It's an easy read, but it's lacking a lot. HOWEVER, this is coming from a full-fledged adult, so I don't know how much that would influence anyone's decision-making in reading this book. Do I think it's anything like The Goonies or Stranger Things as it claims? Maybe if my brain squints really hard, it's reminded a tiny bit of The Goonies, but otherwise no.
I found an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) at work after its publication and read it along with the audiobook. It's most definitely written for younger readers and therefore I have no idea how to gauge the rating for them but, for me, I think it was just ok. It reminded me more of Goonies than Stranger Things, but I also don't think the writing itself made a lot of sense.
The story takes place in a small quiet town in the 1980s. A group of kids watches a meteor shower and sees one fall closeby. So they go on this mission to find it. On the way, they come across this family who seems to want to find the meteor just as badly, and will stop at nothing to make sure they find it first. Seems like a simple enough story, but it falls short on several occasions.
First, why the 1980s? The only truly significant thing about this setting is that none of the kids have cellphones (a rarity in 2019) and so they use a walkie talkie... once. The one other detail of the time was that one of the kids was wearing a Guns N' Roses t-shirt, which are still worn today in any age group. So why the 1980s unless it was to seem similar to Goonies or Stranger Things, the latter in particular being especially popular right now?
Second - and very much a spoiler, so stop reading now - the family the kids come across was actually hired by one of the kids' fathers, who works for the government, to keep the kids safe. They do this by stealing all their stuff, and tying them up, and threatening them. Really, this family's antics were only written in for the child-like fear of adults, but for people hired to keep the kids safe, why go through the extra trouble to potentially be put away for kidnapping? Why not just tell them, hey, we need you kids to be safe so go watch some television in the house. Although, the family is the only thing that reminded me of Goonies and, in particular, Mama Fratelli.
Third, the ending explained nothing. What they found was some government experiment, but it is never explained what it is, and the only hint of fantasy science fiction we get is that one of the kids THINKS she sees an alien as they are leaving and being driven home.
Fourth, while there are female characters in this book, which people might consider a coming-of-age, I think they could have been written better. There is so much animosity between them throughout most of the book. There is some sort of rivalry between the boys as well, but one of the girls is written as a liar who embellishes or exaggerates. I struggled enough with getting along with other girls growing up. If I had read this as a kid, I would have believed all girls weren't to be trusted because that's exactly how stories were written back then, and it took me a long time to realize that girlhood (now womanhood) is NOT a competition and the only reason I believed it was is because of how media likes to portray girls and women.
Now, there is one redeeming thing about this book, but it's something that probably won't get any attention now that the book is published. An ARC is a copy that may not have gone through the last editing overhaul, so there can be mistakes such as misspellings or the wrong punctuation. Well, I listened to the audiobook (which had all the changes made by publication) while reading the ARC and there was one not-so-minor detail changed. Of course, kids tend to be intrigued by ghost stories or urban legends, and there was one in this book while the kids were exploring, about the curses made on the land they were passing through. In the pre-edited ARC, the curses were made by Native Americans. In the audiobook, they were made by generic "mountain witches." It was an interesting and very welcome change, actually, since there are enough terrible stereotypes about Native Americans as it is. I'm glad that it was caught in the editing process and changed.
So, all in all, I don't think I would recommend this. It's an easy read, but it's lacking a lot. HOWEVER, this is coming from a full-fledged adult, so I don't know how much that would influence anyone's decision-making in reading this book. Do I think it's anything like The Goonies or Stranger Things as it claims? Maybe if my brain squints really hard, it's reminded a tiny bit of The Goonies, but otherwise no.
May 26, 2019
While I have not been completely impressed with some of the “Patterson Presents” books, Greenland’s Scouts has a lot to offer my 4th and 5th grade library patrons and nothing that might set off any warning lights with the adults who love them. Annie, Beans, Rocky and Fynn, who call themselves Scouts, are good friends who get a little too adventurous and find themselves in some pretty scary and dangerous situations after they set off to find a meteor that crash landed near their homes. Along with cousin Scarlett, the junior high school aged explorers set out on a path of discovery that yields excitement and some valuable life lessons in friendship and in not lying to parents! The ending is complete, but clearly leaves an opening for a sequel. It’s non-intimidating length and fast pace make this a great choice for reluctant readers who need some encouragement to move on from the shorter, quick read type books. Recommended for readers in grades 4-8. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss.
May 6, 2023
This book is a really fun adventurous book. It had many crazy things happening, but I love how the scouts have such a unstoppable friendship
June 21, 2019
As a reader...
Scouts definitely kept my attention- there was always something happening with no lagging in the story at all. The story was interesting and well-written, and I loved the characters. I didn't love the ending, though, and I felt like it needed more explanation. I enjoyed journeying with the scouts and I'd love to see a second book come from this!
As a teacher...
I think this would be a good read for kids around the 4th-6th grade range, but there was a little bit of language that I would deem inappropriate for younger kids. (Mainly the use of ‘what the Hell.’) There was also mention of sticking up one's middle finger as well as some "potty talk" here and there.
Overall, I loved the book!
Scouts definitely kept my attention- there was always something happening with no lagging in the story at all. The story was interesting and well-written, and I loved the characters. I didn't love the ending, though, and I felt like it needed more explanation. I enjoyed journeying with the scouts and I'd love to see a second book come from this!
As a teacher...
I think this would be a good read for kids around the 4th-6th grade range, but there was a little bit of language that I would deem inappropriate for younger kids. (Mainly the use of ‘what the Hell.’) There was also mention of sticking up one's middle finger as well as some "potty talk" here and there.
Overall, I loved the book!
August 13, 2021
2.5. I picked this one up based on someone saying it had stranger things vibes. While it was an easy, quick read I didn't see the correlation.
April 20, 2019
I picked up this book for my nephews. They are boy scouts and cub scouts. I figured they would have a fun time reading this book. While, I did like this book; I know that my nephews will enjoy it a lot more. This is fine as this book is written and geared towards the younger reading audience. So this book is appropriately written for the right audience.
I did not have a favorite out of the group. Although, I did like them all. What I appreciated was the fact that the group included a few girls. Girls are scouts as well. Yet, I am not familiar with any scouting events or trips that my nephews have gone on or where I did join them; where we encountered mysterious gas clouds and other such strange events like the group did in this book. Overall, I would suggest checking out this book if you have a young reader looking for their next read.
I did not have a favorite out of the group. Although, I did like them all. What I appreciated was the fact that the group included a few girls. Girls are scouts as well. Yet, I am not familiar with any scouting events or trips that my nephews have gone on or where I did join them; where we encountered mysterious gas clouds and other such strange events like the group did in this book. Overall, I would suggest checking out this book if you have a young reader looking for their next read.
September 7, 2020
"Stranger Things meets The Goonies in this suspenseful yet heartwarming adventure story about a group of friends who set out to find a crashed meteor...but find mystery and danger instead as their close relationships begin to fracture."
A coming-of-age, edge of your seat adventure with well-developed, likeable teenage characters. Kathleen McInerney is an exceptional narrator who really brought the characters to life. If you liked 24 Hours in Nowhere (on last year's state nominated list), you will enjoy this one. Recommended to grades 4 & up.
A coming-of-age, edge of your seat adventure with well-developed, likeable teenage characters. Kathleen McInerney is an exceptional narrator who really brought the characters to life. If you liked 24 Hours in Nowhere (on last year's state nominated list), you will enjoy this one. Recommended to grades 4 & up.
August 9, 2019
This was a good old fashioned mystery for children. My caution would be that the author did use some language that wasn't needed as usual, but could be something you wouldn't want your kids to read. That's too bad.
January 14, 2021
Scouts is written in the first person, present tense (with occasional flashback excerpts) from the perspective of Annie, a sixth grade girl with a crew of boys for a friend group they’ve self-titled as the “scouts” set in the 80’s. It's quite a dense read for the age group, it would probably take a child a week or more to finish. It is interesting enough to maintain a reader to keep returning to it, though.
The story follows her and her friends on a camp-out-turned-adventure when a meteor shower becomes a meteor crash. Though the plain story is a sort of Stranger Things type buddy tale with mysterious/alien elements, a main theme is friendship and growing up. To summarize, the scouts plan to sneak away to watch a meteor shower on restricted land, but when one of the meteors lands nearby, they decide to go looking for it. Throughout this journey they endanger their lives multiple times and encounter many threats, both externally and to their relationships with each other.
I took note of a few moments that are probably inconsequential but for the sake of being thorough I noted them anyway.
I would probably recommend mostly to 5th grade because they may be feeling those types of sentiments about going to middle school.
As a side note, a large portion of the book takes place in the woods and in underground caves. Some children may have a hard time visualizing these scenes so it would be a great opportunity to encourage further reading into ecological type books.
The story follows her and her friends on a camp-out-turned-adventure when a meteor shower becomes a meteor crash. Though the plain story is a sort of Stranger Things type buddy tale with mysterious/alien elements, a main theme is friendship and growing up. To summarize, the scouts plan to sneak away to watch a meteor shower on restricted land, but when one of the meteors lands nearby, they decide to go looking for it. Throughout this journey they endanger their lives multiple times and encounter many threats, both externally and to their relationships with each other.
I took note of a few moments that are probably inconsequential but for the sake of being thorough I noted them anyway.
I would probably recommend mostly to 5th grade because they may be feeling those types of sentiments about going to middle school.
As a side note, a large portion of the book takes place in the woods and in underground caves. Some children may have a hard time visualizing these scenes so it would be a great opportunity to encourage further reading into ecological type books.
January 3, 2021
3.5 star
**Won a copy of this book in a giveaway. Thanks to Goodreads, the publisher, and the author for giving me the chance to get my hands on this book.**
This was pitched as Stranger Things meets the Goonies and that alone caught my eye. I had to give it a go. I can see why it gets the comparisons (more Goonies than Stranger Things in my opinion). It was a fun, quick read definitely aimed at younger readers. Overall enjoyable and a good amount of fun.
**Won a copy of this book in a giveaway. Thanks to Goodreads, the publisher, and the author for giving me the chance to get my hands on this book.**
This was pitched as Stranger Things meets the Goonies and that alone caught my eye. I had to give it a go. I can see why it gets the comparisons (more Goonies than Stranger Things in my opinion). It was a fun, quick read definitely aimed at younger readers. Overall enjoyable and a good amount of fun.
July 26, 2019
What a fun little coming of age adventure! This will be a great read aloud in my classroom
July 29, 2022
Great book! I loved this book about a group of kids going on an adventure!
I really love the characters in this book and what happens. (I don't really remember how to describe it because I read this a long while ago.)
I really love the characters in this book and what happens. (I don't really remember how to describe it because I read this a long while ago.)
June 13, 2020
Goonies-esque with a little bit of heart. Plot seemed far fetched and a bit out of control. While the characters were slightly nuanced, I didn’t really care for any of them. I suspect my students will have more fun with this one than I did, but I’d be hard pressed to recommend it. There are better SSYRA picks this year.
June 24, 2025
Scouts was an unexpected book I stumbled upon while I was at volleyball camp. My grandmother, ever the bookworm and James Patterson fan, picked it up for me at the library. At first, I wasn’t too excited to dive into it, but once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.
The story follows Annie, a tomboy in the 1980’s, along with her friends as they investigate a meteor that crash landed. It’s like Stranger Things and the Goonies mashed up. While I didn’t exactly relate to Annie (puberty is tough for everyone, and that’s the one thing I could relate with her), I found myself rooting for her throughout the book. Her character voice kept me hooked.
That said, there were a few elements that might not sit well with all readers (some of it made me uncomfortable as well). I read this book a while ago, so what I am saying might not be in the exact order of appearance. But anyway, here’s a heads-up:
• Uncomfortable Topics: Annie’s friends are mostly boys, and they start noticing her growing up. There’s a particularly cringe-worthy moment when they comment (a better word is making fun of her) on noticing that she is wearing a bra. Annie tries to shut them up, but they don’t. One of the boys tries to diffuse it but makes it worse by telling the other boy ‘Your sister wears one of those things when she plays basketball’ to which the other boy is like ‘oh yeah’. While I get that they’re just cluelessly navigating their own body changes, it still feels strange and awkward to read about (I definitely cringed), especially when it involves boys discussing something so personal. Thankfully, Annie and Scarlett, Annie’s frenemy, are able to shut them up. Bras aren’t mentioned any more.
• Language and Crude Humor: The book features some cursing, such as the h-word and I believe God’s name is used in vain a few times either during a chaotic wrestling scene or when the characters are frustrated with each other. There’s also some crude humor, like Rocky making a few crude jokes, and the use of a middle finger. Some of the boys compared and made fun of each other’s… uh… parts. I wasn’t surprised by these moments (I was already getting the sense that this wasn’t the cleanest book), but it doesn’t make it okay.
• Romantic Elements: Annie and one of her guy friends end up holding hands and falling asleep that way, but it doesn’t feel like a huge romantic moment—it’s more innocent and comfort than anything. There are also discussions about first kisses, frenching, and flirtation, which some readers (especially if you’re like me) might find a bit cringey.
• Fighting and Tension: There’s some physical fighting between characters, especially Fynn and Rocky, due to their parents dating. There’s also a “girly-girl vs. tomboy” trope in the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed Scouts. It’s a heartfelt, funny look at growing up and gives some nostalgia.It’s definitely a story that will resonate with anyone remembering their childhood, though be warned—it’s not the cleanest read. Highly recommend for those who enjoy a good coming-of-age story with a mix of humor, adventure, mystery, and drama! I would recommend this book for ages 13 and up due to some of the elements, but a mature eleven year old would like it as well.
The story follows Annie, a tomboy in the 1980’s, along with her friends as they investigate a meteor that crash landed. It’s like Stranger Things and the Goonies mashed up. While I didn’t exactly relate to Annie (puberty is tough for everyone, and that’s the one thing I could relate with her), I found myself rooting for her throughout the book. Her character voice kept me hooked.
That said, there were a few elements that might not sit well with all readers (some of it made me uncomfortable as well). I read this book a while ago, so what I am saying might not be in the exact order of appearance. But anyway, here’s a heads-up:
• Uncomfortable Topics: Annie’s friends are mostly boys, and they start noticing her growing up. There’s a particularly cringe-worthy moment when they comment (a better word is making fun of her) on noticing that she is wearing a bra. Annie tries to shut them up, but they don’t. One of the boys tries to diffuse it but makes it worse by telling the other boy ‘Your sister wears one of those things when she plays basketball’ to which the other boy is like ‘oh yeah’. While I get that they’re just cluelessly navigating their own body changes, it still feels strange and awkward to read about (I definitely cringed), especially when it involves boys discussing something so personal. Thankfully, Annie and Scarlett, Annie’s frenemy, are able to shut them up. Bras aren’t mentioned any more.
• Language and Crude Humor: The book features some cursing, such as the h-word and I believe God’s name is used in vain a few times either during a chaotic wrestling scene or when the characters are frustrated with each other. There’s also some crude humor, like Rocky making a few crude jokes, and the use of a middle finger. Some of the boys compared and made fun of each other’s… uh… parts. I wasn’t surprised by these moments (I was already getting the sense that this wasn’t the cleanest book), but it doesn’t make it okay.
• Romantic Elements: Annie and one of her guy friends end up holding hands and falling asleep that way, but it doesn’t feel like a huge romantic moment—it’s more innocent and comfort than anything. There are also discussions about first kisses, frenching, and flirtation, which some readers (especially if you’re like me) might find a bit cringey.
• Fighting and Tension: There’s some physical fighting between characters, especially Fynn and Rocky, due to their parents dating. There’s also a “girly-girl vs. tomboy” trope in the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed Scouts. It’s a heartfelt, funny look at growing up and gives some nostalgia.It’s definitely a story that will resonate with anyone remembering their childhood, though be warned—it’s not the cleanest read. Highly recommend for those who enjoy a good coming-of-age story with a mix of humor, adventure, mystery, and drama! I would recommend this book for ages 13 and up due to some of the elements, but a mature eleven year old would like it as well.
May 18, 2020
Beans, Fynn, Rocky, and Annie are the Scouts. Every year after the last day of school it is a tradition to go on a camping trip together. Usually this is a fun time for all of them and great launch to the summer, but this year nothing seems to be going right. Fynn has brought his cousin Scarlet along who is anything but the camping type. Beans has told Annie that his family is being foreclosed on and has to move, but he refuses to tell the others. Fynn's Mom and Rocky's Dad just started dating and one of the boys is a bit upset about this. Annie has realized that all of the others have friends outside of their group except her. And they can't seem to do anything but bicker. And that's before they set off to chase down a meteor that crashed to earth nearby and they start running into bears, kidnappers, dead bodies, and more.
Wow, there's enough excitement and crazy stuff that happens to this group of kids for probably about 5 adventure/survival stories. It definitely keeps things moving, though. Life is never dull for them. The stress does eventually work to help get them to work through some of the things that have started to bubble below the surface in their relationships but that they've never really talked about. The ending is more realistic than Disney manipulated, which I liked. It was easy to forget the book was set in the mid-80s. The author went very light on pop references or 80s slang. Just a walkman mentioned (which I'm guessing some modern kids will need to Google) so it feels like historical fiction that reads like contemporary fiction. There's just enough mystery left hanging at the end about certain things that the book is likely to spur several readers into writing their own fan fiction. Even though there was all the exciting bits and adventure I found it really easy to put this down, thus only the 3 stars. Recommended to adventure fans, survival story fans, and friendship story fans.
Notes on content: There are 3-4 mild swear words, and one strong use of profanity. It mentions a couple of times that one of the friends flicks off another friend or gives them the finger. No sex scenes or kissing. There's a discussion in mixed company about a girl starting to wear a bra. There are several perilous situations and violence is threatened, but just some bumps and bruises incurred.
Wow, there's enough excitement and crazy stuff that happens to this group of kids for probably about 5 adventure/survival stories. It definitely keeps things moving, though. Life is never dull for them. The stress does eventually work to help get them to work through some of the things that have started to bubble below the surface in their relationships but that they've never really talked about. The ending is more realistic than Disney manipulated, which I liked. It was easy to forget the book was set in the mid-80s. The author went very light on pop references or 80s slang. Just a walkman mentioned (which I'm guessing some modern kids will need to Google) so it feels like historical fiction that reads like contemporary fiction. There's just enough mystery left hanging at the end about certain things that the book is likely to spur several readers into writing their own fan fiction. Even though there was all the exciting bits and adventure I found it really easy to put this down, thus only the 3 stars. Recommended to adventure fans, survival story fans, and friendship story fans.
Notes on content: There are 3-4 mild swear words, and one strong use of profanity. It mentions a couple of times that one of the friends flicks off another friend or gives them the finger. No sex scenes or kissing. There's a discussion in mixed company about a girl starting to wear a bra. There are several perilous situations and violence is threatened, but just some bumps and bruises incurred.
August 20, 2019
+++Obligatory part where I mention that I got a free copy of this book through Amazon Vine to read and review+++
I keep seeing Scouts pitches as "Stranger Things meets The Goonies". I can certainly tell you that the only thing Scouts has in common with either of those properties is the time period and the general idea of a group of kids out doing stuff. Four friends go on one final outing before before they become Seventh Graders, but things quickly fall apart with the new inclusion of a female cousin tagging along and each of the "scouts" having their own personal problems. It's fine; it's all fine. The problem is that nothing is great; it's all pretty bland and generic. The only thing that sets this novel apart from the ocean of other Middle School adventure novels is the main character, Annie. I hesitate to call Scouts a coming of age story, but there is a great thread about how Annie has always been a tomboy and the new addition of another female, a "real" girl with make-up and flirting, starts to change things. I can see young girls relating to Annie "growing-up" and discovering her "girly side" but I don't think the actual thrust of the story would interest them. The main story of Scouts is a watered down Goonies-esque plot, with the scouts trying to find a meteor the saw fall, with your standard kids' adventure beats. Everyone has a personal issue to work out and while it kind of gives some depth to them, it doesn't accomplish much. Any adult reader could read the first twenty pages and be able to guess what unfolds on the other 250. Bland is really the best descriptor. I'm sure a pre-teen wouldn't notice as much, but I doubt they'll be as satisfied as they would with an Alex Rider book. It might be worth noting that some parents may be concerned with very mild "questionable" language and other content (they seem to give each other the finger a lot), but any middle school kid can handle it. Maybe Scouts would be good as a class project kind of book where students are keeping prediction journals and doing character maps, but as a book to read for fun, there are so many books that are much, much more fun and unique.
I keep seeing Scouts pitches as "Stranger Things meets The Goonies". I can certainly tell you that the only thing Scouts has in common with either of those properties is the time period and the general idea of a group of kids out doing stuff. Four friends go on one final outing before before they become Seventh Graders, but things quickly fall apart with the new inclusion of a female cousin tagging along and each of the "scouts" having their own personal problems. It's fine; it's all fine. The problem is that nothing is great; it's all pretty bland and generic. The only thing that sets this novel apart from the ocean of other Middle School adventure novels is the main character, Annie. I hesitate to call Scouts a coming of age story, but there is a great thread about how Annie has always been a tomboy and the new addition of another female, a "real" girl with make-up and flirting, starts to change things. I can see young girls relating to Annie "growing-up" and discovering her "girly side" but I don't think the actual thrust of the story would interest them. The main story of Scouts is a watered down Goonies-esque plot, with the scouts trying to find a meteor the saw fall, with your standard kids' adventure beats. Everyone has a personal issue to work out and while it kind of gives some depth to them, it doesn't accomplish much. Any adult reader could read the first twenty pages and be able to guess what unfolds on the other 250. Bland is really the best descriptor. I'm sure a pre-teen wouldn't notice as much, but I doubt they'll be as satisfied as they would with an Alex Rider book. It might be worth noting that some parents may be concerned with very mild "questionable" language and other content (they seem to give each other the finger a lot), but any middle school kid can handle it. Maybe Scouts would be good as a class project kind of book where students are keeping prediction journals and doing character maps, but as a book to read for fun, there are so many books that are much, much more fun and unique.
November 30, 2019
Scouts by Shannon Greenland is a juvenile fiction book for 4-6th graders.
Annie, Beans, Rocky, and Fynn make up the Scouts. A name they gave themselves when they were little. They've been best friends for a long time, doing everything together. Hiking, biking and most of all getting in trouble.
But things are different this summer, and Annie isn't so sure the Scouts will make it to seventh grade in tact. Trying to get back that feeling a rightness, Annie and the Scouts climb Old Man Basinger's silo to watch a meteor shower. When one of the meteors seem to crash nearby, the Scouts are determined to track it down.
But this will be easier said than done. After their campsite is invaded by a bear, they fall into a river and are kidnapped by the Mason Mountain Clan, the gang is starting to fight more than ever. Will anything be the same after this trip? Will the even survive?
This was a fun read. I always pick up new books that might work for my book club and although I'm not sure this one has enough STEM in it for my purposes, it would definitely be one I'd recommend to that 4-6 grade range.
Scouts is about growing up and how the dynamic changes between, not just boys and girls, but friendships in general. As an adult, I can definitely look back and pick out a few super close friends that I lost touch with as the years went by. This book addresses that in a positive light, showing that change is good but that not everything has to change.
All of the Scouts were relateable in some way, which is one thing the story has in its favor. I liked that you could put yourself in each of their shoes and learn something different.
Overall, this is a title I would recommend to my young patrons. This one gets 4 stars from me.
Annie, Beans, Rocky, and Fynn make up the Scouts. A name they gave themselves when they were little. They've been best friends for a long time, doing everything together. Hiking, biking and most of all getting in trouble.
But things are different this summer, and Annie isn't so sure the Scouts will make it to seventh grade in tact. Trying to get back that feeling a rightness, Annie and the Scouts climb Old Man Basinger's silo to watch a meteor shower. When one of the meteors seem to crash nearby, the Scouts are determined to track it down.
But this will be easier said than done. After their campsite is invaded by a bear, they fall into a river and are kidnapped by the Mason Mountain Clan, the gang is starting to fight more than ever. Will anything be the same after this trip? Will the even survive?
This was a fun read. I always pick up new books that might work for my book club and although I'm not sure this one has enough STEM in it for my purposes, it would definitely be one I'd recommend to that 4-6 grade range.
Scouts is about growing up and how the dynamic changes between, not just boys and girls, but friendships in general. As an adult, I can definitely look back and pick out a few super close friends that I lost touch with as the years went by. This book addresses that in a positive light, showing that change is good but that not everything has to change.
All of the Scouts were relateable in some way, which is one thing the story has in its favor. I liked that you could put yourself in each of their shoes and learn something different.
Overall, this is a title I would recommend to my young patrons. This one gets 4 stars from me.
October 23, 2022
4 stars -- I am glad that I finished this novel because by the end, I thought it was good. At first, I thought that it was filled with stereotypes that were potentially unbearable, but as the story progressed, I was drawn in more and more. The plot also had a few unexpected twists that I thought were nice. To be clear, this story is in NO WAY like Stranger Things, and the only similarities to The Goonies is the group of friends and their searching for something. It is, however, a lot like Stand by Me, except instead of looking for a dead body, the friends are looking for a meteor and maybe even aliens. Annie (the narrator), Rocky, Beans, Fynn, and Scarlett (a new addition) are sitting atop a silo to watch a meteor shower the first night of summer vacation when a larger meteor skims over their heard leaving a trail of silver dust in its wake. That literally sparks the idea to find where it landed. Beans is the brains of the group, and he calculates the meteor's trajectory and creates a map to get them to the site. The Scouts (so-called because their is no official Boy Scout troop in their area) use the map to navigate their 15-mile walk to the location of the crash. Their journey is filled with unexpected excitement and a few detours & drama amongst the friends. By the end, I really enjoyed it.
August 23, 2019
Annie, Beans, Flynn and Rocky are the Scouts. They go on campouts together and often get in trouble. This time they are off to watch a meteor shower. Unforunately, Flynn's cousin Scarlet has to come along. Annie is annoyed that the boys keep paying attention to Scarlet because she is a girl. It makes Annie realize she is a girl and maybe she wants some of that attention as well. The meteor shower is great and the group sees a meteor head towards earth not far away. They set off to find it and have incredible adventures along the way. They meet a bear, find a skeleton in a cave, are kidnapped by a mountain clan, forge a raging river and hide from secret army men.
This over the top adventure is one that kids will adore and I, as an adult reader, roll my eyes at. There was just too many things going on for my tastes. However, I loved the Scouts and their issues. Annie realizes that she doesn't have other friends like the rest of them...she just has them and isn't sure if that is a problem or not. Beans' parents are divorced and his mom is losing their house. He is going to have to move an hour away to live with his dad. Flynn's mom and Rocky's dad are dating, which Flynn doesn't mind but Rocky hates. All of these issues make for some interesting discussions/fights among the group.
This over the top adventure is one that kids will adore and I, as an adult reader, roll my eyes at. There was just too many things going on for my tastes. However, I loved the Scouts and their issues. Annie realizes that she doesn't have other friends like the rest of them...she just has them and isn't sure if that is a problem or not. Beans' parents are divorced and his mom is losing their house. He is going to have to move an hour away to live with his dad. Flynn's mom and Rocky's dad are dating, which Flynn doesn't mind but Rocky hates. All of these issues make for some interesting discussions/fights among the group.
September 24, 2019
Annie’s best friends are all boys: Beans, Flynn and Rocky. She thinks of them as just her pals until they go camping together, although that is something they’ve done many times in the past. This time, though, Flynn’s cousin, Scarlet, and a new kid, Edge, join the group. The vibes are different and Annie begins seeing her “boyfriends” in a whole new light.
The group intends on just hanging out and spending the night in a tent. First, they climb to the top of a silo on the Basinger farm, a place Annie’s father has repeatedly forbidden her to go. They are treated to a meteor shower. When what appears to be a super big, super fast meteor flies over their heads and crashes in the distance, the gang decides to go looking for it. If they find the crashed meteor, they can sell it and make some money. Of course, things don’t go as planned. During their adventure, the group finds a skeleton in a cave that is filled with bats, gets kidnapped by the crazy Masons (a family Annie has also been repeatedly warned about), are locked in an abandoned storm shelter, and held at gunpoint. So much for just hanging out and spending the night in a tent.
The group intends on just hanging out and spending the night in a tent. First, they climb to the top of a silo on the Basinger farm, a place Annie’s father has repeatedly forbidden her to go. They are treated to a meteor shower. When what appears to be a super big, super fast meteor flies over their heads and crashes in the distance, the gang decides to go looking for it. If they find the crashed meteor, they can sell it and make some money. Of course, things don’t go as planned. During their adventure, the group finds a skeleton in a cave that is filled with bats, gets kidnapped by the crazy Masons (a family Annie has also been repeatedly warned about), are locked in an abandoned storm shelter, and held at gunpoint. So much for just hanging out and spending the night in a tent.
June 12, 2020
This book tries to be the Goonies meets Stand by Me but falls short of both. It is a great, short story about a group of friends that are growing up, apart, and together. It examines gender and expression and making assumptions along the lines of gender.
I really liked that the narrating POV didn't feed "girly" and didn't want dresses and wanted to play with her friends-who were all boys-and didn't want to spend time doing what girls were doing. I saw a lot of myself in her.
I liked the independence of the Scouts and how they take care of each other. I enjoyed the mystery of the Mason clan and the reality was amusing, too. I liked the mystery of the caves, the dust, and the metal balls. I liked so much about this book.
What I didn't like, is that at the end, this same character suddenly wants to wear dresses occassionally, and maybe even lipgloss. WRONG MESSAGING. Instead of saying some girls don't like these traditionally girly things, this book say that these girls are in a phase and will and should grow out of it. It took a character that was unique and made her just another MG girl learning to behave as all girls should. Disappointed.
I really liked that the narrating POV didn't feed "girly" and didn't want dresses and wanted to play with her friends-who were all boys-and didn't want to spend time doing what girls were doing. I saw a lot of myself in her.
I liked the independence of the Scouts and how they take care of each other. I enjoyed the mystery of the Mason clan and the reality was amusing, too. I liked the mystery of the caves, the dust, and the metal balls. I liked so much about this book.
What I didn't like, is that at the end, this same character suddenly wants to wear dresses occassionally, and maybe even lipgloss. WRONG MESSAGING. Instead of saying some girls don't like these traditionally girly things, this book say that these girls are in a phase and will and should grow out of it. It took a character that was unique and made her just another MG girl learning to behave as all girls should. Disappointed.
July 10, 2021
Scouts by Shannon Greenland follows a group of seventh graders (the scouts), who together go camping every Summer. The group comprises of Annie, Beans, Rocky and Flynn. But this Summer, there’s a change in the group. Flynn’s cousin, Scarlett joins their Summer camping trip, which is the catalyst to some bumps that form in the scouts. As the scouts find a meteor shower, they’re determined to collect some for themselves, which leads them through a series of adventures through the woods.
I enjoyed this book as a quick light read, however there were some places where this gook lacked. The book is set in the 80’s, however that doesn’t hold any significance except for the scouts using a walkie talkie a couple times. Second of all, the female characters have a very strong rivalry throughout the book, and this book gives off the message that all girls have a sort of competition. I couldn’t relate much to the characters, but I do appreciate the fact they each had their own battles and flaws. It’s a well written book and definitely enjoyable, but it’s nothing extravagant.
Overall, this was a very quick and afternoon read, perfect for 4th-6th graders
I enjoyed this book as a quick light read, however there were some places where this gook lacked. The book is set in the 80’s, however that doesn’t hold any significance except for the scouts using a walkie talkie a couple times. Second of all, the female characters have a very strong rivalry throughout the book, and this book gives off the message that all girls have a sort of competition. I couldn’t relate much to the characters, but I do appreciate the fact they each had their own battles and flaws. It’s a well written book and definitely enjoyable, but it’s nothing extravagant.
Overall, this was a very quick and afternoon read, perfect for 4th-6th graders
November 22, 2019
This story hooked me in from the front cover.... and yes, I judge a book by it's cover!
The Scouts are everything a kid would want out of friendships. These kids have been friends since "forever," and always end up finding something to explore. Set in Tennessee, the Scouts, who comprise of Annie, Rocky, Fynn, and Beans, always find an adventure to go on somewhere in their little town. Whether it's annoying Old Man Basinger on his farm, and running away from his shot gun, to overcoming fears of swimming and the dark, or just finding a new adventure, they will definitely keep you entertained!
When a meteor falls from the sky right in front of the Scouts' faces, they HAVE to go search for it. Never in their wildest dreams would they imagine they would be hung from a tree, trapped in a cave, AND a shed, and have to run for their lives from a train. I was so excited when I finally got to read this book. It certainly did not disappoint!
The Scouts are everything a kid would want out of friendships. These kids have been friends since "forever," and always end up finding something to explore. Set in Tennessee, the Scouts, who comprise of Annie, Rocky, Fynn, and Beans, always find an adventure to go on somewhere in their little town. Whether it's annoying Old Man Basinger on his farm, and running away from his shot gun, to overcoming fears of swimming and the dark, or just finding a new adventure, they will definitely keep you entertained!
When a meteor falls from the sky right in front of the Scouts' faces, they HAVE to go search for it. Never in their wildest dreams would they imagine they would be hung from a tree, trapped in a cave, AND a shed, and have to run for their lives from a train. I was so excited when I finally got to read this book. It certainly did not disappoint!
June 20, 2021
A coming of age story about a group of friends out on a nighttime adventure. When they believe they saw a meteor fall from the sky, they head out to find it. It seems they encounter nearly every possible peril: bears! raging river! caves! crazy mountain people! mysterious silver balls! and more. That part becomes a little comical as each chapter brings on the next foe. The group, who call themselves the Scouts included the narrator Annie and three boys. It was hard to keep the boys separate in my mind--their motives blend together. A couple of pieces made this book feel a little older--some boy-girl interest and jealousy, some cussing. Annie has always felt like one of the boys, but with a "rival" for their attention in Scarlett she feels herself getting more in touch with her feminine side. I could definitely feel a "Goonies" vibe in this story and I can think of some fifth graders who will love it!
January 23, 2024
To start with a little bit of background, I only read this book to check if it would be appropriate for my wife's 4th grade class. I went into it expecting the book to be a little childish, but I ended up pleasantly surprised.
The book starts a little bit slow, which is normal, setting up the characters and the world. But once it gets going it gets quite interesting. Of course, for an adult reading this book you do have to keep an open mind as the main characters are all children. But if you are able to get past that, you will find a story that can make you feel like a kid again.
The way the characters interact with each other, and the way the main character thinks brought me right back to how my friends and I used to be as kids. This bit of nostalgia was enough to get me into the story, which contains a good amount of mystery to keep you hooked. Before I knew it, I was just as eager to get to the bottom of their mystery as the characters themselves. With a nice little plot twist at the end, this book was an enjoyable look back at what being a kid was like.
The book starts a little bit slow, which is normal, setting up the characters and the world. But once it gets going it gets quite interesting. Of course, for an adult reading this book you do have to keep an open mind as the main characters are all children. But if you are able to get past that, you will find a story that can make you feel like a kid again.
The way the characters interact with each other, and the way the main character thinks brought me right back to how my friends and I used to be as kids. This bit of nostalgia was enough to get me into the story, which contains a good amount of mystery to keep you hooked. Before I knew it, I was just as eager to get to the bottom of their mystery as the characters themselves. With a nice little plot twist at the end, this book was an enjoyable look back at what being a kid was like.
December 21, 2022
This is a fun book about a group of adventurous kids who like to explore and camp. Annie (narrator), Beans, Rocky and Fynn are the Scouts. It's their last summer before middle school and they've decided to have an overnight camping trip in the woods. Fynn's slightly older cousin, Scarlett, is in town, and to Annie's dismay, she's coming along.
That night there's a meteor shower and a meteor crash lands near them. They set off to find it. Here's were all the crazy action happens. They run into a bear, cross a treacherous river, find a skeleton, are kidnapped by an infamous mountain red-neck family, and get lost in a cave. Of course all ends well and a few personal problems get sorted out as well.
I believe kids will be thoroughly entertained by this and probably feel the same longing the Scouts had to just get away by themselves for a camping trip in the woods.
That night there's a meteor shower and a meteor crash lands near them. They set off to find it. Here's were all the crazy action happens. They run into a bear, cross a treacherous river, find a skeleton, are kidnapped by an infamous mountain red-neck family, and get lost in a cave. Of course all ends well and a few personal problems get sorted out as well.
I believe kids will be thoroughly entertained by this and probably feel the same longing the Scouts had to just get away by themselves for a camping trip in the woods.
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