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The Puzzling World of Winston Breen #2
The Potato Chip Puzzles
Read Eric Berlin's posts on the Penguin Blog.
When puzzle addict Winston Breen and his best friends head to an all-day puzzle hunt with a $50,000 grand prize, they’re pumped. But the day is not all fun and not only do they have a highstrung and highly competitive teacher along for the ride, but the puzzles are hard even for Winston, the other schools’ teams are no joke, and someone in the contest is playing dirty in order to win. Trying to stop this mystery cheater before it’s too late takes an already tough challenge to a whole other level. . . . Packed with a variety of fun puzzles to solve, this fast-paced sequel will pull readers right into the action from start to finish.
When puzzle addict Winston Breen and his best friends head to an all-day puzzle hunt with a $50,000 grand prize, they’re pumped. But the day is not all fun and not only do they have a highstrung and highly competitive teacher along for the ride, but the puzzles are hard even for Winston, the other schools’ teams are no joke, and someone in the contest is playing dirty in order to win. Trying to stop this mystery cheater before it’s too late takes an already tough challenge to a whole other level. . . . Packed with a variety of fun puzzles to solve, this fast-paced sequel will pull readers right into the action from start to finish.
244 pages, Hardcover
First published April 16, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
April 17, 2009
I don't think I could claim that I was ever actually bad at puzzles. To be bad at puzzles you need to do enough of them to know how you stack up. And in the long run, I'd say I've never really encountered that many puzzles. As a child I certainly didn't, and who could blame me? How many works of fiction were out there with the puzzle-loving child in mind? Aside from the odd Encyclopedia Brown novel (which doesn't really count since that's more crime solving than anything else) you were out of luck. Ah, to be a child in the new millennium. Because if you know a kid that loves puzzles, or better yet a child that doesn't even know if they love puzzles or not, Eric Berlin has your number. His first book The Puzzling World of Winston Breen tested the waters for young puzzlers everywhere. He scouted out how keen they were. How willing they might be to solve a mystery. Now he returns with the follow up, The Potato Chip Puzzles where everything hinges on our hero and his team to outsmart dastardly villains, solve key mysteries and save the day.
When Winston Breen is called into the principal's office on practically the last day of school he is baffled. What did he do now? Is someone hurt at home? As it turns out, the principal merely needs Winston's help in solving a puzzle he received in the mail. As the school's crack puzzle solver, Winston does exactly that, allowing his principal and his school to be entered in a crazy contest by a cheery millionaire. If Winston and two of his friends (plus a chaperone) enter the Dimitri Simon potato chip puzzle contest, they will have a chance to earn much needed money for their school. This would be perfect, if there weren't one flaw. Winston and his buddies Jake and Mal have been paired with the nasty teacher Mr. Garvey. And if that weren't enough, one of the teams in the puzzle contest is willing to do anything . . . ANYTHING, to win. Someone's gonna get hurt, and the only question is if Winston can solve this biggest puzzle, who the culprint is, before time runs out.
Basically Eric Berlin's books would dissolve on contact with child hands if the stories really did rely on his readers figuring out each and every puzzle by themselves. That's what's so keen about the series. As I may have mentioned before, I'm not the most puzzle-minded individual I know. I find them difficult. I found even the easiest puzzle in this book to be more than I could bear, and these are things that eight-year-olds can solve! So I skipped the puzzles, went straight to reading their solutions, and you know what? It wasn't different in the least from the days when I couldn't solve Encyclopedia Brown's mysteries either. Basically, whether you choose to solve or not solve, the story and its plot will continue unabated at a brisk pace, and the reading doesn't rely on one's own puzzle-mania (or lack thereof).
There are plenty of books out there where kids have to run around solving puzzles in a big contest of some sort. Heck, not too long ago The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman went and did exactly that. The Potato Chip Puzzles is very much along the same lines, but there were things about the book that I found particularly nice. For one thing, our heroes are not infallible. There are normal blokes. They need a little help sometimes, and as often as not they'll end up at an incorrect conclusion before they are able to find their way to a correct one. Yet even though they mess up, the pace doesn't drag. I mean, it's very difficult to create tension in a novel where you remain certain from page one that your hero is going to win. There is nothing in this particular contest that ever makes you feel like the conclusion is a done deal.
On a certain level, I rate the effectiveness of a contemporary children's middle grade novel on how well it names its fake video games. For whatever reason, children's authors love making up fake video game monikers. I don't know why this is. What's the harm in giving a small shout out to MarioCart or Crash Bandicoot (and yes, I know that I'm dating myself when I say that)? In the case of this particular Winston Breen affair, the fake video game name is 10,000 Swords which I honestly don't think is bad at all. I've heard enough faux computer games to last me well until the end of my days so kudos to Mr. Berlin for coming up with one I can believe in. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but when you see a pet peeve addressed, it's always good to give it proper credit.
The only loose end I found in the novel involved mousetraps. I don't want to give too much away, but there's a point in the story where our heroes find a bag that contains firecrackers, twine, bottles filled with glass, and mousetraps. One of the characters wonders why mousetraps are in the bag and the reader is left wondering the same thing. Everything else in the bad seemed to make sense. So why that? The answer never comes, and that's too bad. Or maybe it's a puzzle left for the reader to untangle. But since I've already stated that I'm bad at puzzles, you'll have to work this one out for yourself.
I should note that as an adult I got very snarky around page 110 and was convinced that I'd sniffed out the real cheater behind all the nasty shenanigans. I was wrong. I trust that the kids who read this book will be smarter than I was. Basically if you're looking for a great mystery, but one that has enough high stakes and wacky puzzles to keep the interest high, this is your best choice. Love puzzles or hate `em, Winston Breen delivers the goods. This is one mystery you'll be dying to solve on your own. A book that more than fills a need, and a worthy sequel.
Ages 8-12.
When Winston Breen is called into the principal's office on practically the last day of school he is baffled. What did he do now? Is someone hurt at home? As it turns out, the principal merely needs Winston's help in solving a puzzle he received in the mail. As the school's crack puzzle solver, Winston does exactly that, allowing his principal and his school to be entered in a crazy contest by a cheery millionaire. If Winston and two of his friends (plus a chaperone) enter the Dimitri Simon potato chip puzzle contest, they will have a chance to earn much needed money for their school. This would be perfect, if there weren't one flaw. Winston and his buddies Jake and Mal have been paired with the nasty teacher Mr. Garvey. And if that weren't enough, one of the teams in the puzzle contest is willing to do anything . . . ANYTHING, to win. Someone's gonna get hurt, and the only question is if Winston can solve this biggest puzzle, who the culprint is, before time runs out.
Basically Eric Berlin's books would dissolve on contact with child hands if the stories really did rely on his readers figuring out each and every puzzle by themselves. That's what's so keen about the series. As I may have mentioned before, I'm not the most puzzle-minded individual I know. I find them difficult. I found even the easiest puzzle in this book to be more than I could bear, and these are things that eight-year-olds can solve! So I skipped the puzzles, went straight to reading their solutions, and you know what? It wasn't different in the least from the days when I couldn't solve Encyclopedia Brown's mysteries either. Basically, whether you choose to solve or not solve, the story and its plot will continue unabated at a brisk pace, and the reading doesn't rely on one's own puzzle-mania (or lack thereof).
There are plenty of books out there where kids have to run around solving puzzles in a big contest of some sort. Heck, not too long ago The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman went and did exactly that. The Potato Chip Puzzles is very much along the same lines, but there were things about the book that I found particularly nice. For one thing, our heroes are not infallible. There are normal blokes. They need a little help sometimes, and as often as not they'll end up at an incorrect conclusion before they are able to find their way to a correct one. Yet even though they mess up, the pace doesn't drag. I mean, it's very difficult to create tension in a novel where you remain certain from page one that your hero is going to win. There is nothing in this particular contest that ever makes you feel like the conclusion is a done deal.
On a certain level, I rate the effectiveness of a contemporary children's middle grade novel on how well it names its fake video games. For whatever reason, children's authors love making up fake video game monikers. I don't know why this is. What's the harm in giving a small shout out to MarioCart or Crash Bandicoot (and yes, I know that I'm dating myself when I say that)? In the case of this particular Winston Breen affair, the fake video game name is 10,000 Swords which I honestly don't think is bad at all. I've heard enough faux computer games to last me well until the end of my days so kudos to Mr. Berlin for coming up with one I can believe in. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but when you see a pet peeve addressed, it's always good to give it proper credit.
The only loose end I found in the novel involved mousetraps. I don't want to give too much away, but there's a point in the story where our heroes find a bag that contains firecrackers, twine, bottles filled with glass, and mousetraps. One of the characters wonders why mousetraps are in the bag and the reader is left wondering the same thing. Everything else in the bad seemed to make sense. So why that? The answer never comes, and that's too bad. Or maybe it's a puzzle left for the reader to untangle. But since I've already stated that I'm bad at puzzles, you'll have to work this one out for yourself.
I should note that as an adult I got very snarky around page 110 and was convinced that I'd sniffed out the real cheater behind all the nasty shenanigans. I was wrong. I trust that the kids who read this book will be smarter than I was. Basically if you're looking for a great mystery, but one that has enough high stakes and wacky puzzles to keep the interest high, this is your best choice. Love puzzles or hate `em, Winston Breen delivers the goods. This is one mystery you'll be dying to solve on your own. A book that more than fills a need, and a worthy sequel.
Ages 8-12.
January 16, 2013
I am not a puzzle person, so I was only able to figure out about half of the puzzles in the book. I am sure I could have done better if I had really tried, but I was really more interested in the story. And the story did suck me. I liked the quest the students had to go on to solve all the puzzles. I think there is something to be said for a book that showcases smart, clever kids doing what they do best. Sure they made mistakes and weren't always right the first time, but they persevered and they helped each other. Basically they were good role models for kids reading the book. I liked the fact that the characters weren't all nerdy puzzle-solving geeks...there was a nice mix of kids, which illustrated that everyone can be smart and clever in their own way.
I also thought there was a good discussion in the book on cheating and what exactly constitutes cheating. Were some instances cheating, were they just good game strategy, were they mean and sneaky but not cheating? All good questions for kids to ponder. I thought it was interesting that the author made the kids more honest than the adults. I find that kids are often more honest so I thought this was probably pretty true to life and a good lesson. I liked how this moral/thought provoking plot was woven throughout the story. It wasn't really in-your-face but it was there for you to think about.
The story itself was good. It was a nice pace; it kept the tension and attention going. The puzzles were nice but you really didn't have to solve them to enjoy the story. There were a lot of characters and it was sometimes hard to keep them all separate. If I really have one complaint it is that I didn't think the villain was that developed. We didn't have a lot of backstory or reasoning until the very end so it seemed to come from nowhere. But I liked the resolution of the story. Everything turned out the way it should be.
A good book and one I think the kids will enjoy.
I also thought there was a good discussion in the book on cheating and what exactly constitutes cheating. Were some instances cheating, were they just good game strategy, were they mean and sneaky but not cheating? All good questions for kids to ponder. I thought it was interesting that the author made the kids more honest than the adults. I find that kids are often more honest so I thought this was probably pretty true to life and a good lesson. I liked how this moral/thought provoking plot was woven throughout the story. It wasn't really in-your-face but it was there for you to think about.
The story itself was good. It was a nice pace; it kept the tension and attention going. The puzzles were nice but you really didn't have to solve them to enjoy the story. There were a lot of characters and it was sometimes hard to keep them all separate. If I really have one complaint it is that I didn't think the villain was that developed. We didn't have a lot of backstory or reasoning until the very end so it seemed to come from nowhere. But I liked the resolution of the story. Everything turned out the way it should be.
A good book and one I think the kids will enjoy.
January 22, 2021
Use for 'mystery' in Senior group, also mention there Ency. Br. and The Gollywhopper Games and Mysterious Benedict Society and Mr. Lemoncello's Library....
---
If, like me, your cravings are suggestible, plan a potato chip snack to accompany this book. I don't keep chips in the house, so I'm struggling.... I think that if I do the work and solve (or try really hard to solve) all the puzzles, and if I still have a craving after that, next time I go to the store I'll pick up a 'prize' of a bag of chips. ;)
But the puzzles are their own reward. I believe that they're just a tiny bit too easy for me, which makes them just right for the target audience. As one of the characters wishes for, not too easy, not too hard, for middle school/ junior high kids.
The reason that I haven't solved them as I read was because I foolishly took this to bed! So now I have to go through again to solve them all. I will also look for the website and the first book in the series (and the next?). I think that this is probably my favorite puzzles-within-a-story book, Gollywhopper a close second.
The story itself was odd, but good. I liked the characters, at least in the characteristics they represent. I mean, they aren't clichés exactly, but each individual's growth is not the main focus of the story. Not everything is perfectly plausible. Parents are nearly absent. Still, it's worth reading, even if the reader only attempts a few of the puzzles.
Ok, enough chatter. I'm off to solve the puzzles!
---
If, like me, your cravings are suggestible, plan a potato chip snack to accompany this book. I don't keep chips in the house, so I'm struggling.... I think that if I do the work and solve (or try really hard to solve) all the puzzles, and if I still have a craving after that, next time I go to the store I'll pick up a 'prize' of a bag of chips. ;)
But the puzzles are their own reward. I believe that they're just a tiny bit too easy for me, which makes them just right for the target audience. As one of the characters wishes for, not too easy, not too hard, for middle school/ junior high kids.
The reason that I haven't solved them as I read was because I foolishly took this to bed! So now I have to go through again to solve them all. I will also look for the website and the first book in the series (and the next?). I think that this is probably my favorite puzzles-within-a-story book, Gollywhopper a close second.
The story itself was odd, but good. I liked the characters, at least in the characteristics they represent. I mean, they aren't clichés exactly, but each individual's growth is not the main focus of the story. Not everything is perfectly plausible. Parents are nearly absent. Still, it's worth reading, even if the reader only attempts a few of the puzzles.
Ok, enough chatter. I'm off to solve the puzzles!
November 27, 2017
Sadly, not having much time to read these days, The Puzzling World of Winston Breen took me exactly a month to finish. One of the reasons it took me so long, besides being so busy, is that it was very slow in some parts. I do praise the author because most of the entire book takes place over one day. That must be why it was slow. (I mean, if you are going to fit a day's worth of activities into 288 pages, some parts are going to lag a bit.) Overall, I liked the book and recommend it to anyone and everyone who has an interest in puzzles.
February 27, 2017
I thought that this book was a good modern mystery book with a little humor. It used less of the moments that created tension and anxiety (in a good way) and was just a light book. Adding on to that, Berlin had many clever puzzle that you would just have to try and it would make the experience a whole lot better. Overall, it was a pretty good book
December 7, 2015
This is a challenging series of books to stay engaged in, as there are multiple "sidetracks" built right into the plot, in the form of puzzles. This set of puzzles felt more reasonable for the target audience (middle-schoolers) than were the puzzles in the first book. However, frequently interspersed puzzles automatically slowed down the plot's pacing, causing the story to drag, as a result.
Of course, there were some periods of action thrown into the storyline but so much of the book was filled with "watching" the math teacher act abysmally, throwing tantrums right and left, along with displaying dishonorable behaviors and actions on multiple levels. The responses of Winston, his friends, along with the other contestants to the abusive manner the math teacher behaved was inadequate, in many ways. Had he not "come to his senses", on his own, the boys and/or the other teachers/administrators needed to stand up take action, including halting any further participation in the event and going home or reporting him to the school principal/state teacher's licensing agency.
Thee erratic 'start-stop" jerkiness of the plot combined with the mean-spirited role-modeling by several educators, present during the competition, made this a 3 star read, for me. I am glad the complexity of the puzzles were more realistic this time around.
Of course, there were some periods of action thrown into the storyline but so much of the book was filled with "watching" the math teacher act abysmally, throwing tantrums right and left, along with displaying dishonorable behaviors and actions on multiple levels. The responses of Winston, his friends, along with the other contestants to the abusive manner the math teacher behaved was inadequate, in many ways. Had he not "come to his senses", on his own, the boys and/or the other teachers/administrators needed to stand up take action, including halting any further participation in the event and going home or reporting him to the school principal/state teacher's licensing agency.
Thee erratic 'start-stop" jerkiness of the plot combined with the mean-spirited role-modeling by several educators, present during the competition, made this a 3 star read, for me. I am glad the complexity of the puzzles were more realistic this time around.
August 5, 2011
This was a quick, enjoyable, puzzle-filled read. Potato chip king and multi-millionaire Dmitri Simon invites kids from local schools to compete in a puzzle competition to win some serious prize money for their school...and Winston Breen is one of the lucky few who gets to play! But it turns out Winston and his team will have more than just tricky puzzles to deal with, including a cheater who is out to sabotage the other teams! Will Winston and his team solve the final puzzle before the cheater schemes his way to winning the grand prize?
I though this was a fast-paced and fun book for the middle grade set. Laced with humor, messages about honesty and good sportsmanship, and (of course!) plenty of puzzles, The Potato Chip Puzzles was entertaining and would make a great summertime read for kids. Though I wasn't 'wowed' by the writing or the plot (the beginning of the book did not grab me, and I found it took too long to build excitement and pace), I did find myself trying to solve many of the puzzles right along with Winston and company! I would recommend this title for puzzle and mystery lovers in grades 4 and up.
I though this was a fast-paced and fun book for the middle grade set. Laced with humor, messages about honesty and good sportsmanship, and (of course!) plenty of puzzles, The Potato Chip Puzzles was entertaining and would make a great summertime read for kids. Though I wasn't 'wowed' by the writing or the plot (the beginning of the book did not grab me, and I found it took too long to build excitement and pace), I did find myself trying to solve many of the puzzles right along with Winston and company! I would recommend this title for puzzle and mystery lovers in grades 4 and up.
February 22, 2011
Winston Breen and his friends are back to solve another challenging round of puzzles, courtesy of a contest sponsored by a potato chip company. The student team who solves six puzzles first wins $50,000 for their school. Winston's teacher is determined that his team will win, but how far will he go to make sure that happens?
October 5, 2012
Finished in 2 hours!!!!!!!!
I wanna try those square potato chips!
At first I thought it was Mr. G who was the cheater and he gave himself a flat just to throw everyone off! Then,I thought it was Brendan since he was always happy and lucky.
Guess I was wrong since it was his TEACHER!
I had some trouble solving the puzzles but I will DEFINATELY try again today.
LOVE WINSTON BREEN!!!!!!!!!!
I wanna try those square potato chips!
At first I thought it was Mr. G who was the cheater and he gave himself a flat just to throw everyone off! Then,I thought it was Brendan since he was always happy and lucky.
Guess I was wrong since it was his TEACHER!
I had some trouble solving the puzzles but I will DEFINATELY try again today.
LOVE WINSTON BREEN!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2009
Winston Breen is back and solving more puzzles. This time, he and his friends are in puzzle competition, and the prize is $50,000 for their school. Good for mystery-lovers and puzzle-fans.
August 12, 2012
Make sure you have a pencil in hand when you read this book (or, if you borrow it from the library, scratch paper and a pencil!).
April 11, 2021
It was an exciting and fun story!
April 29, 2019
I didn't like it *quite* as much as the first one but still enjoyed it. I think I preferred the first one's premise of a treasure hunt across town, preferred the map given in that one which gave a sense of direction, and I think it had a more action packed/exciting climax with the battle against the gunman who had taken Winston hostage. This one's climax was much more toned down against the corrupt teacher since it was Winston and a room full of adults against the teacher, plus I think the teacher's slipup mistake talking about the glass bottles cutting up car tires was a bit careless.
But I really like the scenes like when Winston is looking at the car-slasher's belongings they managed to snatch away and when he asked himself a bunch of questions about what/who/why/when/where/how, as it really evokes the sense of a mystery, and I like that Winston is the detective.
This series has also so far been very mentally stimulating as the puzzles are refreshing. My one regret is that I fear they don't have a much "re-read" value; if you solve a puzzle once, you will likely remember the solution, and it's even more likely if you write the solution in the book as is semi-encouraged (not that I mind - its still fun and I like having such brain teasers).
One thing I appreciated more in this was Mal and Jake; I like scenes like both solving parts of a puzzle that Winston couldn't, and I liked scenes like Jake's atheleticism almost tackling the car-slasher and Mal with his theatrical voice calling the wife of the villain pretending to be a Tow Truck company man to confirm the villain's lies.
Anyway, overall, it was good, but I also would've liked to see more nods to the first book, like what Winston did with the $5000 or so he won last game, and I think I'd've liked to see Penrose's Curioso Shop as that was a fun location and the character Penrose had interested me as a sort of "wiser old man" character, kinda like Dumbledore. But it seems the next book will feature him more, so I do appreciate that.
Mr. Garvey, their math expert teacher/chaperone, was an interesting counter/foil to the trio of boys, and I liked his competitiveness and moral grayness, as well as his character arc becoming more compassionate and not as gung-ho about winning. I also liked Brendan Root as a semi rival/friend to Winston and a decent enough Red Herring villain. I hope he returns in future books too.
I know there's only one book left in this trilogy, but one regret I have with this series is that I am doubtful it'll make a small mini-universe with nods back to previous books - I think one advantage of series is that they can do that, but this book only briefly mentions characters like Winston's sister Katie and the policeman Ray Marietta from the previous book, where they were much more prominent.
But anyway, overall, this was still excellent and I liked it quite a bit. I like this series quite a lot and have already started the third. Solid, good, fun puzzle ish brainteaser-filled book.
But I really like the scenes like when Winston is looking at the car-slasher's belongings they managed to snatch away and when he asked himself a bunch of questions about what/who/why/when/where/how, as it really evokes the sense of a mystery, and I like that Winston is the detective.
This series has also so far been very mentally stimulating as the puzzles are refreshing. My one regret is that I fear they don't have a much "re-read" value; if you solve a puzzle once, you will likely remember the solution, and it's even more likely if you write the solution in the book as is semi-encouraged (not that I mind - its still fun and I like having such brain teasers).
One thing I appreciated more in this was Mal and Jake; I like scenes like both solving parts of a puzzle that Winston couldn't, and I liked scenes like Jake's atheleticism almost tackling the car-slasher and Mal with his theatrical voice calling the wife of the villain pretending to be a Tow Truck company man to confirm the villain's lies.
Anyway, overall, it was good, but I also would've liked to see more nods to the first book, like what Winston did with the $5000 or so he won last game, and I think I'd've liked to see Penrose's Curioso Shop as that was a fun location and the character Penrose had interested me as a sort of "wiser old man" character, kinda like Dumbledore. But it seems the next book will feature him more, so I do appreciate that.
Mr. Garvey, their math expert teacher/chaperone, was an interesting counter/foil to the trio of boys, and I liked his competitiveness and moral grayness, as well as his character arc becoming more compassionate and not as gung-ho about winning. I also liked Brendan Root as a semi rival/friend to Winston and a decent enough Red Herring villain. I hope he returns in future books too.
I know there's only one book left in this trilogy, but one regret I have with this series is that I am doubtful it'll make a small mini-universe with nods back to previous books - I think one advantage of series is that they can do that, but this book only briefly mentions characters like Winston's sister Katie and the policeman Ray Marietta from the previous book, where they were much more prominent.
But anyway, overall, this was still excellent and I liked it quite a bit. I like this series quite a lot and have already started the third. Solid, good, fun puzzle ish brainteaser-filled book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2022
I just read the book The potato chip puzzle by Eric Berlin. It first starts out with Winston. The main character just solved a puzzle for a chance to win 50,000 dollars for his school but he will have to join the potato chip game. He then invites his friends to join and they compete in the game. They first start off with their team getting a flat tire for what it seems to not be caused by glass that someone put down. They fix it but they are really behind. They catch up pretty quickly and find out other people are getting flat tires. They know someone is not playing nicely. They find out who it is because they tracked their phone number and it was a kid on the other team. But finding out that the teacher was making the kid call them and cheat.
I think this book is okay. I liked the layout and the characters but I felt like there should have been more. There weren't that many plot twists. Also the conflict was kinda confusing and boring. There were these puzzles inside the book that you could solve yourself and I thought that was cool but I'm not much of a puzzle person so it didn't really please me. But overall it was pretty good. I liked the main characters a lot. They seemed really nice and caring.
In conclusion I would recommend this if you don't like plot twists that much or if you like puzzles because there are a lot of puzzles that you can solve yourself in the book. I also felt like it went really slow. There wasn't that much excitement. It's a good book but it doesn't give much mystery to it and it's pretty bland. If you are a mystery person I wouldn't recommend this.
I think this book is okay. I liked the layout and the characters but I felt like there should have been more. There weren't that many plot twists. Also the conflict was kinda confusing and boring. There were these puzzles inside the book that you could solve yourself and I thought that was cool but I'm not much of a puzzle person so it didn't really please me. But overall it was pretty good. I liked the main characters a lot. They seemed really nice and caring.
In conclusion I would recommend this if you don't like plot twists that much or if you like puzzles because there are a lot of puzzles that you can solve yourself in the book. I also felt like it went really slow. There wasn't that much excitement. It's a good book but it doesn't give much mystery to it and it's pretty bland. If you are a mystery person I wouldn't recommend this.
November 25, 2025
Embarking on a new reader challenge: reading all of the Mark Twain books from when I was in fourth and fifth grade. From the 2011-2012 list, The Potato Chip Puzzles was one of my favorites when I was in fifth grade, which is funny since I despised books with boys. What can I say, I was enamored with the puzzles. Fun fact: I had no idea as a kid that this was a sequel.
Does this book hold up in the 2020s? Yes. There aren't any outdated pop-culture references (the only video game is a made-up one, though kids may curious about the landline), the language isn't too hard, and kids still love a good puzzle.
While it is nostalgic for me, I actually would recommend this. Can't wait to see which other nostalgia books still hold up!
Does this book hold up in the 2020s? Yes. There aren't any outdated pop-culture references (the only video game is a made-up one, though kids may curious about the landline), the language isn't too hard, and kids still love a good puzzle.
While it is nostalgic for me, I actually would recommend this. Can't wait to see which other nostalgia books still hold up!
June 15, 2025
After reading the first Winston Breen book, I knew I wanted to read more, so we bought the whole trilogy. I love the puzzles! But this story was a lot of fun, too. It reminded me of Mr. Lemoncello’s library in a way - but very different and unique (and came first!). Definitely one I would recommend to readers who like that series, though, and anyone who loves puzzles and mysteries. On to book three!
August 1, 2021
If you like all types of puzzles this is for you. The Simon's Snack Foods is holding an all day puzzle event for junior high students. Each team as a teacher with them and three students they were given a small computer that would tell where to go to look for clues. Have fun trying to solve all the puzzles.
February 12, 2025
Engaging family read-aloud sees returning protagonist, Winston, entering a puzzle contest with his two best friends. In addition to challenging their brains, the plot centers around teamwork, honesty, and integrity as “doing the right thing” and “trying to win” conflict. Print the puzzles out from the author’s website!
February 12, 2019
As a puzzle lover I found this book super entertaining
The reason I give this one 5 stars is that the author added a nice little extra challenge to the book by including the puzzles the characters had to solve. I loved it! I put the other books on my to-read list.
The reason I give this one 5 stars is that the author added a nice little extra challenge to the book by including the puzzles the characters had to solve. I loved it! I put the other books on my to-read list.
November 22, 2023
Randomly found this on my Kindle and decided to reread it, and it was so fun! I must've first read this book at least ten years ago in middle school, and I know twelve-year-old Maryarita was obsessed with it. Perfect for puzzle and riddle lovers.
June 4, 2024
Cranked this out the night before I leave on a cross country roadtrip. Currently so tired that I’m barely functioning but if there’s one thing that deserves a review it’s the Winston Breen series, so here I am. A strong sequel, I always enjoy following this book’s puzzles, humor, and mystery.
December 12, 2017
I enjoyed the puzzles in this book. The contest reminded me of Lemoncello's Library.
April 17, 2018
The second book in this series did not disappoint! The puzzles are cute, but I'm glad the answers are given in the back! :)
January 24, 2019
This was such a fun read! Kept me and my daughter guessing who was trying to take down Winston Breen.
August 15, 2019
Fun mystery full of puzzles. Perfect for 9 year old lee.
December 19, 2020
cute book, 6/10.
January 16, 2021
*3.5 - The story wasn't as fun as the first book, but I enjoyed the puzzles more
May 25, 2017
Great puzzles to solve
Fun book with lots of fun word and number puzzles to solve and progress in the story. Figure them out yourself or look at the solutions provided in the back of the book.
Fun book with lots of fun word and number puzzles to solve and progress in the story. Figure them out yourself or look at the solutions provided in the back of the book.
April 10, 2013
I recently read The Potato Chip Puzzles by Eric Berlin. In the book, puzzle enthusiast Winston Breen has the chance to win $50,000 in a puzzle contest for his school. But, other schools are participating in the contest, too. And one of them is cheating! Winston and his friends Mal and Jake must win the contest and stop the cheater! I really like this book for many reasons. First, Eric Berlin is a great author. He has a cool kind of perspective because he has to come up with all of the puzzles in the contest as well as the ones he adds into the story for fun. Some of the puzzles in this book amazed me! I can relate to him because I also have a craving for challenging puzzles, he's just a whole lot better. I also enjoyed this book because of Winston's friends Mal and Jake because Mr. Garvey, the advanced math teacher that chaperones them in the contest, wanted to have his elite students be on the team with Winston, not two funny seventh graders that love to mess around! It's fun to see Mal and Jake try to solve puzzles to Mr. Garvey's very high standards. I was really surprised when Mal and Jake actually came through on some puzzles and helped get the answer! I also liked the book's element of mystery. It was super fun to try and solve the puzzles, but the bigger mystery was finding the cheater. I thought that this really made the book even more interesting! Overall, this was a fantastic book. Eric Berlin did an amazing job writing it!
August 3, 2013
Personal Opinion: I really liked the book "The Potato Chip Puzzles." It was a well- written book with lots of action and suspense. The main character, Winston, really reminds me of myself. We both enjoy puzzles, except he is much better at them than me! I recommend this book to people who like puzzles beacuse there were puzzles during the book frequently, so you could be solving the puzzles with Winston, Jake, Mal, and Mr. Garvey.
Book Review: Winston is called into the principal's office unexpectedly one day to help the principal 'crack the code'. The school had recived a note that had a secret puzzle, and Winston was the puzzle expert. It turned out that the puzzle was an invitation to a puzzle competition. Winston was invited for sure, and he was allowed to bring his friends. Mainly in return of favor, for decoding the puzzle. The kids needed to be represented with an adult, and the advanced math teacher, Mr. Garvey, was the one to help. Mr. Garvey did not like Winston's friends and wanted his smartest student to come instead of Jake and Mal. Just out of luck, Mal and Jake get to tag along. A few days later at the puzzle competition, Mr. Garvey, Jake, Mal , and Winston find that their competitors are willing to play dirty.
Appeal -- Anyone
Popularity -- 4 Stars! Great!
Quality -- 5 Stars! Well written
Genre -- Mystery/Suspense
Book Review: Winston is called into the principal's office unexpectedly one day to help the principal 'crack the code'. The school had recived a note that had a secret puzzle, and Winston was the puzzle expert. It turned out that the puzzle was an invitation to a puzzle competition. Winston was invited for sure, and he was allowed to bring his friends. Mainly in return of favor, for decoding the puzzle. The kids needed to be represented with an adult, and the advanced math teacher, Mr. Garvey, was the one to help. Mr. Garvey did not like Winston's friends and wanted his smartest student to come instead of Jake and Mal. Just out of luck, Mal and Jake get to tag along. A few days later at the puzzle competition, Mr. Garvey, Jake, Mal , and Winston find that their competitors are willing to play dirty.
Appeal -- Anyone
Popularity -- 4 Stars! Great!
Quality -- 5 Stars! Well written
Genre -- Mystery/Suspense
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