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Northwoods #3
The Silver Box: An Enchantment Lake Mystery
In the final Enchantment Lake mystery, Francie’s search for the truth about her mother—and herself—plunges her into danger during a North Woods winter
When she wakes in her aunts’ cold cabin on the shore of Enchantment Lake, Francie everything about her life has changed. Or is about to. Or just might. Everything depends on the small, engraved silver box that she now possesses—if only she can follow its cryptic clues to the whereabouts of her missing mother and understand, finally , just maybe, the truth about who she really is. Francie, it turns out, has a lot to learn, and this time the lessons could be deadly. Her search for answers takes her and her best friends Raven and Jay as far afield as an abandoned ranch in Arizona and as close to home as a sketchy plant collector’s conservatory and a musty old museum where shadows lurk around every display case. At the heart of it all is a crime that touches her own adopted North thieves dig up fragile lady’s slippers, peel bark from birches, strip moss off trees, cut down entire forests of saplings to sell for home décor. But Francie is up against no ordinary plant theft. One ominous clue after another reveal that she possesses something so rare and so valuable that some people are willing to do anything to get it. When Francie’s investigation leads her into the treacherously cold and snowy North Woods, she finds out that she too is being pursued.
When she wakes in her aunts’ cold cabin on the shore of Enchantment Lake, Francie everything about her life has changed. Or is about to. Or just might. Everything depends on the small, engraved silver box that she now possesses—if only she can follow its cryptic clues to the whereabouts of her missing mother and understand, finally , just maybe, the truth about who she really is. Francie, it turns out, has a lot to learn, and this time the lessons could be deadly. Her search for answers takes her and her best friends Raven and Jay as far afield as an abandoned ranch in Arizona and as close to home as a sketchy plant collector’s conservatory and a musty old museum where shadows lurk around every display case. At the heart of it all is a crime that touches her own adopted North thieves dig up fragile lady’s slippers, peel bark from birches, strip moss off trees, cut down entire forests of saplings to sell for home décor. But Francie is up against no ordinary plant theft. One ominous clue after another reveal that she possesses something so rare and so valuable that some people are willing to do anything to get it. When Francie’s investigation leads her into the treacherously cold and snowy North Woods, she finds out that she too is being pursued.
200 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2020
98 people want to read
About the author
Margi Preus
29 books195 followersMargi Preus is a children's writer. She is a 2011 Newbery Honor winner and won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Heart of a Samurai.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 8, 2021
2.5
It wasn’t much different that the first one in the series. It was ok, sorta all over the place and everything seemed very surface level with very little substance. I do think this series would have done better if targeted for a younger audience.
Thanks for NetGalley for providing a copy of the book for my honest review.
It wasn’t much different that the first one in the series. It was ok, sorta all over the place and everything seemed very surface level with very little substance. I do think this series would have done better if targeted for a younger audience.
Thanks for NetGalley for providing a copy of the book for my honest review.
November 2, 2020
There is a huge mystery in Francie's life. What happened to her mother? Now at seventeen, this mystery is starting to take on a dangerous role. She's been searching for a keepsake she's connected to her mother, and finally has it in this last book - but it doesn't hold the answers she has assumed it would.
In the Silver Box, Francie's curiosity and drive to understand her mother leads to irresponsible choices, for the best reasons, such as rescuing her brother Theo. She gets sent to Arizona by her grandfather, sentenced to community service by a judge, yet she knows what her goals are, and though she isn't always certain the right way to go about getting them done, she often stumbles in the right direction, or gets a lucky break.
The plotting in this book, for the most part, was spot on. We are led from one scene to the other, all with purpose and all with movement. My challenge comes at the end. The most intense scene ends on a perfectly acceptable end-of-chapter cliff hanger .... But then it just ends. We don't get to see the how the solution happens, and the one sentence segue is weak. We fast forward from that point to the final image where loose strings are tied, relationships are sorted out, and we learn that not all mysteries have answers. And as satisfying as that could be, you're still left with this buildup of tension and nowhere to put it.
My kids, 8 and 11, handled it by jumping up and down, and shouting out their theories, all of which were more comprehensive than what the author provided. And when I was done, they snatched up the book and put it on their bedroom bookshelf so it's no longer on mine.
*I received a free copy of the book for my honest review.* These books are a beautiful read, and I highly recommend them, particularly to middle grade readers.
In the Silver Box, Francie's curiosity and drive to understand her mother leads to irresponsible choices, for the best reasons, such as rescuing her brother Theo. She gets sent to Arizona by her grandfather, sentenced to community service by a judge, yet she knows what her goals are, and though she isn't always certain the right way to go about getting them done, she often stumbles in the right direction, or gets a lucky break.
The plotting in this book, for the most part, was spot on. We are led from one scene to the other, all with purpose and all with movement. My challenge comes at the end. The most intense scene ends on a perfectly acceptable end-of-chapter cliff hanger .... But then it just ends. We don't get to see the how the solution happens, and the one sentence segue is weak. We fast forward from that point to the final image where loose strings are tied, relationships are sorted out, and we learn that not all mysteries have answers. And as satisfying as that could be, you're still left with this buildup of tension and nowhere to put it.
My kids, 8 and 11, handled it by jumping up and down, and shouting out their theories, all of which were more comprehensive than what the author provided. And when I was done, they snatched up the book and put it on their bedroom bookshelf so it's no longer on mine.
*I received a free copy of the book for my honest review.* These books are a beautiful read, and I highly recommend them, particularly to middle grade readers.
November 18, 2020
In The Silver Box, we meet Francie. She’s waking up in the cold cabin near Enchantment Lake. Everything about her life is different now and there is a lot at stake with her figuring out this box that’s in her possession. She thinks it will unlock secrets to her mother’s whereabouts.
What slowly unfolds is a mystery surrounding this particular box and Francie finding her mother. Because this is a series, obviously stuff happened prior to this that is alluded to in the beginning. A few times in the beginning, I’m tugged towards wanting to know more of what happened beforehand, but I think that’s. A common thing when you don't read a series in order don’t read a series in order.
In this book, Francie is driven to figure out where her mother is at. She’s convinced she is still alive, despite not being able to find her. Her mother appears to have been involved in some espionage things, so there is a lot of secrecy surrounding her disappearance. Along with her best friend Raven, they stumble upon secrets surrounding what the box means along with this weirdo plant guy. Then, they get in trouble at school thanks to a mishap at a museum and and Francie realizes there is way more to this box than meets the eye. It’s what’s inside the box that is bringing all these creepers too close. The most important question becomes – will she find her mom?
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would recommend reading the first two books, but in all honesty, I enjoyed this book without having read the ones before. When reading a middle-grade book, I’m sure parents are wondering would it be right for their child. Well, I would say yes. Beyond the mystery, there are moments when Francie has a chance to do the right thing and help a friend. So, there are lessons that can be learned within this book too.
Overall, I highly recommend adding this book to your reading list!
What slowly unfolds is a mystery surrounding this particular box and Francie finding her mother. Because this is a series, obviously stuff happened prior to this that is alluded to in the beginning. A few times in the beginning, I’m tugged towards wanting to know more of what happened beforehand, but I think that’s. A common thing when you don't read a series in order don’t read a series in order.
In this book, Francie is driven to figure out where her mother is at. She’s convinced she is still alive, despite not being able to find her. Her mother appears to have been involved in some espionage things, so there is a lot of secrecy surrounding her disappearance. Along with her best friend Raven, they stumble upon secrets surrounding what the box means along with this weirdo plant guy. Then, they get in trouble at school thanks to a mishap at a museum and and Francie realizes there is way more to this box than meets the eye. It’s what’s inside the box that is bringing all these creepers too close. The most important question becomes – will she find her mom?
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would recommend reading the first two books, but in all honesty, I enjoyed this book without having read the ones before. When reading a middle-grade book, I’m sure parents are wondering would it be right for their child. Well, I would say yes. Beyond the mystery, there are moments when Francie has a chance to do the right thing and help a friend. So, there are lessons that can be learned within this book too.
Overall, I highly recommend adding this book to your reading list!
October 30, 2020
Francesca Frye, known as Francie to her friends, is reminiscent of Nancy Drew. She is fiercely independent, smart, and resourceful. Like many children’s lit heroines, she has a bit of a tragic past. Her father died when she was young, and her mother left under mysterious circumstances. She was raised, more or less, in combination by her grandfather, two quirky aunts, and an older brother. At 17, she now lives alone with long distance supervision.
In her memories, she has always associated her mother with a silver box, though she isn’t sure why or how. In the beginning of this book, she finds herself in possession of the box. Without reading the first two, it isn’t clear why or how, but knowing that isn’t critical to understanding the plot of this book. The box is a puzzle box, and Francie and her friends have to figure out how to open the box and its significance. Unfortunately, other people want to figure out the same thing and are willing to kidnap and maybe even kill to get at it.
The book is well written and the pages fly by. At times, the book falls into the children’s literature trap of the adults being not nearly as smart as the youth around them, but it is easy to overlook that, and no doubt the actual middle schoolers this book is aimed at will enjoy the feeling of being smarter than the adults in the book. I wish the ending were drawn out a little more, it seemed to resolve a little too quickly and a little too neatly, but again, I’m an adult with a longer attention span than your average 12 year old in the target audience.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and it is a nice, modern update to the Nancy Drew genre with a heroine 21st century mothers can be thrilled their girls will want to emulate.
In her memories, she has always associated her mother with a silver box, though she isn’t sure why or how. In the beginning of this book, she finds herself in possession of the box. Without reading the first two, it isn’t clear why or how, but knowing that isn’t critical to understanding the plot of this book. The box is a puzzle box, and Francie and her friends have to figure out how to open the box and its significance. Unfortunately, other people want to figure out the same thing and are willing to kidnap and maybe even kill to get at it.
The book is well written and the pages fly by. At times, the book falls into the children’s literature trap of the adults being not nearly as smart as the youth around them, but it is easy to overlook that, and no doubt the actual middle schoolers this book is aimed at will enjoy the feeling of being smarter than the adults in the book. I wish the ending were drawn out a little more, it seemed to resolve a little too quickly and a little too neatly, but again, I’m an adult with a longer attention span than your average 12 year old in the target audience.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and it is a nice, modern update to the Nancy Drew genre with a heroine 21st century mothers can be thrilled their girls will want to emulate.
October 5, 2020
I’m so glad I got to read all three of the books in this series so close together. All three books were super enjoyable– definitely brought back some great memories of reading Nancy Drew books when I was younger. I love Francie and Raven and the adventures that they face.
One of the other things I enjoyed is the fact that environmental issues are so well-integrated into the story. I felt like the facts and issues never sounded forced, but they added a lot of intrigue to the mystery and kept the stakes pretty high all the way through the book.
I recommend starting with ENCHANTMENT LAKE, since it gives you a chance to get to know some of the other characters first, but the mystery plot is fairly self-contained, so I think readers who wanted to start with this book could do so.
This book begins immediately after A CLUE IN THE TREES leaves off, so if you have the opportunity to read them back to back, I think that will also be more enjoyable, but not at all necessary. Each story contains a standalone mystery.
Like the other two books in the Enchanted Lakes series, THE SILVER BOX is a quick read. I think mystery lovers will definitely enjoy the pacing of this book as well as its unforgettable characters and charming Northwoods setting. It’s an excellent series to get lost in if you’re looking for an engrossing story or something to distract from reality.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
One of the other things I enjoyed is the fact that environmental issues are so well-integrated into the story. I felt like the facts and issues never sounded forced, but they added a lot of intrigue to the mystery and kept the stakes pretty high all the way through the book.
I recommend starting with ENCHANTMENT LAKE, since it gives you a chance to get to know some of the other characters first, but the mystery plot is fairly self-contained, so I think readers who wanted to start with this book could do so.
This book begins immediately after A CLUE IN THE TREES leaves off, so if you have the opportunity to read them back to back, I think that will also be more enjoyable, but not at all necessary. Each story contains a standalone mystery.
Like the other two books in the Enchanted Lakes series, THE SILVER BOX is a quick read. I think mystery lovers will definitely enjoy the pacing of this book as well as its unforgettable characters and charming Northwoods setting. It’s an excellent series to get lost in if you’re looking for an engrossing story or something to distract from reality.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 25, 2020
This is the latest and final book of The Enchantment Lake Mystery Series. 💕
🏚️About the book:
When she wakes up in her aunt's cold cabin on the shore of Enchantment Lake, Francie remembers everything about her life has changed or is about to or just might. Everything depends on the small, engraved silver box that she now possesses - if only she can follow it's cryptic clues to the whereabouts of her missing mother and understand, finally, the truth about who she really is.
🏚️Review:
"Years of frozen feeling began to thaw and emotions rushed through her like melting snow."
To say that I enjoyed this book would be an understatement!
Francie, as the courageous main character, is like the modern Nancy Drew. Her enthusiasm is very contagious most of the time. No one can stop her when she sets her mind into something. Her motivation to do anything for her mom is truly inspiring. She's also supported by her friends in her journey. I really love the character dynamics, foreshadowing and the humor.👌
The book cover is a perfect reflection of how good the author was with imagery. The words are enough to bring the story into life. Environmental awareness and issues were also dealt with in the novel.
The only regret I have is that I haven't read the first and second book of this series (😅). Nevertheless, it did not take away my enjoyment because the author laid out the story with amazing storytelling and background.
🏚️About the book:
When she wakes up in her aunt's cold cabin on the shore of Enchantment Lake, Francie remembers everything about her life has changed or is about to or just might. Everything depends on the small, engraved silver box that she now possesses - if only she can follow it's cryptic clues to the whereabouts of her missing mother and understand, finally, the truth about who she really is.
🏚️Review:
"Years of frozen feeling began to thaw and emotions rushed through her like melting snow."
To say that I enjoyed this book would be an understatement!
Francie, as the courageous main character, is like the modern Nancy Drew. Her enthusiasm is very contagious most of the time. No one can stop her when she sets her mind into something. Her motivation to do anything for her mom is truly inspiring. She's also supported by her friends in her journey. I really love the character dynamics, foreshadowing and the humor.👌
The book cover is a perfect reflection of how good the author was with imagery. The words are enough to bring the story into life. Environmental awareness and issues were also dealt with in the novel.
The only regret I have is that I haven't read the first and second book of this series (😅). Nevertheless, it did not take away my enjoyment because the author laid out the story with amazing storytelling and background.
November 3, 2020
The Review
This was a fantastic read! A modern-day Nancy Drew style heroine takes center stage as Francie takes readers on a personal journey like never before. The mystery surrounding her mother’s disappearance all those years ago finally comes full circle, and the payoff for fans of the series is well worth the wait. Yet the great thing about the way the author writes is that readers who are new to the series are able to jump right into the action. While some of the finer details surrounding Francie’s backstory may be better understood by reading the first two books, the mystery of the Silver Box gives readers plenty of narratives to become engaged in.
The author does a wonderful job of not only setting the tone throughout this read of mystery and suspense but of crafting memorable and well-rounded character arcs for Francie and her friends. Her youthful determination and growth throughout the series is evident as this book comes to a close, and gives young readers someone to relate to and aspire to all at once.
The Verdict
An evenly-paced, mystery-driven narrative, author Margi Preus’s “The Silver Box” is a must-read YA adventure. The twists and turns the story takes readers and the cast of characters on are a perfect fit for the genre and give readers a satisfying and well-rounded journey overall. Be sure to grab your copy today!
This was a fantastic read! A modern-day Nancy Drew style heroine takes center stage as Francie takes readers on a personal journey like never before. The mystery surrounding her mother’s disappearance all those years ago finally comes full circle, and the payoff for fans of the series is well worth the wait. Yet the great thing about the way the author writes is that readers who are new to the series are able to jump right into the action. While some of the finer details surrounding Francie’s backstory may be better understood by reading the first two books, the mystery of the Silver Box gives readers plenty of narratives to become engaged in.
The author does a wonderful job of not only setting the tone throughout this read of mystery and suspense but of crafting memorable and well-rounded character arcs for Francie and her friends. Her youthful determination and growth throughout the series is evident as this book comes to a close, and gives young readers someone to relate to and aspire to all at once.
The Verdict
An evenly-paced, mystery-driven narrative, author Margi Preus’s “The Silver Box” is a must-read YA adventure. The twists and turns the story takes readers and the cast of characters on are a perfect fit for the genre and give readers a satisfying and well-rounded journey overall. Be sure to grab your copy today!
October 20, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and University of Minnesota Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. When I started reading this I felt like I had stepped into the middle of an incredibly adventurous story and then I found out it's because, I did! This is the final installment of the Enchantment Lake mystery series and it was great! There were some spots that were hard to follow but that could have been because I haven't read the previous books so I didn't fault it for that. This was definitely a modern day Nancy Drew type mystery, which I love because I read all the old novels and even a few of the newer ones. Francie's relentless search for her mom leads her down an adventurous road where she meets some great characters. Loretta "the witch" is an awesome addition to all the strong females in this book. I will definitely be going back to read the previous books in this series to get all the background and previous exploits of Francie, Raven, Theo, & Jay. This book is a definite 4 out of 5 for me just because I was lost at times but overall a must read for fans of Nancy Drew and Theodore Boone.
November 22, 2020
“The Silver Box” is part of a series but could be read as a standalone without any problem. I have not read the first two books of “The Enchantment Lake” series, but reading this, the final book in the series, makes me want to read the whole series.
From the get go the author captured my attention with not only one but several mysteries—what happened to Francie’s mom, how to open the box, why the box is so valuable—and I was intrigued by all these layers. Preus had the right amount of tension to keep me interested throughout the entire book. In fact, had I had the opportunity to do so, I would have read the book all in one sitting.
The focuses of the book—concerns about the environment and racism—are timely matters, and I appreciated that. I loved the diversity of the characters in the series, which included an indigenous character and elderly characters.
I also found myself googling to find out more about the plants and incidents that are in the story. There is an author’s note at the end about what is factual in the book.
I highly recommend this middle grade novel.
*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
From the get go the author captured my attention with not only one but several mysteries—what happened to Francie’s mom, how to open the box, why the box is so valuable—and I was intrigued by all these layers. Preus had the right amount of tension to keep me interested throughout the entire book. In fact, had I had the opportunity to do so, I would have read the book all in one sitting.
The focuses of the book—concerns about the environment and racism—are timely matters, and I appreciated that. I loved the diversity of the characters in the series, which included an indigenous character and elderly characters.
I also found myself googling to find out more about the plants and incidents that are in the story. There is an author’s note at the end about what is factual in the book.
I highly recommend this middle grade novel.
*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
November 9, 2020
(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)
My Review
Even though this was the final book in a trilogy, The Silver Box could be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone. I do plan to read the other two books in The Enchantment Lake mystery trilogy – just the hints of the adventures Francie and her friends had previously have whetted my interest in reading more.
Francie is faced with the mystery of the silver box and the mystery of what happened to her mother. Her mother had disappeared when she was four and now thirteen years later, there are clues that suggest she might be alive.
As Francie, with her friends Raven and Jay, as well as her older brother Theo, are led from one adventure to another, we are drawn along the twist and turns of the hunt, at times a dangerous one.
I enjoyed this mystery and this smart, resilient, brave heroine. I was anxious too to discover the secrets Francie had to uncover.
It is appropriate for middle and upper grade students and I am sure they will find it a captivating, compelling story.
My Review
Even though this was the final book in a trilogy, The Silver Box could be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone. I do plan to read the other two books in The Enchantment Lake mystery trilogy – just the hints of the adventures Francie and her friends had previously have whetted my interest in reading more.
Francie is faced with the mystery of the silver box and the mystery of what happened to her mother. Her mother had disappeared when she was four and now thirteen years later, there are clues that suggest she might be alive.
As Francie, with her friends Raven and Jay, as well as her older brother Theo, are led from one adventure to another, we are drawn along the twist and turns of the hunt, at times a dangerous one.
I enjoyed this mystery and this smart, resilient, brave heroine. I was anxious too to discover the secrets Francie had to uncover.
It is appropriate for middle and upper grade students and I am sure they will find it a captivating, compelling story.
October 20, 2020
The Silver Box is perfect for middle grade mystery lovers and adults who grew up loving Nancy Drew. I loved reading about Nancy's adventures as a kid, and this brought me back to that time. Although this can be read as a standalone, I definitely recommend reading book one and two first, as they give book three a little more depth. Preus sets a quick pace, but not so fast that you struggle to keep up. You will quickly find yourself eager to solve the mystery with Francie, however, and you won't want to put this book down once you start.
June 25, 2020
I love this book! It’s fun, entertaining and spooky! This is a new author to me and I’ll be sure to read more. MC Francie is searching for the truth about her mother. She lives with her aunt on the shores of Enchantment Lake and is in possession of a small, engraved silver box that holds plenty of clues. This is a coming of age story and so we are on this journey with Francie. Thank you to NetGalley, University of Minnesota Press, and Margi Preus for an ebook ARC. This is my honest review.
October 13, 2023
This was my favorite book of the series. It kept me hooked right from the beginning and was a fantastic end to the trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews