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The Pathfinders Society #1
The Mystery of the Moon Tower
The Young Pathfinders is a graphic novel adventure story featuring a diverse group of kids thrown together in a summer camp project. Researching their town's history leads to a mysterious, abandoned castle that was once home to an eccentric inventor, and may still be home to great treasure.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2020
21 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
Francesco Sedita
28 books42 followersFrancesco Sedita was born on March 18 on Mott Street in the Little Italy section of New York, New York, to two native New Yorkers.
Sedita studied writing at the Gallatin School of New York University. "It's this incredible multi-disciplinary program that allowed me to study many aspects of writing, including screenwriting, fiction, and theatrical writing," he says. While at Gallatin, he was a Writing Fellow for Saturday Night Live. After graduating, he wrote and directed a show that ran Off-Off Broadway for 5 years. He is now the Creative Director at major children's book publisher. Miss Popularity is his first book.
Francesco has been writing since the second grade. "I wrote and illustrated a story about a dog named Blackie. My next-door neighbor read it, and when she told me how much she liked it, I realized right then that I wanted to be a writer. I love to tell people stories," he says. When he was in college, he focused on writing comedy, and even did stand-up for a time. In graduate school, he focused on writing literary fiction. "Miss Popularity seemed like a strange direction for me at first, but it was an editorial director at Scholastic who made me realize it was the book I was born to write!" says Francesco. "We were discussing the idea of a character who comes to a musty old school and totally transforms it with her personality and fashion sense, and we both had a really good laugh. And then a day or two later, I was walking down the street and the entire story came to me in a flash-I emailed my editor right away, and Cassie Knight was born!"
Francesco Sedita lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Sedita studied writing at the Gallatin School of New York University. "It's this incredible multi-disciplinary program that allowed me to study many aspects of writing, including screenwriting, fiction, and theatrical writing," he says. While at Gallatin, he was a Writing Fellow for Saturday Night Live. After graduating, he wrote and directed a show that ran Off-Off Broadway for 5 years. He is now the Creative Director at major children's book publisher. Miss Popularity is his first book.
Francesco has been writing since the second grade. "I wrote and illustrated a story about a dog named Blackie. My next-door neighbor read it, and when she told me how much she liked it, I realized right then that I wanted to be a writer. I love to tell people stories," he says. When he was in college, he focused on writing comedy, and even did stand-up for a time. In graduate school, he focused on writing literary fiction. "Miss Popularity seemed like a strange direction for me at first, but it was an editorial director at Scholastic who made me realize it was the book I was born to write!" says Francesco. "We were discussing the idea of a character who comes to a musty old school and totally transforms it with her personality and fashion sense, and we both had a really good laugh. And then a day or two later, I was walking down the street and the entire story came to me in a flash-I emailed my editor right away, and Cassie Knight was born!"
Francesco Sedita lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
February 6, 2020
The stars were awarded for:
Star #1-It’s a graphic novel and my 4th and 5th graders, from reluctant to strong readers, can’t get enough of them.
Star #2-The text and illustrations complement one another to create a story with a clear problem and partial resolution that alludes to future installments plus characters with distinct personalities.
Star #3-This series opener was free of profanity, sexual content, violence or any of the “red flags” that sometimes cause parents and teachers to cringe or even object.
But I am uncertain about purchasing this one because:
*The opening panels start with the five main characters on some sort of quest and then with no transition at all, switch to Kyle and his mom arriving in town, and then a few panels later there is a Chapter One marker and we are back to Kyle and his mom pulling into camp. Weird and potentially confusing to the 9-12 year old target audience.
*In this age when diversity is touted as paramount, two characters are clearly Caucasian, two could be almost anything, and one presents as African-American but with her wide set nose and tightly curled black hair, some may find the stereotyping to be objectionable.
*Throughout the text, there are frequent references to social rankings of A,B, C, D, or F based on likes, dislikes, skills and appearance of the kids. My students do enough of that already and do not need more ways to attach value to their peers.
*Steve Hamaker’s backgrounds and inanimate objects are great, but his people are flat out creepy-looking and this is a mystery novel without scary creatures. Eyes are rendered as over-sized, bulging, and staring ovals. The worst is Kyle’s mom! No wonder the poor kid has some social awkwardness—waking up every day to that vampire-looking mom would cause all sorts of personality quirks.
*Lastly, why is pretty, popular, cheerleader Vic trying to hide her stellar memory and superb Math skills? Aren’t those talents something to wear as a badge of honor?
Librarians may want to wait and see if their budgets will stretch enough to include this particular graphic novel. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss.
Star #1-It’s a graphic novel and my 4th and 5th graders, from reluctant to strong readers, can’t get enough of them.
Star #2-The text and illustrations complement one another to create a story with a clear problem and partial resolution that alludes to future installments plus characters with distinct personalities.
Star #3-This series opener was free of profanity, sexual content, violence or any of the “red flags” that sometimes cause parents and teachers to cringe or even object.
But I am uncertain about purchasing this one because:
*The opening panels start with the five main characters on some sort of quest and then with no transition at all, switch to Kyle and his mom arriving in town, and then a few panels later there is a Chapter One marker and we are back to Kyle and his mom pulling into camp. Weird and potentially confusing to the 9-12 year old target audience.
*In this age when diversity is touted as paramount, two characters are clearly Caucasian, two could be almost anything, and one presents as African-American but with her wide set nose and tightly curled black hair, some may find the stereotyping to be objectionable.
*Throughout the text, there are frequent references to social rankings of A,B, C, D, or F based on likes, dislikes, skills and appearance of the kids. My students do enough of that already and do not need more ways to attach value to their peers.
*Steve Hamaker’s backgrounds and inanimate objects are great, but his people are flat out creepy-looking and this is a mystery novel without scary creatures. Eyes are rendered as over-sized, bulging, and staring ovals. The worst is Kyle’s mom! No wonder the poor kid has some social awkwardness—waking up every day to that vampire-looking mom would cause all sorts of personality quirks.
*Lastly, why is pretty, popular, cheerleader Vic trying to hide her stellar memory and superb Math skills? Aren’t those talents something to wear as a badge of honor?
Librarians may want to wait and see if their budgets will stretch enough to include this particular graphic novel. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss.
April 9, 2021
Cliffhanger ending! Absolutely nothing gets resolved in this book.
Full review to come during Children's Book Week in May.
Full review to come during Children's Book Week in May.
April 9, 2020
This graphic novel may be a quick read, but it's just bafflingly disjointed—it feels like the creators haven't read enough graphic novels to quite understand the relationship between the illustrations and narration.
The story seems to start in media res, then reveals that Kyle was imagining the four kids he hadn't even met yet . The group gets thrown together haphazardly, the lead up to the mystery / treasure hunt is strangely rushed, and they stumble upon clues that are immediately either dropped or solved. The pacing is inconsistent, the characters feel weirdly flat (the cheerleader is terrified people will realize she's a math genius), and then, to make matters worse,
The art and coloration are quite nice, except for the characters' disconcertingly large eyes. I was reminded of The Wild Thornberrys in the worst way possible.
I get that this is a series starter, but there are too many loose ends by the time the conclusion comes around for this to be gratifying. It felt more like a discarded pilot episode than a satisfactory first book.
The story seems to start in media res, then reveals that Kyle was imagining the four kids he hadn't even met yet . The group gets thrown together haphazardly, the lead up to the mystery / treasure hunt is strangely rushed, and they stumble upon clues that are immediately either dropped or solved. The pacing is inconsistent, the characters feel weirdly flat (the cheerleader is terrified people will realize she's a math genius), and then, to make matters worse,
The art and coloration are quite nice, except for the characters' disconcertingly large eyes. I was reminded of The Wild Thornberrys in the worst way possible.
I get that this is a series starter, but there are too many loose ends by the time the conclusion comes around for this to be gratifying. It felt more like a discarded pilot episode than a satisfactory first book.
July 12, 2022
I am a stickler for tight internal logic and this story took great liberties with it, to the point that I almost felt insulted. One example is when they arrange the tile rubbings under some kind of projector thingy and a 3-D animated map appeared. What the heck? That doesn't make any sense. One might say, it's a fun kids' book, nbd. But to me, it's sloppy storytelling. The dialogue was also a little flat and cliched. I know it sounds like I hated this book; I didn't. I just wanted it to be so much more than it was.
March 4, 2025
3.5- I liked it and will continue. Great artwork and I really enjoyed all the characters but was a little disappointed to get to the end and see, To Be Continued. I just hope the library has the second one.
July 7, 2020
The Mystery of the Moon Tower (Pathfinders Society) by Francesco Sedita and Prescott Seraydarian, illustrated by Steve Hamaker, 173 pages, GRAPIC NOVEL, Viking (Penguin Random House), 2020, $19.
Language: PG (0 swears); Mature Content G; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Five teens are thrown together at Camp Pathfinder. Using their unique skills, they soon embark on a quest for a rumored hidden treasure sparked by the camp’s founder: explorer-inventor Henry Merriweather. Though Merriweather lived decades before them, they sense his presence as they explore the adjacent town of Windrose and Merriweather’s extraordinary cement castle.
What’s not to like? The characters are quirky and fun, there is a cool castle, time travel, and a treasure hunt set in a weird valley that farts natural gas. The art is beautifully drawn and colored and it’s the adventure we’ve all secretly dreamed we could have. Only drawback? It ends too soon. Sign me up for book two.
Michelle in the Middle
Language: PG (0 swears); Mature Content G; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Five teens are thrown together at Camp Pathfinder. Using their unique skills, they soon embark on a quest for a rumored hidden treasure sparked by the camp’s founder: explorer-inventor Henry Merriweather. Though Merriweather lived decades before them, they sense his presence as they explore the adjacent town of Windrose and Merriweather’s extraordinary cement castle.
What’s not to like? The characters are quirky and fun, there is a cool castle, time travel, and a treasure hunt set in a weird valley that farts natural gas. The art is beautifully drawn and colored and it’s the adventure we’ve all secretly dreamed we could have. Only drawback? It ends too soon. Sign me up for book two.
Michelle in the Middle
August 5, 2021
The Pathfinders Society reminds me of Lumberjanes but it's missing the charm that makes that series work. I also don't like being left on a cliffhanger in graphic novels. I'll probably continue the series because I do like the characters, the art, and the potential.
February 17, 2025
Outstanding artwork and coloring convey this imaginative middle grade adventure graphic novel, with inventive settings and thought-provoking mystery. Not very deep, yet interesting to kids – and totally bereft of profanity. However, it leaves me hanging, and I hope the conclusion can be found in the next of the series.
August 2, 2021
Interesting start to the story! Can't wait to see where it goes
October 7, 2021
Cute story about kids trying to hunt for treasure to save their summer camp. Ends with a cliffhanger for the sequel.
December 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this one. Something about the characters coming together really worked.
July 9, 2022
Enjoyed the historical mystery aspect of the story, but pacing is a bit slow and characters are flat. Art style is not my cup of tea, but could be more appealing for other readers.
June 8, 2021
I don't know what to do with this.
1: I'm glad there's a diverse group of kids on the cover, and that they all have different, cool abilities, but it still centers the white kid as the main character who brings them all together. The authors even have personal stories that they could use but choose not to.
2: The very confusing dream sequence? Memory? at the beginning of the book makes it seem like it's possible that the entire experience is all in Kyle's head, or the plot to a graphic novel he is writing. So maybe all the other characters don't even exist? And the white kid is the only real person?
3: The artwork draws all of the kids with such similar body types and faces, it is often hard to keep the characters separate, especially the boys. And they don't have enough personality to really overcome that.
4: Yes! this is a fantasy with puzzles! Cool! Wait, the set up is ridiculous. They are at camp and somehow manage to find the clearly marked tile trail markers that NO ONE has ever found before that will lead them to undiscovered treasure and save the camp/mansion/town. Really?
I get that this book is intended for kids, but c'mon now.
1: I'm glad there's a diverse group of kids on the cover, and that they all have different, cool abilities, but it still centers the white kid as the main character who brings them all together. The authors even have personal stories that they could use but choose not to.
2: The very confusing dream sequence? Memory? at the beginning of the book makes it seem like it's possible that the entire experience is all in Kyle's head, or the plot to a graphic novel he is writing. So maybe all the other characters don't even exist? And the white kid is the only real person?
3: The artwork draws all of the kids with such similar body types and faces, it is often hard to keep the characters separate, especially the boys. And they don't have enough personality to really overcome that.
4: Yes! this is a fantasy with puzzles! Cool! Wait, the set up is ridiculous. They are at camp and somehow manage to find the clearly marked tile trail markers that NO ONE has ever found before that will lead them to undiscovered treasure and save the camp/mansion/town. Really?
I get that this book is intended for kids, but c'mon now.
April 30, 2021
Kyle is the new kid in town. He came for because his mom thought a summer camp would be good for him but it turns it's not set up by the camp it's real...
April 25, 2020
Kind of disappointed with this one. There's a decent mystery/treasure hunt at the center of the book, and the characters have a nice mix of strengths. But the storytelling is disjointed. For some reason, the first few pages are set later in the book, then it flashes back to the proper start of the story. It's a little confusing and doesn't add anything to the storytelling aspect. There's also some strange fantasy elements that didn't quite feel like they belonged. One minute, the kids are doing a fun scavenger hunt, the next they're having visions of the past? Also note that this is the first book in the series, and it ends on a cliffhanger. It may be worth waiting for the series to be fully published to read this.
August 5, 2019
Cute 'young Indiana Jones'-style middle grade graphic novel.
March 10, 2024
Three quick read graphic novels I picked up this week at our schools Book Fair! Highly recommend for 3rd grade and above.
The Pathfinders Society:
“Kyle is a new kid in town who likes to draw. Vic is a cool cheerleader who's secretly a math whiz. Quiet Beth is a history buff, while goofball Harry likes performing magic tricks, with the help of his patient wingman, Nate. Five kids unlikely to form a team, for sure.
But then they're thrown together at summer camp, where they watch a grainy old movie about the history of their town, Windrose, and one of its illustrious citizens of a bygone era: the intrepid explorer-inventor Henry Merriweather. He's the one who established their camp. Merriweather's Camp Pathfinders' motto? Plus Ultra: more beyond!
The five kids soon find there is indeed "more beyond" in their pokey town with its weird weather and sudden geysers of smelly air. Deciphering a route of historical markers leads them to Merriweather's old castle, which is lined with ornate, beautiful tiles in hallways that lead to secret rooms full of odd objects--and where time itself is warped!
Kyle, Vic, Beth, Harry, and Nate witness scenes from Merriweather's past and realize his experiments and eccentricities are pointing toward a path--that could lead to the rumored lost treasure of Windrose.
This is the path our heroes are meant to follow, on a journey that will take them back and forth through time, through woods, and across waterways revealed by moonlight, right up to the looming Moon Tower itself--which holds Merriweather's secret . . . and the treasure!”
The Dragon Prince:
“The Dragon Prince has been reunited with his mother, the Human Kingdoms and Xadia are at peace, and humans and elves alike are ready to move on.Only Rayla is still restless. Unable to believe Lord Viren is truly dead, and haunted by questions about the fate of her parents and Runaan, she remains trapped between hope and fear. When an ancient ritual calls her, Callum, and Ezran to the Moon Nexus, she learns the lake is a portal to a world between life and death. Rayla seizes the opportunity for closure-and the chance to confirm that Lord Viren is gone for good.But the portal is unstable, and the ancient Moonshadow elves who destroyed it never intended for it to be reopened. Will Rayla's quest to uncover the secrets of the dead put her living friends in mortal danger?Don't miss this exclusive, original graphic novel from Peter Wartman and Xanthe Bouma, with story by The Dragon Prince creators Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond!”
Freestyle:
“Cory's dance crew is getting ready for a major competition. It's the last one before they graduate eighth grade and go their separate ways to high schools all over New York City, so they have to make it count! The group starts to have problems as their crew captain gets increasingly intense about nailing the routine, and things go from bad to worse when Cory's parents ground him for not taking his grades seriously. He gets stuck with a new tutor, Sunna, who he dismisses as a boring nerd… until he catches her secretly practicing cool yo-yo tricks. Cory wants to learn the art of yo-yo, and as his friendship with Sunna grows, he ends up missing practice and bailing on his crew -- and they are not happy about it. With mounting pressure coming from all sides, how is Cory supposed to balance the expectations of his parents, school, dance, and his new friend?”
The Pathfinders Society:
“Kyle is a new kid in town who likes to draw. Vic is a cool cheerleader who's secretly a math whiz. Quiet Beth is a history buff, while goofball Harry likes performing magic tricks, with the help of his patient wingman, Nate. Five kids unlikely to form a team, for sure.
But then they're thrown together at summer camp, where they watch a grainy old movie about the history of their town, Windrose, and one of its illustrious citizens of a bygone era: the intrepid explorer-inventor Henry Merriweather. He's the one who established their camp. Merriweather's Camp Pathfinders' motto? Plus Ultra: more beyond!
The five kids soon find there is indeed "more beyond" in their pokey town with its weird weather and sudden geysers of smelly air. Deciphering a route of historical markers leads them to Merriweather's old castle, which is lined with ornate, beautiful tiles in hallways that lead to secret rooms full of odd objects--and where time itself is warped!
Kyle, Vic, Beth, Harry, and Nate witness scenes from Merriweather's past and realize his experiments and eccentricities are pointing toward a path--that could lead to the rumored lost treasure of Windrose.
This is the path our heroes are meant to follow, on a journey that will take them back and forth through time, through woods, and across waterways revealed by moonlight, right up to the looming Moon Tower itself--which holds Merriweather's secret . . . and the treasure!”
The Dragon Prince:
“The Dragon Prince has been reunited with his mother, the Human Kingdoms and Xadia are at peace, and humans and elves alike are ready to move on.Only Rayla is still restless. Unable to believe Lord Viren is truly dead, and haunted by questions about the fate of her parents and Runaan, she remains trapped between hope and fear. When an ancient ritual calls her, Callum, and Ezran to the Moon Nexus, she learns the lake is a portal to a world between life and death. Rayla seizes the opportunity for closure-and the chance to confirm that Lord Viren is gone for good.But the portal is unstable, and the ancient Moonshadow elves who destroyed it never intended for it to be reopened. Will Rayla's quest to uncover the secrets of the dead put her living friends in mortal danger?Don't miss this exclusive, original graphic novel from Peter Wartman and Xanthe Bouma, with story by The Dragon Prince creators Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond!”
Freestyle:
“Cory's dance crew is getting ready for a major competition. It's the last one before they graduate eighth grade and go their separate ways to high schools all over New York City, so they have to make it count! The group starts to have problems as their crew captain gets increasingly intense about nailing the routine, and things go from bad to worse when Cory's parents ground him for not taking his grades seriously. He gets stuck with a new tutor, Sunna, who he dismisses as a boring nerd… until he catches her secretly practicing cool yo-yo tricks. Cory wants to learn the art of yo-yo, and as his friendship with Sunna grows, he ends up missing practice and bailing on his crew -- and they are not happy about it. With mounting pressure coming from all sides, how is Cory supposed to balance the expectations of his parents, school, dance, and his new friend?”
August 17, 2021
The concept of this book is strong. The art is well done. Two ingredients which are necessary for a solid graphic novel. I really wanted to like this book. However, there are big issues.
For one, there is next to zero character development outside of Kyle, who is traveling to the Pathfinder's camp with his mom at the beginning of the story. Given around 8 pages for Kyle's travel and small talk with his mom, we really know nothing about Kyle except that he has a mom and can draw. The rest of his friends in his camp group are even more of a mystery. Where did they come from? How did they become such fast friends? How are they so good at riddles? Why do they care about the castle and the history of the town? All of this is left out.
Secondly, the journey itself to solve the puzzle conceptually is strong like I said. I really like the idea. But, it all comes together way too easy; solved by tween kids who had never met each other before, but have phenomenal teamwork. For decades no adult could figure this out, but a few kids at a camp knock it out of the park on their first try. Ok, it's a story for kids, I get it. Realism isn't necessary, but the intended age group (tweens) are a lot more sophisticated readers than the authors give them credit for.
I'd say I was hoping for much more with this story based on the concept and the entertainment pedigree of the authors. I'll probably hold off on reading the sequel at this point unless someone can argue I'm being too harsh otherwise.
For one, there is next to zero character development outside of Kyle, who is traveling to the Pathfinder's camp with his mom at the beginning of the story. Given around 8 pages for Kyle's travel and small talk with his mom, we really know nothing about Kyle except that he has a mom and can draw. The rest of his friends in his camp group are even more of a mystery. Where did they come from? How did they become such fast friends? How are they so good at riddles? Why do they care about the castle and the history of the town? All of this is left out.
Secondly, the journey itself to solve the puzzle conceptually is strong like I said. I really like the idea. But, it all comes together way too easy; solved by tween kids who had never met each other before, but have phenomenal teamwork. For decades no adult could figure this out, but a few kids at a camp knock it out of the park on their first try. Ok, it's a story for kids, I get it. Realism isn't necessary, but the intended age group (tweens) are a lot more sophisticated readers than the authors give them credit for.
I'd say I was hoping for much more with this story based on the concept and the entertainment pedigree of the authors. I'll probably hold off on reading the sequel at this point unless someone can argue I'm being too harsh otherwise.
April 27, 2020
Five kids find themselves grouped together at camp and end up following a mysterious map to (maybe) hidden treasure secreted years ago by the founder of their camp. Their quest becomes urgent when they find out that the camp may have to close if no funds are found. They get lost in the woods following clues until they find the moon tower, where it all comes together. The last words are “The end … and the beginning!”, hinting at a sequel. I like that the kids are racially diverse, although only one of the white kids gets a back story. (Maybe others will in the next book?) The town of Windrose, where the camp is located, has mysteries as well, including weird weather and strange smelly emanations from the ground. The action is fast-paced, and the kids, although different socially from one another, make a good team, which is satisfying. I love the art, which channels just enough creepiness, but without menace.
April 14, 2023
Things I Liked...
✨ The plot was a lot of fun! Not only was it mysterious, but it was neat how they tied in magical realism without it being...um, weird.
✨ The art style was good surprisingly. I couldn't really tell how it'd be based on the cover, but the scenery was SO nice. I loved all the night graphics.
Things I Didn't Like...
✨ The characters were not developed at all. They were all pretty bland and I honestly found most of them to be annoying. There was nothing unique to them, even down the dialogue. If it wasn't a graphic novel, I would have trouble knowing who said what.
✨ The pacing was a bit fast for me, however, it did pane out towards the middle of the book.
✨ The beginning of the novel was extremely confusing. Things didn't make sense until the end of it, which was a tad frustrating.
Overall, it was somewhat of an enjoyable read and I definitely will read the rest of the series! I'm curious to know what happens next.
✨ The plot was a lot of fun! Not only was it mysterious, but it was neat how they tied in magical realism without it being...um, weird.
✨ The art style was good surprisingly. I couldn't really tell how it'd be based on the cover, but the scenery was SO nice. I loved all the night graphics.
Things I Didn't Like...
✨ The characters were not developed at all. They were all pretty bland and I honestly found most of them to be annoying. There was nothing unique to them, even down the dialogue. If it wasn't a graphic novel, I would have trouble knowing who said what.
✨ The pacing was a bit fast for me, however, it did pane out towards the middle of the book.
✨ The beginning of the novel was extremely confusing. Things didn't make sense until the end of it, which was a tad frustrating.
Overall, it was somewhat of an enjoyable read and I definitely will read the rest of the series! I'm curious to know what happens next.
September 26, 2023
Looking for a middle grade graphic novel with a bit of adventure, puzzles, and treasure? Here’s your read!
While I enjoyed getting to know these characters, the start of the book was a bit jarring. It opens with a prologue that made me think my e-book was missing entire chapters. It needed a “prologue” label. Because, when the scenes reappeared later in the story, Kyle’s comment about déjà vu made me chuckle—and remember those confusing pages at the start.
I am intrigued enough to know where the trail will lead to request the second book. However, I can see readers being very frustrated that they cannot follow along with the puzzles and try to solve the riddles themselves. Not enough information and context is given to allow the reader to participate.
And, now seeing there are three volumes, not two as listed on Goodreads, I would encourage readers to have all volumes at the ready. I bet the story is a five-star read if all three volumes can be read at once.
While I enjoyed getting to know these characters, the start of the book was a bit jarring. It opens with a prologue that made me think my e-book was missing entire chapters. It needed a “prologue” label. Because, when the scenes reappeared later in the story, Kyle’s comment about déjà vu made me chuckle—and remember those confusing pages at the start.
I am intrigued enough to know where the trail will lead to request the second book. However, I can see readers being very frustrated that they cannot follow along with the puzzles and try to solve the riddles themselves. Not enough information and context is given to allow the reader to participate.
And, now seeing there are three volumes, not two as listed on Goodreads, I would encourage readers to have all volumes at the ready. I bet the story is a five-star read if all three volumes can be read at once.
December 25, 2020
I enjoyed this graphic novel. From the unpredictable weather to the smelly gas that keeps erupting from cracks in the ground, there is clearly something wrong in Windhaven. And it all seems tied the eccentric explorer, Merriweather, who founded the Pathfinders and then mysteriously disappeared. Our five protagonists are all assigned to the same cabin at the Pathfinder and told to go in search of treasure that may or may not be there. They are pretty good at using their skills and talents to work together to find new clues. Which is good since apparently developers are on their way to foreclose on Merriweather's mansion and the camp. There's a bit of the sci-fi supernatural along with a mystery to solve. This is #1 so nothing is clearly resolved - it will be interesting to see #2.
October 4, 2024
This graphic novel is clearly set up as the first in a series, because it's terrible as a stand-alone book. It's the story of five kids at a summer camp who go on a ridiculous treasure hunt quest that makes absolutely no sense, full of bizarre and science-fiction-esque twists and turns that have zero explanation or backstory for how they could be possible. None of the characters has a personality or a history, and not even the premise of the treasure and the man behind it ever is really fully explained as to why it exists or why he should send unwitting campers on a haphazard quest to find this treasure. At least it was a very quick read (and I'm not really a graphic novel fan to begin with), but it was absolutely unmemorable and ineffective.
May 29, 2023
At first, I didn't want to read this book because of the kids on the cover. I thought they were zombies.
This book is about a teen who moves with his mom to Windrose Valley. She puts him in summer camp with a random selection on his team at Camp Pathfinder. They are given a goal to help find the treasure to keep the camp running. Each of the teens has certain strengths, but they have to learn to get along. They find part of a treasure but it leaves you hanging because they find a secret staircase and the glowing path.
I liked the author's and illustrator's notes at the end. Very interesting how it all came together.
I will want to continue this series!
This book is about a teen who moves with his mom to Windrose Valley. She puts him in summer camp with a random selection on his team at Camp Pathfinder. They are given a goal to help find the treasure to keep the camp running. Each of the teens has certain strengths, but they have to learn to get along. They find part of a treasure but it leaves you hanging because they find a secret staircase and the glowing path.
I liked the author's and illustrator's notes at the end. Very interesting how it all came together.
I will want to continue this series!
July 15, 2024
I just didn't feel there was enough story or character development here. It's an interesting premise, and, perhaps there is more story and character development on the future books in the series, but, honestly, this one just didn't keep my interest enough to continue reading the series. Yes, it is intended for much younger readers. But as an elementary and middle school teacher, I am used to that and it still just didn't hold my interest. The fact that it is a graphic novel and highly visual may appeal to those with reading challenges... but I just don't know that the story and characters will hold their interest.
November 11, 2019
* I got this book for review*
I found this to such a fast pace read. I really enjoyed the wide cast of characters and also the setting the the mystery that was at the heart of this novel. I really think that the finished copy of this book will have such a fun and easy to read/ and love art style. I think the plot had some pacing issues, but I am hopeful the future books in this series will get stronger and stronger. I think if your enjoy fast pace adventure stories, this would be the prefect read for you!
I found this to such a fast pace read. I really enjoyed the wide cast of characters and also the setting the the mystery that was at the heart of this novel. I really think that the finished copy of this book will have such a fun and easy to read/ and love art style. I think the plot had some pacing issues, but I am hopeful the future books in this series will get stronger and stronger. I think if your enjoy fast pace adventure stories, this would be the prefect read for you!
January 26, 2021
Good premise, reasonable start. There's no way for a kid reading at home to solve the puzzles, due to the way they're written, which is always kind of a let down. Keeps the reader from really feeling immersed in the story. The characters are a little one-note, too, but since this is a series, there's room for them to grow. The art is good, very readable, and the setting has a lot of promise.
Yeah, I'll probably pick up the next one to see where it goes. But I won't be waiting on tenterhooks for it. I think kids will like it fine. Nice way to spend the time.
Yeah, I'll probably pick up the next one to see where it goes. But I won't be waiting on tenterhooks for it. I think kids will like it fine. Nice way to spend the time.
June 16, 2021
This graphic novel follows five young campers that were thrown together at summer camp. They must learn to trust and work together as they look for the lost treasure of Windrose. This first installment of the series has the kids looking through the secret rooms of Merriweather's castle and the surrounding area for the treasure. The book ends just as the search goes deeper. This is a fun introduction to graphic novels as well as the search for a hidden treasure that has been missing for almost a 100 years. A solid addition for libraries that collect juvenile graphic novels.
April 5, 2020
A graphic novel with a group of kids who go in search of a treasure hunt. They all attend camp pathfinder. They are given a group mission. They need to figure out the riddles from each location to find what they're looking for. Each kid has a talent that is valuable. Can Merriweather guide them through this mystery adventure? Is there really a treasure at the end of this mystery? You will have to read to find out.
May 27, 2020
I read an advance copy of this graphic novel and it has some positives: great art (two sample pages of the finished art were provided), a good mix of characters, and a mystery to unravel. I was confused by a few things such as the "smelly" gas that continued throughout the story, the fact that the kids left camp to have an adventure and seemed to be gone a long time, why we never saw Mildred after halfway through the book. I did not care for the cliffhanger ending.
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