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Steel Trapp #1
The Challenge
In this riveting thriller, 14-year-old Steven "Steel" Trapp sets off with his mom and their dog, Cairo, on a 2-day Amtrak journey to compete in the National Science Competition in Washington, DC. Steel is both blessed and cursed with a remarkable photographic memory--just one look and whatever he sees is imprinted for keeps. Trying to be a good Samaritan on the train, he instead becomes embroiled in an ingenious, international plot of kidnapping and bribery that may have links to terrorists. Federal agents (first seen in Pearson's adult thriller, Cut and Run ) track Steel and his new-found science geek accomplice, Kaileigh Augustine, as they attempt to put together the pieces of a complex puzzle. Using Steel's science contest invention--and with the help of Cairo--Steel and Kaileigh lead readers on an action-packed chase adventure as they attempt to prevent the unimaginable, before it's too late.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
66 people are currently reading
2014 people want to read
About the author
Ridley Pearson
186 books2,097 followersRidley Pearson is the author of more than fifty novels, including the New York Times bestseller Killer Weekend; the Lou Boldt crime series; and many books for young readers, including the award-winning children's novels Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, which he cowrote with Dave Barry. Pearson lives with his wife and two daughters, dividing their time between Missouri and Idaho.
Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.
Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
March 15, 2019
4 stars for constant action but 2 stars for character depth.
I’m not really sure I liked the protagonist, Steel. He had a very loose moral compass and isn’t this supposed to be a children’s book? Plus, he would constantly put himself in danger when he’s smart enough not to for reasons that were not good enough to warrant the danger he was putting himself in. It made for good action, though.
I felt like Larson was an underdeveloped character, so much so that I continuously got Larson and Hampton confused. They don’t even have the same skin tone! That’s how 2D and simplistic Larson’s character was. He felt so generic and cliche.
Steel’s mum was either weepy or determined throughout the entire book and just flipped between those two emotions. The only character I really liked was Kaileigh because she was smart, sensible and at times unpredictable. That’s a good character.
I guess when reading this you have to keep in mind that this is a children’s book so it’s not going to be the greatest thing you’ve ever read. Still, it was a fun read. Lots of action. The entire train scene (it spanned the first half of the book) was by far the best bit of the whole book.
Favourite quote:
"This isn’t about me. It’s about the briefcase. Everyone wants that briefcase"
This quote perfectly sums up the whole book. It’s an adventure where everyone is after a boy and a girl in order to get "that briefcase".
All in all, a great middle-grade book. Don’t have too high an expectation in terms of character depth but still enjoy the thrill of the chase and the sense of action, adventure, and a little bit of mystery.
I’m not really sure I liked the protagonist, Steel. He had a very loose moral compass and isn’t this supposed to be a children’s book? Plus, he would constantly put himself in danger when he’s smart enough not to for reasons that were not good enough to warrant the danger he was putting himself in. It made for good action, though.
I felt like Larson was an underdeveloped character, so much so that I continuously got Larson and Hampton confused. They don’t even have the same skin tone! That’s how 2D and simplistic Larson’s character was. He felt so generic and cliche.
Steel’s mum was either weepy or determined throughout the entire book and just flipped between those two emotions. The only character I really liked was Kaileigh because she was smart, sensible and at times unpredictable. That’s a good character.
I guess when reading this you have to keep in mind that this is a children’s book so it’s not going to be the greatest thing you’ve ever read. Still, it was a fun read. Lots of action. The entire train scene (it spanned the first half of the book) was by far the best bit of the whole book.
Favourite quote:
"This isn’t about me. It’s about the briefcase. Everyone wants that briefcase"
This quote perfectly sums up the whole book. It’s an adventure where everyone is after a boy and a girl in order to get "that briefcase".
All in all, a great middle-grade book. Don’t have too high an expectation in terms of character depth but still enjoy the thrill of the chase and the sense of action, adventure, and a little bit of mystery.
July 12, 2013
Usually, I let my kids play a major role in the reviews for our family audiobooks; but, not this time. They liked this books a lot. Surely, if I would have asked, they would have given it a 4 or 5. For me, this book was a disappointment. The protagonist was a kid, who ultimately saved the day, but who lied, frequently, and who spent most of his time whining and feeling sorry for himself. The storyline was inane. There was so many holes, that I couldn't possibly suspend disbelief long enough to become engaged. There is high quality youth fiction available. I recommend that you skip this one.
January 19, 2011
A decent sort of "kid turns secret agent" book. The only thing that bothered me is an old complaint: I hate when the action of the story relies almost entirely on having otherwise super-bright characters make stupid decision after stupid decision. It just doesn't sit right.
May 19, 2017
Personal Response:
I enjoyed reading this book. It was a little hard to follow, because there were so many twists in the book. In the beginning of the book, every chapter started off with a new character. One thing I liked about this book was that the situation that Steel got himself in was pretty fictional. Although, that was what made the story interesting. When the woman left her briefcase on the train and refused to take it, I felt like he knew something was wrong when she would not claim ownership of it. Although this was a fictional book, there were some events that could more than likely happen in real life. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would possibly read the next one.
Plot:
Steven was a fourteen year old boy and was very smart because he had a photographic memory. That’s how he got his nickname “ Steel Trapp.” That was his nickname, because his last name was Trapp, but everything he saw got locked inside his head like steel. Steel ended up getting on a train with his mother, but he noticed a strange behavior by a woman who left her briefcase behind. That was how it appeared anyway. It was strange because when he tried to return it to her, she refused that it was hers. Steel did not know that he was going to be part of a big problem. The briefcase contained a picture and a code on it. The briefcase was delivered to a priest, and he was threatened secretly by the terrorists. The code was the winning lottery numbers, and the picture was the priest’s wife. The priest’s wife was in danger. Until the priest broadcasted his sermon, his wife was still in danger. During his sermon, he used bible verses and chapters to display the winning lottery code. This lottery winnings were going to go to the terrorist organization, and it was to be undetected, that was until Steel and Kaileigh got involved. He was part of a possible terrorist plan, as well as a possible kidnapping situation. But he met a girl on the train, her name was Kaileigh Augustine. She was running away to the science fair that Steel was going to. She becomes his partner in crime. Together they were geniuses. They ended up going through a lot of tough situations to get to the final solution to their “briefcase problem”, but Cairo, the family dog, did a good job and continued on the family’s smart genes by getting the scent of the bad guy, so they could go and get him. After using Steel’s invention, “the sniffer,” and his dog, Cairo, he eventually got on a scent trail after the terrorist. Steel reverted back to the FBI, and he had them take over the operation. Because of Steel and his invention, he was able to help the FBI bust the domestic terrorist group and prevent their winning of the lottery.
Characterization:
Steel Trapp (Steven):
Steven Trapp was only a fourteen year old boy who was referred to as Steel Trapp. This nickname came from him having a photographic memory, so all the things he saw are stuck in his head like a steel trap. Steel was a very intelligent young man. He was so smart that he was invited to a National Science Challenge in Washington, D.C. He was very intelligent, even though he was only fourteen years old. He helped to track down and solve the puzzle to get to the terrorists who planned to win the lottery with his sniffer invention for the science convention.
Kaileigh:
Kaileigh was also a really intelligent, young lady, who assisted Steel in the whole adventure of finding the terrorists. She also was really smart, because she helped Steel figure out a case that the federal agents could not solve right away. Also, in the beginning she was running away to go to the National Science Challenge in Washington, D.C, to see if her invention would work. Kaileigh’s character was my favorite, mainly because I liked how her bond with Steel came about. They were a good team to have together.
Impact of setting:
The setting of being on the train was a good use of the location for the briefcase drop. This setting impacted the story, because I know that when I think of trains, I think of a dirty area with some people that do not look very trustworthy. It was a good place for the drop of the briefcase as well, because trains are busy with people traveling all the time, so it would be easy for the woman to say that it was not her who left it behind, but another lady. The time period of this book was in the present, making this a possibility in reality. I thought that it was very possible for terrorists to rig a lottery drawing, only to benefit themselves or organization. This could happen in real life, as terrorists are currently a problem in the real world.
Thematic Connection:
The theme of appearance versus reality comes up in this book. Steel’s dad was said to be a travel agent and he was just gone a lot. But in reality, Steel’s dad was an FBI agent on the same case Steel was trying to figure out.
Recommendation:
I recommend this read to girls and boys around the ages of 13-18. The reason for this age group is because the main characters are only fourteen, and the way the author wrote the book is a good way to see things from the main character’s perspective. Also, if the readers are the same age, or close to the same age, as the main characters it makes it easier to relate to how the characters are feeling and why they do what they do. This is a moderate level read, with a somewhat difficult vocabulary, and has a good story line. Although it can be hard to follow at times, it is a good book.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was a little hard to follow, because there were so many twists in the book. In the beginning of the book, every chapter started off with a new character. One thing I liked about this book was that the situation that Steel got himself in was pretty fictional. Although, that was what made the story interesting. When the woman left her briefcase on the train and refused to take it, I felt like he knew something was wrong when she would not claim ownership of it. Although this was a fictional book, there were some events that could more than likely happen in real life. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would possibly read the next one.
Plot:
Steven was a fourteen year old boy and was very smart because he had a photographic memory. That’s how he got his nickname “ Steel Trapp.” That was his nickname, because his last name was Trapp, but everything he saw got locked inside his head like steel. Steel ended up getting on a train with his mother, but he noticed a strange behavior by a woman who left her briefcase behind. That was how it appeared anyway. It was strange because when he tried to return it to her, she refused that it was hers. Steel did not know that he was going to be part of a big problem. The briefcase contained a picture and a code on it. The briefcase was delivered to a priest, and he was threatened secretly by the terrorists. The code was the winning lottery numbers, and the picture was the priest’s wife. The priest’s wife was in danger. Until the priest broadcasted his sermon, his wife was still in danger. During his sermon, he used bible verses and chapters to display the winning lottery code. This lottery winnings were going to go to the terrorist organization, and it was to be undetected, that was until Steel and Kaileigh got involved. He was part of a possible terrorist plan, as well as a possible kidnapping situation. But he met a girl on the train, her name was Kaileigh Augustine. She was running away to the science fair that Steel was going to. She becomes his partner in crime. Together they were geniuses. They ended up going through a lot of tough situations to get to the final solution to their “briefcase problem”, but Cairo, the family dog, did a good job and continued on the family’s smart genes by getting the scent of the bad guy, so they could go and get him. After using Steel’s invention, “the sniffer,” and his dog, Cairo, he eventually got on a scent trail after the terrorist. Steel reverted back to the FBI, and he had them take over the operation. Because of Steel and his invention, he was able to help the FBI bust the domestic terrorist group and prevent their winning of the lottery.
Characterization:
Steel Trapp (Steven):
Steven Trapp was only a fourteen year old boy who was referred to as Steel Trapp. This nickname came from him having a photographic memory, so all the things he saw are stuck in his head like a steel trap. Steel was a very intelligent young man. He was so smart that he was invited to a National Science Challenge in Washington, D.C. He was very intelligent, even though he was only fourteen years old. He helped to track down and solve the puzzle to get to the terrorists who planned to win the lottery with his sniffer invention for the science convention.
Kaileigh:
Kaileigh was also a really intelligent, young lady, who assisted Steel in the whole adventure of finding the terrorists. She also was really smart, because she helped Steel figure out a case that the federal agents could not solve right away. Also, in the beginning she was running away to go to the National Science Challenge in Washington, D.C, to see if her invention would work. Kaileigh’s character was my favorite, mainly because I liked how her bond with Steel came about. They were a good team to have together.
Impact of setting:
The setting of being on the train was a good use of the location for the briefcase drop. This setting impacted the story, because I know that when I think of trains, I think of a dirty area with some people that do not look very trustworthy. It was a good place for the drop of the briefcase as well, because trains are busy with people traveling all the time, so it would be easy for the woman to say that it was not her who left it behind, but another lady. The time period of this book was in the present, making this a possibility in reality. I thought that it was very possible for terrorists to rig a lottery drawing, only to benefit themselves or organization. This could happen in real life, as terrorists are currently a problem in the real world.
Thematic Connection:
The theme of appearance versus reality comes up in this book. Steel’s dad was said to be a travel agent and he was just gone a lot. But in reality, Steel’s dad was an FBI agent on the same case Steel was trying to figure out.
Recommendation:
I recommend this read to girls and boys around the ages of 13-18. The reason for this age group is because the main characters are only fourteen, and the way the author wrote the book is a good way to see things from the main character’s perspective. Also, if the readers are the same age, or close to the same age, as the main characters it makes it easier to relate to how the characters are feeling and why they do what they do. This is a moderate level read, with a somewhat difficult vocabulary, and has a good story line. Although it can be hard to follow at times, it is a good book.
January 10, 2019
Personal response:
I thought this book was super interesting and had dealt with a lot of cliffhangers. Along with what happened in the book, it kept me thinking what would happen next. I really enjoyed this book and I had given it four stars. It included plenty of action I could follow along with. In my own words, this book had to be in the top five I read.
Plot:
Steel Trapp and his mother were getting ready to leave for the National Science Challenge. He expected his father to leave with them, but he never showed up at home. They both had tickets for the train to get to Washington D.C, to compete in the science challenge. They both boarded the train when this woman walks out without her suitcase. Steel gets out his seat, ran to the suitcase, and chased the passenger of the train to give her suitcase back. She declined that it was not hers. The problem was that Steel had a memory that could not forget what it sees, so he knew he was not wrong. Steel got back onto the train with the suitcase and gave it to a guy to put in the lost and found. While his mom was on the phone, Steel wanted to escape with a bathroom excuse to visit the dog in the back of the train. Charlie was a worker and was the one guy who let the Trapp’s bring their dog onto the train, so Steel headed for Charlie. Charlie led Steel to the cargo part of the train to let Steel see his dog. Charlie left, so he let Steel stay for a while in cargo to visit with his dog. When Steel saw the suitcase sitting up by the sticker that said, “Lost and Found,” he gave his attention to the suitcase instead of his dog. Slowly, with the suitcase sitting there, Steel was more tempted by the moment to see what was inside. It took a few moments before he had the suitcase in his hands. He found a way to leave a pinhole in the case to see what was inside. He saw something that triggered him right away. He was not sure he should leave it or continue his investigation. Either way, he had lost all interest in his dog now, and that suitcase was now stuck in his head. Once he had it off the shelf, he looked at how to open it. He did not want to break it, nor could he figure any other way to open it. He found a screwdriver and thought of ways to use that. He actually had found a screw on each end of the suitcase, so he popped one screw out and peeked in through there. There was not a lot of light so it took him a while to find what was in the case. After finding out what was in the case, Steel hid the case and protected a secret he did not want anyone else to know. If anyone else figured out he knew, he would be in big trouble. Steel figured he would have helped someone or just ended up putting himself in danger.
Characterization:
Steel Trapp was the main character in the book Steel Trapp. He was a very intelligent young man that could memorize anything. He always used his excellent memorization to his advantage. Steel also was a very kind-hearted man, he always did what he had to do for the right reasons.
Kaileigh was Steel Trapp’s friend in Steel Trapp. She popped up on the train to the science convention. She was also very smart and planned to have a project in the show. Kaileigh was also very kind just like Steel. She ended up being stuck in Steel’s problem when he found the briefcase. Steel and Kaileigh tried to race against time to save the person Steel had found in distress.
Setting:
The time of this book took place in present-day twenty-first century. It was important to know because Steel traveled to Washington D.C. on modern technology. A place that was visited in the book was on a train that headed to Washington D.C. It took place starting in the passenger cart, and next, it transitioned to the cargo part of the train. When they were on the train, the FBI had visited the train for the disguised criminal. Once they had gotten off the train, Washington D.C. was the new destination for the science convention. They traveled on the train and in the building, then tried to transfer the briefcase to the right people.
Thematic Connection:
The theme I related to was anyone can save the day, also related to appearance vs reality. This appeared when Steel saved the day, which surprised everyone, because he was not a hero type. I could connect to this, because Steel was different from others around him. He was super nerdy and was tall. He also got picked on for being a nerd with a good memory. Some ways that I related myself to the character were: I was super small and out of the box. I got picked on in school for being small. Steel was also traveling out of state, which I can relate to. I could relate to the long trip and whatever else happened along the way.
Recommendation:
I recommended this book for teenagers and guys who were in their early twenties, because this had to deal with a challenge a guy had to face before a National Science Convention. This book was very easy to grasp and understand. There was an abundance of action that went on when the setting took place on the train. This also helped me recommend this book for anyone who would stay interested in action with lots of downtime.
I thought this book was super interesting and had dealt with a lot of cliffhangers. Along with what happened in the book, it kept me thinking what would happen next. I really enjoyed this book and I had given it four stars. It included plenty of action I could follow along with. In my own words, this book had to be in the top five I read.
Plot:
Steel Trapp and his mother were getting ready to leave for the National Science Challenge. He expected his father to leave with them, but he never showed up at home. They both had tickets for the train to get to Washington D.C, to compete in the science challenge. They both boarded the train when this woman walks out without her suitcase. Steel gets out his seat, ran to the suitcase, and chased the passenger of the train to give her suitcase back. She declined that it was not hers. The problem was that Steel had a memory that could not forget what it sees, so he knew he was not wrong. Steel got back onto the train with the suitcase and gave it to a guy to put in the lost and found. While his mom was on the phone, Steel wanted to escape with a bathroom excuse to visit the dog in the back of the train. Charlie was a worker and was the one guy who let the Trapp’s bring their dog onto the train, so Steel headed for Charlie. Charlie led Steel to the cargo part of the train to let Steel see his dog. Charlie left, so he let Steel stay for a while in cargo to visit with his dog. When Steel saw the suitcase sitting up by the sticker that said, “Lost and Found,” he gave his attention to the suitcase instead of his dog. Slowly, with the suitcase sitting there, Steel was more tempted by the moment to see what was inside. It took a few moments before he had the suitcase in his hands. He found a way to leave a pinhole in the case to see what was inside. He saw something that triggered him right away. He was not sure he should leave it or continue his investigation. Either way, he had lost all interest in his dog now, and that suitcase was now stuck in his head. Once he had it off the shelf, he looked at how to open it. He did not want to break it, nor could he figure any other way to open it. He found a screwdriver and thought of ways to use that. He actually had found a screw on each end of the suitcase, so he popped one screw out and peeked in through there. There was not a lot of light so it took him a while to find what was in the case. After finding out what was in the case, Steel hid the case and protected a secret he did not want anyone else to know. If anyone else figured out he knew, he would be in big trouble. Steel figured he would have helped someone or just ended up putting himself in danger.
Characterization:
Steel Trapp was the main character in the book Steel Trapp. He was a very intelligent young man that could memorize anything. He always used his excellent memorization to his advantage. Steel also was a very kind-hearted man, he always did what he had to do for the right reasons.
Kaileigh was Steel Trapp’s friend in Steel Trapp. She popped up on the train to the science convention. She was also very smart and planned to have a project in the show. Kaileigh was also very kind just like Steel. She ended up being stuck in Steel’s problem when he found the briefcase. Steel and Kaileigh tried to race against time to save the person Steel had found in distress.
Setting:
The time of this book took place in present-day twenty-first century. It was important to know because Steel traveled to Washington D.C. on modern technology. A place that was visited in the book was on a train that headed to Washington D.C. It took place starting in the passenger cart, and next, it transitioned to the cargo part of the train. When they were on the train, the FBI had visited the train for the disguised criminal. Once they had gotten off the train, Washington D.C. was the new destination for the science convention. They traveled on the train and in the building, then tried to transfer the briefcase to the right people.
Thematic Connection:
The theme I related to was anyone can save the day, also related to appearance vs reality. This appeared when Steel saved the day, which surprised everyone, because he was not a hero type. I could connect to this, because Steel was different from others around him. He was super nerdy and was tall. He also got picked on for being a nerd with a good memory. Some ways that I related myself to the character were: I was super small and out of the box. I got picked on in school for being small. Steel was also traveling out of state, which I can relate to. I could relate to the long trip and whatever else happened along the way.
Recommendation:
I recommended this book for teenagers and guys who were in their early twenties, because this had to deal with a challenge a guy had to face before a National Science Convention. This book was very easy to grasp and understand. There was an abundance of action that went on when the setting took place on the train. This also helped me recommend this book for anyone who would stay interested in action with lots of downtime.
August 8, 2022
On the way to a National Science Competition in D.C. with his Mom and dog, Cairo, Steven "Steel" Trapp disembarks to return a briefcase a woman left on the train. She denies it, he returns to the train with it, and thus starts an international intrigue. While worrying that his parents are on the brink of divorce, concerned about being followed by a scary man as well as the woman (who got back on the train after their encounter), Steel makes a new friend in Kaileigh Augustine, with whom he tries to find answers regarding the contents of the suitcase, his father, the competition and Kaileigh's missing experiment. A thrilling story with a 14-year-old full of courage, curiosity, and a photographic memory that surprisingly doesn't lead to his death.
January 21, 2013
It felt so good reading another Ridley Pearson book. It was a different genre, with different characters, a new plot, and a whole lot of awesomeness.
The main character, Steven 'Steel' Trapp, is a 14-year-old boy who has photographic memory. He's on his way to Washington, DC, to compete in a science competition called The Challenge. But on the way, he gets in a bit of trouble. When he tries to do a good deed, he quickly gets involved in something more important than The Challenge.
I picked up this book, because I had nothing to read. I'm a big fan of Ridley Pearson's 'Kingdom Keepers' series, and decided to pick up another of one of his book while I waited for 'Dark Passage' to come out. Now this is what I think when I see this book: STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This book is a different genre than Kingdom Keepers, just about altogether. It's a mystery, action-adventure, thriller, and suspense book. I officially love it.
This book had humor, an action scene close to the end, and had me guessing the whole time. Steel is officially a new favorite fiction character of mine, along with his friend, Kaileigh. Some examples of parts that I thought deserved a giggle are shown below..
Lol. :D I now think that any YA or Middle Grade books Ridley Pearson writes most likely deserve four or five stars. :D Whoo hoo! Go Pearson!!
This book gets an overall 5 star rating. I recommend it to Ridley Pearson fans! If you enjoy mystery, action-adventure, suspense, or thriller genres, then you should defiantly grab this book. Ages 11-19 should give this book a try.
The main character, Steven 'Steel' Trapp, is a 14-year-old boy who has photographic memory. He's on his way to Washington, DC, to compete in a science competition called The Challenge. But on the way, he gets in a bit of trouble. When he tries to do a good deed, he quickly gets involved in something more important than The Challenge.
I picked up this book, because I had nothing to read. I'm a big fan of Ridley Pearson's 'Kingdom Keepers' series, and decided to pick up another of one of his book while I waited for 'Dark Passage' to come out. Now this is what I think when I see this book: STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This book is a different genre than Kingdom Keepers, just about altogether. It's a mystery, action-adventure, thriller, and suspense book. I officially love it.
This book had humor, an action scene close to the end, and had me guessing the whole time. Steel is officially a new favorite fiction character of mine, along with his friend, Kaileigh. Some examples of parts that I thought deserved a giggle are shown below..
"You're brilliant," Kaileigh said.
"I try," Steel said immodestly.
"But when your mom finds out..."
"Yeah, but I'm already in so much trouble it doesn't count."
"I think it will count," Kaileigh said with a smile.
"Yeah, you're probably right."
Lol. :D I now think that any YA or Middle Grade books Ridley Pearson writes most likely deserve four or five stars. :D Whoo hoo! Go Pearson!!
This book gets an overall 5 star rating. I recommend it to Ridley Pearson fans! If you enjoy mystery, action-adventure, suspense, or thriller genres, then you should defiantly grab this book. Ages 11-19 should give this book a try.
December 1, 2010
Have you ever been threaten by a gang member? Then if this happen to you, follow Ridley Pearson’s Steel Trapp the Challenge to see what happens with this kid’s life.
The main character in Steel Trapp the Challenge is Steven “Steel” Trapp. Steel has a photographic memory and Steel was a nickname his friends gave him in the first grade because of his photographic memory cause it’s like a steel trap. While Steel was on a train to Washington D.C. he found a briefcase and wanted to know what was inside of the briefcase. But when he finds out what is in the briefcase, a gang member goes after Steel to kill him. But he get’s away from the gang member and will try anything to find the woman in the picture from the briefcase.
I think Steel Trapp the Challenge is a good book. I like it because it shows how dangerous it is to find a briefcase that was for a gang member. It shows how dangerous it is to find a briefcase that was for a gang member. It shows how Fugitive Apprehension Task Force tries to protect your life just because of a briefcase. It even said life could be dangerous even when you don’t know it. I will rate this book a 5 star book because it has a twist and turn in every moment of the book. Readers are going to like this book a lot when they read it.
The main character in Steel Trapp the Challenge is Steven “Steel” Trapp. Steel has a photographic memory and Steel was a nickname his friends gave him in the first grade because of his photographic memory cause it’s like a steel trap. While Steel was on a train to Washington D.C. he found a briefcase and wanted to know what was inside of the briefcase. But when he finds out what is in the briefcase, a gang member goes after Steel to kill him. But he get’s away from the gang member and will try anything to find the woman in the picture from the briefcase.
I think Steel Trapp the Challenge is a good book. I like it because it shows how dangerous it is to find a briefcase that was for a gang member. It shows how dangerous it is to find a briefcase that was for a gang member. It shows how Fugitive Apprehension Task Force tries to protect your life just because of a briefcase. It even said life could be dangerous even when you don’t know it. I will rate this book a 5 star book because it has a twist and turn in every moment of the book. Readers are going to like this book a lot when they read it.
did-not-read-b4-donating
May 10, 2015I'm sure this is a great book that I will regret not reading, but it doesn't look to be my style at this moment. I also need to clear out a lot of books, that at this moment, I have no intention of reading. This is one of them. I hope that someone else will read this and love it.
February 7, 2014
We listened to this on the way to elko. It was pretty cheesy but it would be great for boys not quite ready for ya books.
October 29, 2018
Steven was a fourteen year old boy and was very smart because he had a photographic memory. That’s how he got his nickname “ Steel Trapp.” That was his nickname, because his last name was Trapp, but everything he saw got locked inside his head like steel. Steel ended up getting on a train with his mother, but he noticed a strange behavior by a woman who left her briefcase behind. That was how it appeared anyway. It was strange because when he tried to return it to her, she refused that it was hers. Steel did not know that he was going to be part of a big problem. The briefcase contained a picture and a code on it. The briefcase was delivered to a priest, and he was threatened secretly by the terrorists. The code was the winning lottery numbers, and the picture was the priest’s wife. The priest’s wife was in danger. Until the priest broadcasted his sermon, his wife was still in danger. During his sermon, he used bible verses and chapters to display the winning lottery code. This lottery winnings were going to go to the terrorist organization, and it was to be undetected, that was until Steel and Kaileigh got involved. He was part of a possible terrorist plan, as well as a possible kidnapping situation. But he met a girl on the train, her name was Kaileigh Augustine. She was running away to the science fair that Steel was going to. She becomes his partner in crime. Together they were geniuses. They ended up going through a lot of tough situations to get to the final solution to their “briefcase problem”, but Cairo, the family dog, did a good job and continued on the family’s smart genes by getting the scent of the bad guy, so they could go and get him. After using Steel’s invention, “the sniffer,” and his dog, Cairo, he eventually got on a scent trail after the terrorist. Steel reverted back to the FBI, and he had them take over the operation. Because of Steel and his invention, he was able to help the FBI bust the domestic terrorist group and prevent their winning of the lottery.
recommend this read to teenagers who love a good mystery or impactful book. The reason for this age group is because the main characters are only fourteen, and the way the author wrote the book is a good way to see things from the main character’s perspective. Also, if the readers are the same age, or close to the same age, as the main characters it makes it easier to relate to how the characters are feeling and why they do what they do. Although it can be hard to follow at times, it is a good book.
recommend this read to teenagers who love a good mystery or impactful book. The reason for this age group is because the main characters are only fourteen, and the way the author wrote the book is a good way to see things from the main character’s perspective. Also, if the readers are the same age, or close to the same age, as the main characters it makes it easier to relate to how the characters are feeling and why they do what they do. Although it can be hard to follow at times, it is a good book.
September 4, 2025
I'm pretty much sold on Pearson as a quality writer. This particular novel gets rated a bit lower, but I adjusted it down a bit due to its style- as it was written for a juvenile audience. Writing for a younger audience must be a real challenge, Pearson handles it fairly well, but the chapters are much too short for my taste. However, I recognize that it was written in this style because of the shorter attention span of younger readers.
Still, there is a lot of suspense, as young Steven (nicknamed "Steel" for having a photographic memory) gets involved in a cleverly contrived plot. There are some portions of the plot that are simplified for the younger audience, but still this one was a fun (and quick) read for me. The briefcase at the center of the plot makes for a strong centerpoint that keeps the focus of the story sharp.
I probably won't bother with others in this series, but this a good beginning point for young readers looking for suspenseful plotting and interesting characters. I'm not sure the technology the author introduces actually exists, but I imagine it will in the fairly near future.
Still, there is a lot of suspense, as young Steven (nicknamed "Steel" for having a photographic memory) gets involved in a cleverly contrived plot. There are some portions of the plot that are simplified for the younger audience, but still this one was a fun (and quick) read for me. The briefcase at the center of the plot makes for a strong centerpoint that keeps the focus of the story sharp.
I probably won't bother with others in this series, but this a good beginning point for young readers looking for suspenseful plotting and interesting characters. I'm not sure the technology the author introduces actually exists, but I imagine it will in the fairly near future.
January 7, 2018
I gave this book a one star because I didn’t understand anything because it is the weirdest book i’ve Ever read, not only that the story is bad, also you have to have a 10 out of 10 on your reading skills. That’s why i hated it, because is bad and tricky.
Like you saw up there I did not like the book at all because it is tricky, confusing and pretty pretty weird also its hard to concentrate because if you have a bit of distraction on your sorraundings you aren’t going to be able to read more than 10 pages. So I am trying to do my hardest to tell you these its pretty hard. If you read the book, hope you are lucky.
A take away of the book is that I am never going to read a book before looking at the first pages first. So that is the only take away that I got from the book “Pearson steel trap”.
Like you saw up there I did not like the book at all because it is tricky, confusing and pretty pretty weird also its hard to concentrate because if you have a bit of distraction on your sorraundings you aren’t going to be able to read more than 10 pages. So I am trying to do my hardest to tell you these its pretty hard. If you read the book, hope you are lucky.
A take away of the book is that I am never going to read a book before looking at the first pages first. So that is the only take away that I got from the book “Pearson steel trap”.
May 16, 2018
I didn't realize this was a young readers book when I bought it, so needless to say, I was disappointed. But, for a young reader, this would be a exciting book. Two "tweens", a girl and boy (both science buffs), team up to foil the bad guys. Some plot hole and transparencies, but good enough to keep young person's interest. Very little violence, lots of cliff hangers, short chapters and larger than normal print (in this edition) make it a good recommendation for younger reders.
December 1, 2021
This book was amazing to read! With all the great characters and plot. This was a great book. It is mostly sci-fi and was interesting to read along as the main character went on adventures. The only thing about this book is it's too long, but great book.
May 25, 2018
I rated it a 4 because I can see my students truly enjoying this adventure/mystery. A fun addition to the “secret agent” type books.
November 18, 2018
Mindbending.
February 6, 2020
Awesome
Had a great time reading this and it was a thriller till the end with twists and turns throughout.
Yeet
Had a great time reading this and it was a thriller till the end with twists and turns throughout.
Yeet
April 1, 2020
One of my favorite books
May 16, 2020
A very quick read. Some parts felt a bit rushed, but I enjoyed the science aspects.
January 9, 2021
Ok adventures of young teens.
Read
October 7, 2021Awesome book! It is also like a semi mystery. As you read along, you feel the clues piecing themselfs togeather.
December 5, 2024
Libr, good book for teens
September 24, 2010
Cole Miller
Romaniuk/Moyer
Reading/L.A. Book Review #1
21 September 2010
Steel Trapp:
What would you do if a woman drops a brief case on the overhead bin and leaves. This book is set in Washington DC. The main charter is Steel this book is realistic fiction I would rate book three and a half stars. Ridley Pederson has written a book about a no name kid who is pulled in to a big problem. What would you do if you were on a train being searched by two U.S Marshalls and SWAT looking for a ruthless gang leader? The answer is clear, chase the gang leader. This book takes a wile to get good but when it does it will be hard to stop reading. This book is a moderately good book because it has bits of action which makes it more realistic it would be much better if it had more action.
One of the positive things of the book is that it include pieces of intense action. This book has times that are slow like when they are sitting on the train. One of the time the action picked up is when the train was stopped and boarded by the S.W.A.T and two U.S Marshalls looking for a gang leader who they suspect is on the train. Another example of action is when they’re trying to uncover the intentions of the gang. Steel and a girl go outside because they’re taking about some important things and not to worry because the N.S.A was working on solving a code three minutes after the kids leave they come back and say they know what the code is.
This book is very realistic. The book is realistic because instead of action happening right after another it pauses like life. Other books have action that is right after another which is great but it is not very realistic. An example in the book was when a gang member drops the brief case of and leaves but after that you sit on a train for a few pages.
A way I would improve the book would be by having more action. I the book the action is great but there is not a lot of it. When you read the book it feels a little choppy when there is action and then where there isn’t.
This book is a moderately good book because it has bits of action which makes it more realistic it would be much better if it had more action. Steel always runs in to situations he needs to slow down. I feel like some tines I need to slow down. This book was a reminder to me that you to go farther than the first chapter to judge something.
Romaniuk/Moyer
Reading/L.A. Book Review #1
21 September 2010
Steel Trapp:
What would you do if a woman drops a brief case on the overhead bin and leaves. This book is set in Washington DC. The main charter is Steel this book is realistic fiction I would rate book three and a half stars. Ridley Pederson has written a book about a no name kid who is pulled in to a big problem. What would you do if you were on a train being searched by two U.S Marshalls and SWAT looking for a ruthless gang leader? The answer is clear, chase the gang leader. This book takes a wile to get good but when it does it will be hard to stop reading. This book is a moderately good book because it has bits of action which makes it more realistic it would be much better if it had more action.
One of the positive things of the book is that it include pieces of intense action. This book has times that are slow like when they are sitting on the train. One of the time the action picked up is when the train was stopped and boarded by the S.W.A.T and two U.S Marshalls looking for a gang leader who they suspect is on the train. Another example of action is when they’re trying to uncover the intentions of the gang. Steel and a girl go outside because they’re taking about some important things and not to worry because the N.S.A was working on solving a code three minutes after the kids leave they come back and say they know what the code is.
This book is very realistic. The book is realistic because instead of action happening right after another it pauses like life. Other books have action that is right after another which is great but it is not very realistic. An example in the book was when a gang member drops the brief case of and leaves but after that you sit on a train for a few pages.
A way I would improve the book would be by having more action. I the book the action is great but there is not a lot of it. When you read the book it feels a little choppy when there is action and then where there isn’t.
This book is a moderately good book because it has bits of action which makes it more realistic it would be much better if it had more action. Steel always runs in to situations he needs to slow down. I feel like some tines I need to slow down. This book was a reminder to me that you to go farther than the first chapter to judge something.
March 2, 2012
A great mystery for middle school students! Ridley Pearson has created Steven "Steel" Trapp, his main character with a photographic memory and the drive to find answers and puts him in the middle of a mystery that involves a gang related to terrorist activities. The result is a page-turner filled with action and adventure.
Book Talk:
Steven "Steel" Trapp and his mom are on their way to Washington, D.C. to attend the National Science Challenge, a trip that he has waited a long time for. Steel has a photographic memory, so when he sees the woman leaving the train, he knows she has forgotten the briefcase she stowed just a few minutes before. He grabs the case and runs out on the platform to give it to her before she leaves without it. Surprisingly, he is met with surprise and is told that he is mistaken. Steel knows that she is not and becomes suspicious when the woman is so insistent that he must take the case back and return it to where he found it. Steel eventually returns to the train and hands it over to an official there who tells Steel he will take it to the lost and found. Later, Steel goes to visit his dog in the baggage area, and sees the brief case. He examines it more closely - so closely that he finds a way to get a look inside, and when he does, he sees a picture of a woman who is being held captive and a code written over the picture. Now Steel is sure that the woman on the platform knew something about the case and that if the person who was to retrieve the case gets ahold of it, something bad will happen to the woman, but what should he do? Eventually, he teams with Kaileigh, a girl he meets on the train, to solve the mystery.
Book Talk:
Steven "Steel" Trapp and his mom are on their way to Washington, D.C. to attend the National Science Challenge, a trip that he has waited a long time for. Steel has a photographic memory, so when he sees the woman leaving the train, he knows she has forgotten the briefcase she stowed just a few minutes before. He grabs the case and runs out on the platform to give it to her before she leaves without it. Surprisingly, he is met with surprise and is told that he is mistaken. Steel knows that she is not and becomes suspicious when the woman is so insistent that he must take the case back and return it to where he found it. Steel eventually returns to the train and hands it over to an official there who tells Steel he will take it to the lost and found. Later, Steel goes to visit his dog in the baggage area, and sees the brief case. He examines it more closely - so closely that he finds a way to get a look inside, and when he does, he sees a picture of a woman who is being held captive and a code written over the picture. Now Steel is sure that the woman on the platform knew something about the case and that if the person who was to retrieve the case gets ahold of it, something bad will happen to the woman, but what should he do? Eventually, he teams with Kaileigh, a girl he meets on the train, to solve the mystery.
August 29, 2020
Revenge of the Nerds meets Indiana Jones? No, that's not quite right. Hmmm...McGuyver meets Bill Gates? Whatever comparison is made, it still won't adequately describe this action-packed novel full of science geeks and terrorist plots. Steven "Steel" Trapp (so nicknamed for his photographic memory) is an out and out science geek, and he totally owns it. He's on his way by Amtrak train to Washington D.C. with his mother and his dog, Cairo, to compete in the National Science Challenge. At the station he notices a young woman disembarking without her briefcase, so Steel runs after her to return it. She vehemently denies ownership, and Steel turns the bag over to the conductor instead. But the thing is, Steel knows it was her briefcase. And now he's curious. The case is strangely light, with the sound of a few sheets of paper wisping around. Steel wants to know what's in that case, and he wants to know so badly that he can't think of anything else. So he cons his way into the baggage car, finds the briefcase and tries to figure out how to get into the case without damaging it. What he glimpses inside turns his blood cold and makes his mind spin. He can't forget it. He has to do something about it. And with the help of a U.S. Marshall, his science project, Cairo, and a new friend, he just might live through the experience. This book is a mystery, and adventure, and an all-around fun read for teens.
March 14, 2012
Revenge of the Nerds meets Indiana Jones? No, that's not quite right. Hmmm...McGuyver meets Bill Gates? Whatever comparison is made, it still won't adequately describe this action-packed novel full of science geeks and terrorist plots. Steven "Steel" Trapp (so nicknamed for his photographic memory) is an out and out science geek, and he totally owns it. He's on his way by Amtrak train to Washington D.C. with his mother and his dog, Cairo, to compete in the National Science Challenge. At the station he notices a young woman disembarking without her briefcase, so Steel runs after her to return it. She vehemently denies ownership, and Steel turns the bag over to the conductor instead. But the thing is, Steel knows it was her briefcase. And now he's curious. The case is strangely light, with the sound of a few sheets of paper wisping around. Steel wants to know what's in that case, and he wants to know so badly that he can't think of anything else. So he cons his way into the baggage car, finds the briefcase and tries to figure out how to get into the case without damaging it. What he glimpses inside turns his blood cold and makes his mind spin. He can't forget it. He has to do something about it. And with the help of a U.S. Marshall, his science project, Cairo, and a new friend, he just might live through the experience. This book is a mystery, and adventure, and an all-around fun read for teens.
Ms Heather, Teen Librarian 2008
Ms Heather, Teen Librarian 2008
October 22, 2015
When I was reading Steel Trapp: The Challenge, I thought a lot about how I would feel if I were Steel, who is the main character in this story, when he was running from the ruthless gang. It made me think about how you never know when certain skills may become important. Steel's special skill, a photographic memory, got him into trouble in the first place, but it also helped save an innocent person's life. As the books goes on, I began to feel all of Steel's feelings and emotions, and picture exactly what is happening in Steel's mind. This book made me want to just sit down and keep reading. In the middle of the book, Steel found himself in many situations where he had to make important decisions about what to do, and I found myself yelling at him in my mind to make a certain decision. The way that Ridley Pearson wrote this book made me feel as if I was in Steel's shoes, and I felt like I was the one trying to stop a ruthless gang, or running for my life from someone wanting nothing but to kill him. Steel was in an extremely dangerous situation, and his decisions made the difference between life and death. I would recommend this book to anyone, and it's not just because it had me hooked all the way through, but because it is written so well that I felt like I was Steel, plotting his daring plans and saving many people's lives.
February 18, 2016
Steel Trapp is the name of a teenage boy with a photographic memory and a genius mind. While on his way to an invention competition in Washington, D.C., Steel notices a briefcase left behind on the train, and this begins his adventure. He discovers a photograph of a kidnapped woman and doesn't know who to trust with the information. Obviously, not the police! Steel is joined by a runaway genius from Chicago, and together they help solve the mystery and espionage. Steel's FIDOE, a scent-tracking robot, and his dog, Cairo, are very helpful in stopping Chicago gangsters from funding terrorists with American money.
This was an entertaining book, and I enjoyed the concept of the plot. Steel's photographic memory was almost a superpower, but he was basically a normal, frightened kid. Of course, he was unaware that his father was actually an undercover FBI agent working on the same case. The reader knows this information about the father early in the book, so I'm not really giving away a secret. It always amazes me in these books how the teenager manages to rationalize why it doesn't make sense to contact the police when they uncover criminal activity. Do our own teenagers lack the drive to be heroes, or do they have common sense? :o)
This was an entertaining book, and I enjoyed the concept of the plot. Steel's photographic memory was almost a superpower, but he was basically a normal, frightened kid. Of course, he was unaware that his father was actually an undercover FBI agent working on the same case. The reader knows this information about the father early in the book, so I'm not really giving away a secret. It always amazes me in these books how the teenager manages to rationalize why it doesn't make sense to contact the police when they uncover criminal activity. Do our own teenagers lack the drive to be heroes, or do they have common sense? :o)
January 9, 2010
You should be finding more and more audio books for children on here. I am trying to find a "new" thing to do in the car that does not encourage electronic games or TV or tuning into an IPOD. I think a lot of the auditory skills in my children is lacking (one is definitely a visual learner) so we are doing books on CD in the car and then discussing it. It is working great for our family. I have two boys 9 and 14. I try to get books that appeal to both. Steel Trapp was definitely an on the edge for my 14 year old. My 9 year old was not as into it, but he likes the comedy genre better. This is a thriller about a really smart boy on the way to the national science challenge when he notices a briefcase. This sets in motion a whole chain of events which he and his fellow challenge friend get involved in. There is intrigue, kidnapping of an adult who the kids try and save, use of science projects in national crimes, and in the end amazing kids who save the day. I am guessing this is a series, but you don't have to read the ones prior or after to know what is going on.
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