The Pathfinders Society: The Mystery of the Moon Tower

The Pathfinders Society: The Mystery of the Moon Tower
Francesco Sedita & Prescott Seraydarian
Steve Hamaker, Illustrator
Viking/Penguin, 2020 176 pages
Grades 3-7
Graphic Novel
The Pathfinders Society series #1

Kyle moves with his mom to her childhood hometown in rural Pennsylvania. The first thing he notices is how foul air is randomly emitted from the cracks in the rocks of the landscape and the second thing is sudden rainfall at weird times, making the town less than promising. Mom enrolls him in Camp Pathfinder, where he is placed in a team of five kids challenged to solve a treasure hunt. The team is made up of three boys and two girls, all with different skills to contribute to the endeavor. The camp was established a long time ago by Henry Merriweather and the search leads them first to a trail and beautifully crafted tiles connecting sites of historical significance throughout town. Eventually they land at Merriweather's old mansion, which has fallen on hard times. Through exploring secret passageways of the mansions and following the clues, the explorers experience supernatural events, which blend the present with the future, revealing some of the secrets behind the mysterious town and Merriweather's mission. Eventually the team discovers a treasure chest, which contains clues to lead them to the next leg of the journey--and, hopefully, the real treasure. This cliff-hanger will lead readers to the next installment, yet to be released.

Ever since discovering The Westing Game as a young person, I have loved scavenger hunts conceived by eccentric millionaires. Readers will enjoy this adventure with secrets, clues, and mysterious happenings. The multicultural cast of both boys and girls will welcome everyone to the party and give all sorts of readers someone to identify with. Since it is a fast-moving adventure/mystery, character development is not at the forefront, so I appreciate that the authors added a cast of characters at the beginning of the volume with names and personality strengths. The book is in full color and the illustrations are well-drawn and scan well. Much of the mystery is left unsolved by the book's end, leading readers to the next installment, which may prove frustrating to kids, especially since the next one is not out yet. There is a bit of fantasy and time travel, which I like, and the town's paranormal qualities will intrigue young readers. This new series could encourage kids to look for secrets in their own towns and maybe even encourage them to check out some local landmarks or historical museums. A fun new graphic series that will appeal to young readers that is slightly creepy and mysterious and may lead to local adventures, especially in a summer where kids are searching for something low-key and close to home to occupy their time.