Why Not? Because I Said So Book Reviews and Author Interviews. : Graysen Foxx and the Treasure of Principal Redbeard By J. Scott Savage-Middle Grade Action Adventure Book Review

Monday, March 20, 2023

Graysen Foxx and the Treasure of Principal Redbeard By J. Scott Savage-Middle Grade Action Adventure Book Review

Book Summary

Join Graysen Foxx on a wild, treasure-hunting adventure!

Ordinary Elementary is anything but ordinary. Below the classrooms are winding, abandoned, underground passages filled with lost treasures. Fifth-grader Graysen Foxx, aka The Gray Fox—finder of secrets, solver of mysteries, and explorer of the unknown—is hot on the trail of the legendary treasure of Principal Redbeard, which includes decades of confiscated gadgets, rare comic books, first-edition Pokémon trading cards, an original Rubik’s Cube, and a retro handheld video game.

Graysen is determined to find the treasure and share it with his fellow students. His nemesis, Raven Ransom—nicknamed “Red Raven”—plans to stop him and claim the prizes for herself, just like she did with the game-winning home run kickball everyone thought was lost on the roof of the school.

Wearing his adventurer-iconic fedora, journaling in his field notebook, and wielding his elastic stretchy hand, Graysen is ready for action. But can he avoid the second-grade spy network working for Raven? Could the third-grade twins, Maya and Jack, give him an advantage? Can he avoid the ruthless sixth graders while trying to protect the innocent first graders? And who is the mysterious Midnight Moth who is leaving cryptic notes and riddles?

It's a battle between courage and cunning, smarts and shrewdness, charity and cheating. With the treasure on the line, can Graysen trust his rival—or is it just another one of her traps? May the best treasure hunter win!

Book Details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shadow Mountain (March 6, 2023)
Series: Graysen Foxx, School Treasure Hunter, Book 1
Genre: Middle-Grade Action Adventure
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639931031
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639931033
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 6
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley,book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

Official Book Trailer

My Review

Graysen Foxx is the kind of kid I think I've taught before. You know, the one with a huge imagination, lots of energy, and a perchance to often take the road less traveled. The minute I started reading this new novel by Author J. Scott Savage I knew I'd found a new book my students were going to love. This middle-grade adventure novel is full of humor, action, and great mysteries to solve. What kid doesn't dream about looking for lost treasure? This treasure happens to be somewhere at Graysen Foxx's school.

Some things that I know will resonate with kids between the ages of 8-13 are:

-puzzle solving

-friendship

-standing up to bullies

-sticky hands (they are always the things that go first in my class store!)

-rumors about teachers and principals: present and past

-cafeteria food

-looking for secret treasures

This creative and imaginative read will keep kids reading as Graysen is searching for former principal Redbeard's treasure. His arch nemesis, Red Raven, is always there to mess up Graysen's plans and steal his thunder and his prizes. With the help of third-grade twins Maya and Jack, Graysen always has great back up whatever situation he finds himself in. There are other groups involved in the excitement like the Second-Grade spy network working for Raven, and the fierce sixth graders that run the school.

Boys and girls will find the novel a lot of fun. This book will make a great class read-aloud. It will be fun to see what other adventure Graysen Foxx goes on in the next book.

****Meet Author J. Scott Savage****

J Scott Savage is the author of 19 novels including the Mysteries of Cove series, the Farworld series, and the Case File 13 series, and the Lost Wonderland Diaries.

He has been writing books for over twenty years. His books have received various recognitions including Junior Library Selection, Starred reviews from PW and Kirkus, Amazon Book of the Month,
Barnes and Noble Select book, and several state award nominations.

He has visited over 2500 schools, dozens of writers conferences, and taught many writing classes. He has four children and seven grandchildren. He lives with his wife Jennifer in a windy valley of the Rocky Mountains.
Learn more about him and his books at his

website: https://www.jscottsavage.com/