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Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
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Book Scavenger (The Book Scavenger series, 1) Paperback – April 12, 2016

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,606 ratings
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A New York Times bestseller!

For twelve-year-old Emily, the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it's the home city of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, book publisher and creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). Upon her arrival, however, Emily learns that Griswold has been attacked and is now in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold himself, and might contain the only copy of his mysterious new game.

Racing against time, Emily and James rush from clue to clue, desperate to figure out the secret at the heart of Griswold's new game―before those who attacked Griswold come after them too.

The paperback edition of Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman features a gorgeous, brightened cover and an interview with the author. This title has Common Core connections.

“Full of heart and replete with challenging ciphers for readers to decode, Bertman’s debut is literary cousin to classic puzzlers like The Westing Game.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library will appreciate the abundant literary allusions, and readers will hope for more adventures.” ―Shelf Awareness, starred review

An Amazon Best Book of the Year
An Indie Next List Pick
A PW Best Book for Summer
A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year
An Amazon.com Best Book of the Month
A Texas Lamplighter Award Nominee
A Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award Nominee
A Georgia Children's Book Award Finalist

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    9 - 11 years, from customers
  2. Book 1 of 3
    The Book Scavenger series
  3. Print length
    368 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    Preschool - 4
  6. Lexile measure
    810L
  7. Dimensions
    5.15 x 0.95 x 7.6 inches
  8. Publisher
    Square Fish
  9. Publication date
    April 12, 2016
  10. ISBN-10
    1250079802
  11. ISBN-13
    978-1250079800
  12. See all details
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The Alcatraz Escape (The Book Scavenger series, 3)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

An Amazon Best Book of the Year
An Indie Next List Pick
An NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year
A Scripps National Spelling Bee Great Words, Great Works List Selection
A PW Best Book for Summer
An Amazon.com Best Book of the Month
A Triple Crown Award Winner
A Texas Lamplighter Award Nominee
A Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award Nominee
A Georgia Children's Book Award Finalist
A Colorado Book Award Finalist
A Maryland Black Eyed Susan Award Nominee
A Utah Educational Library Media Association Master List Selection
A Missouri Mark Twain List Selection
A Nebraska Golden Sower Award Finalist
A Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award Nominee
A Utah Beehive Award Nominee
An Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Award Nominee
An Illinois Bluestem Award Nominee
A Mississippi Magnolia Children's Choice Book Award Nominee
A Rhode Island Middle School Book Award Nominee
A Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award Nominee
A North Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee

“Full of heart and replete with challenging ciphers for readers to decode, Bertman's debut is literary cousin to classic puzzlers like The Westing Game, and a story that values books and reading above other pursuits. Sure to be popular with voracious readers, it's also a valentine to anybody who knows that a 13-digit clue that begins with 978- is not a phone number.” ―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“In her first novel, Jennifer Chambliss Bertman introduces a smart, resourceful 12-year-old who makes her first true friend through a mutual passion for solving puzzles. . . Fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library will appreciate the abundant literary allusions, and readers will hope for more adventures, hinted at in the book's final lines.” ―Shelf Awareness, starred review

“Emily's sleuthing weaves well with her journey to nurture friendships and set down everlasting roots. A debut that challenges the brain while warming the heart.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Sprinkled with ciphers, San Francisco landmarks, and literary allusions, Book Scavenger is a fun, light, implausible adventure. . . This will appeal to fans of Blue Balliett's art-world mysteries.” ―School Library Journal

“Well paced and involving, the story will intrigue kids with an interest in mysteries and codes as well as books. The writing includes references to local landmarks as well as literary allusions to Jack Kerouac, Robert Louis Stevenson, and, especially, Edgar Allan Poe. A lively first novel.” ―Booklist

“A love letter to San Francisco and its literary history, this well-paced novel of intrigue also provides quite the education, namedropping the likes of Jack Kerouac, Dashiell Hammett, and Amy Tan, diving into the world of ciphers, and offering bountiful brainteasers with Dickensian naming devices (there's an explanatory author's note), all while maintaining a skillful and satisfying balance of brains and heart. . . . be prepared to start a Book Scavenger chapter (pun intended) in your own library, stat.” ―The Bulletin

“The plot is clever and the pace of the book will keep the readers curious up to the climactic end. Several other books with themes related to puzzles and games are alluded to in the story. This book will be fun for lovers of this genre.” ―VOYA

“A puzzle-mystery in the spirit of The Westing Game, Book Scavenger challenges readers to play along. The codes and puzzles are pitched at the perfect level for tween sleuths, and the literary references . . . will pique readers; interests in doing some scavenging of their own. Part friendship story, part travel adventure and part cryptography manual, Jennifer Chambliss Bertman's debut is a book lover's delight.” ―Bookpage

“Codes and ciphers star in this puzzle-game of a novel, offering challenges for code-breaking fanatics plus plentiful explanations for those who prefer that someone else do the legwork” ―The Horn Book

About the Author

Jennifer Chambliss Bertman was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds an MFA in creative writing and has worked for literary agencies, magazines, educational publishers, and as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. Book Scavenger is her debut novel.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Square Fish; Reprint edition (April 12, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250079802
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250079800
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 11 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 810L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 4
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.15 x 0.95 x 7.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,606 ratings

About the author

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Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

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Jennifer Chambliss Bertman is the author of the New York Times--bestselling Book Scavenger series (Christy Ottaviano Books/Henry Holt) which includes Book Scavenger, The Unbreakable Code, and The Alcatraz Escape. Book Scavenger was an Indie Next Top Ten pick, an Amazon Book of the Year, a Bank Street College Book of the Year, an NCTE Notable Book, and has been nominated for over twenty state award and honor lists, among other accolades. The series will be translated into twelve languages. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer now lives in Colorado with her family.

Photo Credit: Joseph Jestes

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,606 global ratings
Hidden Books. Secret Codes. New Friendships.
4 Stars
Hidden Books. Secret Codes. New Friendships.
Book Scavengerby Jennifer Chambliss Bertman⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Hidden books, secret codes, a treasure hunt...all while being chased around San Francisco by bad guys!! I finished this book in 3 days because it is a page turner. The best middle school fiction I have read since #themysteriousbenedictsocietyEmily’s parents are on their own quest...a quest to live in all 50 States. Their newest location...San Francisco. Emily has been moving her whole life, but at least she has Book Scavenger to play everywhere they move to. New friends. New Adventures. For the first time in her life she wonders...do I really want to move again?This is such a great book for kids who have moved a lot. They can really connect with Emily and her brother Matthew. Or kids who haven’t moved a lot can learn about being a good friend to the new kid in town.Follow @pagesaroundtheplanet on IG for more book reviews.
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Top reviews from the United States

Jeffrey Manke
5.0 out of 5 stars Daughter loved it
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
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My daughter that is 11 loves this book. She likes the mystery and action of the book.
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Ang
5.0 out of 5 stars Joyous and heartfelt
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2024
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My favorite book in the whole world is The Westing Game. I run it when I was a teenager and now I am 47 years old and I stumbled across this book and it was such a joy to read. Oddly enough, I can relate to the frustration of having to move a lot. It really warmed my heart and I look forward to reading more of them.
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Michelle Boytim
4.0 out of 5 stars Emily and James search for clues
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2018
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(3.5 stars ) This is the first book in the series. Emily’s family is on the move again; the family has a blog covering their travels and the goal of living in all 50 states. This time they are headed to San Francisco. Emily is excited to be going to live in the area where Garrison Griswold, the creator of the Book Scavenger game, lives. Book Scavenger is a type of scavenger hunt, where you earn points by solving puzzles to find books hidden by other game players. Emily finds a kindred spirit in her neighbor, James, although his life is the complete opposite of hers, having lived in the same place all of his life with an extended family. She introduces him to the Book Scavenger game. Rumor has it that there is a new game coming, but when they hear that Griswold has been attacked at a BART station, and may not survive, they visit the station and come across a book behind a garbage can. The book is more than it initially seems and sends them on a quest to find out if it is part of the new game. With the help of new and old friends, Emily and James begin to sort out the clues. But they are not the only ones on the trail, and peril may lie ahead.
5 people found this helpful
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Leslie Lindsay
5.0 out of 5 stars Adventure + Books + Kids + San Francisco = Totally Enjoyable Family Read-Aloud
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2016
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<b>Does it count if I read this book aloud to my girls, ages 9 and 11 before bed each night?</b> Well, kind of each night...it only took us three+ months, because sprinkled in between were summer trips, dance class, soccer practice, weekend getaways, and that pesky thing called 'school.'

<b>I'm going to go with yes, it counts.</b>So here's my review:

We all loved BOOK SCAVENGER. A lot. Even my hubby and clue-sniffing hound, Betsy got in on the action trying to solve the mystery of the missing/hidden books peppered throughout San Francisco. <b>The storytelling is dynamic, the characters highly engaging, and the historical-literary element a fun surprise.</b>

THE BOOK SCAVENGER revolves around middle school students Emily (the protagonist) and her friend, James as they solve ciphers and more in Edgar Allen Poe's 1843 little-kn0wn short story, THE GOLD-BUG. But there's so much more: middle school angst, big brother issues, a family's quest to live in all 50 states, bad guys, and of course, the city of San Francisco. When I got to the end of a chapter, signaling an end to our reading session, the girls would let out a chorus of, "Noooos." They liked it that much.

The story reminded me a bit of well...I don't know. Nancy Drew meets A WRINKLE IN TIME, meets WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY...but those might not be the best comparisons. <b>Truly a fun family read-aloud, but great for motivated 9+ year old kids (boys and girls) to read on their own.</b> While THE BOOK SCAVENGER is technically part of a series, this is the first one, and can most definitely stand-alone.

Enjoy!
32 people found this helpful
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Kathy in CA
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun While Learning
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2016
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I'm a 60-something grandma who found the audio version through an Audible daily deal. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased the print version for two granddaughters and the Kindle version for myself, and I created a summer book club for them with all kinds of discussion questions (Would you have acted the way Emily did toward James? What would you have done differently?) and "Information Scavenger" activities (Go to this web site; what are some things you can do at the Ferry Building?). Since one of them lives near San Francisco, the other one and I are now planning a trip there to all visit some of the sites in the book together. And along the way my granddaughters are learning how to use email and online meetings, and do internet research.

This review is supposed to be about the book, not my book club, but I shared all that to illustrate how content rich the book itself is. While enjoying a fun mystery - which is another reason this cozy mystery-loving grandma wanted to introduce it - my granddaughters are also leaning a lot about The City, codes and ciphers, Poe and other authors, and friendship. It's a fun and painlessly educational read.
84 people found this helpful
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Z Hayes
5.0 out of 5 stars “Life is a game and books are the tokens."
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2015
Verified Purchase
Here is what my fifth grader thinks of this awesome book:

“Book Scavenger” is an exciting adventure that you will get sucked into, and there is no guarantee you will come out. Emily, the main character has to put up with her parents’ dream of living in 50 homes in 50 states, and the constant moving causes her to never have the chance to put down roots and make friends. When they move to the home of Garrison Griswold, the creator of her all time hobby, Book Scavenger she is thrilled. She meets James, and they become fast friends. Together, they unlock the secrets of Mr. Griswold’s new game. This book is perfect for any future detective, and for every book lover. If I could give this 20 stars I would.
27 people found this helpful
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Christine Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars Non-stop adventure!
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2016
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Brilliant story! The characters are members of a book scavenger club - a unique blend of reading and geocaching! Readers hide books and provide clues online so others can find them to read, scoring points as they go. The main character, Emily, is a member of a family that moves every year in a quest to live in all 50 states. Book Scavenger allows Emily to have a familiar activity despite her family's frequent moves as well as helping her make friends. When the Book Scavenger creator is mugged in the subway and Emily finds his book created for the next adventure, the action begins. Lots of excitement as the characters solve a clue after clue. Hard to put down!
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Top reviews from other countries

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Sindhu
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in India on May 26, 2021
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Good
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stacie prude
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in Canada on March 18, 2019
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My 10 year old loves it
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Victoria Howard
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2020
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This is a dream for book lovers... a treasure hunt through books. I loved it and would recommend for readers aged 9+
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Jazz
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book, very clever!
Reviewed in Spain on March 11, 2019
Verified Purchase
Me ha gustado mucho tanto la temática del libro como la propuesta de mensajes secretos, el recorrido que hace por la ciudad y las referencias literarias. Creo que gustará mucho a los niños, pero deben tener muy buen nivel de inglés para entenderlo. No es fácil para niños no bilingües.
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Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars Rediscovered the pleasure of reading
Reviewed in Japan on May 8, 2022
Verified Purchase
I bought it because it was cheap, and I hoped my kids would read it one day. I started reading the first pages out of curiosity and could not drop the book. I had to finish it. The story is involving and left me thinking about it afterward. I did find one logical problem with the explanation of events near the end of the book, but that did not bother me at all as it did not affect my enjoyment. I am definitely buying the other books in the series.
One person found this helpful
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