Janet Anderson (1) (1946–)

After getting a letter from an estranged aunt he’s never met, 13-year-old Ellsworth Smith decides to go, despite his father’s misgivings, and see the homes built by his ancestor John Matthew Smith. Once there, he discovers that only seven of the homes were ever lived in, the other three had treasures that the ancestor had “hidden” to help future generations in time of hardships. Two of the treasures have already been found, and now, as the family has been torn apart by feuds and money problems, it’s up to Ellsworth to find the last treasure.

What I liked: Ellsworth’s character is likable and totally relatable. I absolutely loved the setting and could easily picture the houses of the square. There’s also an element of mystery, which, of course, I love. And, the ending is also a feel-good, stressing the importance of family and working together.

What I didn’t like: The book took a while to get going; you’ve got to struggle to get through the beginning. But, once you do, the story picks up and becomes really interesting. So, stick it out, it is worth it.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars… (meer)

Target audience: Ages 10-14

Thirteen-year-old Ellsworth Smith receives a letter from Aunt Elizabeth he has never heard from before. The letter pleads for Ellsworth, called Zee, and his cousin Jess to come to the Square in Smith Mills, New York to uncover the last of the three treasures that John Matthew, the family's eccentric patriarch, has hidden it in one of the ten houses he had built. The treasure can only be found by the help of a keen-eyed child. Against his father's wishes, Zee, travels to New York, along with Jess, and engage in a compelling hunt for the last treasure.

Anderson brilliantly provides clues in the forms of dreams to Zee. In addition, the story contains flashbacks to the Smith's family history in 1910 and 1932 regarding the discoveries of the first two treasures. Anderson provides a wonderful setting, which is crucial to the success of the plot. Zee is a well-rounded character who, at the conclusion of the story, realizes that the success of finding the last treasure points to the families putting aside their differences and reconcile. The message of the story is recognizing the importance of families. Before the letter arrivez, Zee has come to believe that he has no familes, except for his father. The story is rich and multi-layered. It is more of a story about psychological ghost than a ghost story. Teens, along with myself, will relate to this story because it deals with families, a topic that all teens experience in their daily lives.… (meer)