Anna, her brother, Charlie, and Emily have all come to Idlewood Manor for the weekend to see its themed rooms and amazing landscapes. Anna is feeling unloved as Charlie and their parents seem to believe that she always finds trouble, while Charlie, the quiet one in the family, loves numbers. It was his math skills that won a contest that allowed them to come to Idlewood. Emily has come with her parents to prove that Idlewood needs to be saved as an historic landmark. Several other guests have also been invited to spend the weekend at Idlewood, each with their own motives for being there. Anna, Charlie, and Emily each find their own clues to the secrets of Idlewood, but it will take all three of them to reveal what the secrets really mean.

The Explorer's Code is a wonderful book about family relationships interwoven with a dandy mystery involving codes and clues. Each of the three main characters individually find their own set of clues, and that is entertaining enough as the story moves forward, but when they finally get together, it is difficult to read quickly enough to get to the end and find out what is really going on. Each of the three characters is well developed, especially Anna, who we learn is filled with insecurities about herself and her place in her family. Anyone who likes mysteries, especially those with codes, hidden rooms, and secrets will love this middle grade novel. Overall, this is an exceptional story that is enjoyable from beginning to end. ( )

A fast moving mystery book with a old castle type motel with math competition winners who all like mystery and adventure. Can they crack the castle? ( )