Jem and the Mystery Thief / Jem Digs Up Trouble (Goldtown Beginnings)

Jem and the Mystery Thief 

(Goldtown Beginnings #3) 

Paperback – ebook

March 17, 2020

by Susan K. Marlow  (Author)

Age Range: 6 - 8 years

Grade Level: 2 - 3

Series: Goldtown Beginnings (Book 3)

Paperback: 80 pages

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

ISBN-13: 978-0825446276

Jem can't wait for school to let out for the year. Is there anything more boring than class when you could be outside? When rich boy Will brings a coin collection to school, it's an exciting treat. It isn't often the students get to see all that interesting money in one place.

Then a silver dollar goes missing during recess--and Jem is blamed! After all, he's the only one who went indoors on this sunny day. When a charm bracelet is stolen the next day, more fingers point his way.

Jem knows he isn't the culprit. But how can he prove it? To clear his name, Jem sets a trap for the mystery thief--his sister's gold locket lays in plain sight on his desk as bait. Will it go missing too? Or will Jem's good name be muddied forever?

My thoughts (lvh):  JEM AND THE MYSTERY THIEF is a fun book for beginning readers. I love how they teach history, vocabulary words, and other fun facts. Plus this one is based on a true story!  I also love the strong faith message.

This is an excellent book for beginning readers. Perfect for homeschoolers.

I was given a  copy free. All opinions are my own.

 

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Jem Digs Up Trouble 

(Goldtown Beginnings #4) 

Paperback – ebook

March 17, 2020

by Susan K. Marlow  (Author)

• Age Range: 6 - 8 years
• Grade Level: 2 - 3
• Series: Goldtown Beginnings (Book 4)
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications 

• ISBN-13: 978-0825446283

Jem is turning eight years old. And there's just one thing he wants for his birthday: a prospecting trip with Strike-it-rich Sam. With his grown-up friend to watch out for him, Jem's parents say yes. It's off for two weeks in the mountains to find gold!

But this trip isn't going as planned. There are more tall tales from Sam than there are deep pockets of gold ore. And the map to rich diggings they brought along doesn't have any treasure at the end of it. Striking it rich is a lot harder than it looks.

When they find an unexpected cache, things seem to be looking up. But Jem and Sam shouldn't count their gold nuggets before they get home. An injury, a bad detour, and other problems plague them. Not only are they empty-handed, they might never make it home at all!

My thoughts (lvh):  JEM DIGS UP TROUBLE is the 4th book in this  outstanding beginner chapter book series... Each book stands alone, so they don't need to be read in order.   

In this book, Jem and Strike take off in search of one of the legendary lost gold mines that riddle the west.   This is a major trip -- a two week hike -- for a little boy and a cranky donkey, and even an adult. 

There are valuable life lessons,  a faith message, history lessons and more.

Excellent for homeschoolers.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.