Chasing the Falconers

This high-stakes, heart-pounding adventure grabs students from page one. Aidan (15) and his little sister Meg (11) break out of a juvenile detention center after their parents are wrongfully convicted of treason. With no plan and a burning need to clear their names, they hit the road—running from the law and a mysterious stalker—using smarts, courage, and sibling loyalty. Short chapters and nonstop action make it irresistible, especially for readers who love covert ops, family drama, and staying one step ahead. It’s a perfect choice for reluctant readers and adventure fans alike, and it sets up an addictive series.

This is an exciting, descriptive, quick-paced adventure/mystery. Korman deliberately creates tension with his situations, descriptions, and characters. Aiden is serious, worries about everything, and is methodical. Meg is optimistic, creative, and daring. Miguel is dangerous but has skills that Aiden and Meg need while on the run. The characters are well balanced. Korman carefully describes the angst and discomfort Aiden feels knowing that to survive as a fugitive, he must break more laws and now belongs in the detention center he was fleeing. Korman also leaves the reader hanging and wondering at the end, a sure fire way to get one to read the next book in the series.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and excited, and the plot wasn't overly complicated. The only thing that threw me off a bit was Meg's age, somehow I kept picturing her as older than eleven. Other than that, it was a great read that I really enjoyed.

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

Gordon Korman's ON THE RUN series starts off with a bang with CHASING THE FALCONERS, an action-adventure thriller with serious overtones. The opening of the story finds Aidan Falconer, 15, and his younger sister, Meg, 11, ensconced at Sunnydale Farm, a so-called minimum-security rehabilitation alternative for delinquent youths. Although Aidan and Meg haven't committed any crimes, their parents, Drs. John and Louise Falconer, both Professors and criminologists, had been found guilty of treason months before--and are now serving life sentences in separate prisons.

Both Drs. had been working for the CIA, under the tutelage of operative "Uncle" Frank Lindenauer, to create profiles to help the US government show more identify and locate terrorists. Unfortunately, though, the profiles fell into the hands of the very terrorists the Falconer's were profiling, and the world branded them traitors to the United States. When their lawyers failed to produce any trace of Frank Lindenauer (the CIA, in fact, testified that there was no such agent in their offices), the doctors were tried, found guilty, and sent to prison. Now their children, although innocent, are paying for it, as well.

When an accidental fire at Sunnydale Farm presents a means for escape, Aidan and Meg grab it. There mission? To find Frank Lindenauer and prove that their parents are innocent. Their only rules are to stay together, and not get caught.

As the Falconer's race towards Vermont and the summer house they once vacationed at with Lindenauer and his girlfriend, the two meet up with another fellow juvenile from the farm, Miguel Reyes. As the three attempt to avoid the police, and FBI agent Emmanuel Harris, who was responisble for bringing the case against the elder Falconers, Aidan and Meg learn what it means to be fugitives.

CHASING THE FALCONERS is a quick, adrenaline-packed read that will leave you wanting to read the next book in the series, ON THE RUN, as soon as you're done. Definitely a highly-recommended read for all lovers of action-adventure and mysteries! show less

The reader might want to have all 6 books handy when they start this series. Once again Korman hits a homerun. Middle school teachers with reluctent readers or readers below grade level will eat this series up. Amazing twists and ironies (like Aiden and Meg being placed in a juvenile correctional facility eventhough they had not committed a crime) come from every angle in this series. Some situations and solutions to problems are a bit out rageous but work the same way James Bond always gets away.

Aiden and Meg Falconer are their parents' only hope. The Falconers are facing life in prison - unless Aiden and Meg can follow a trail of clues to prove their innocence. The problem? They're trapped in a juvenile detention center. Until they escape one night - and find themselves on the run, both from the authorities and from a sinister attacker who has his own reason to stop them. The Falconers must use their wits to make it across the country - with plenty of tests along the way.

This amazing story is about a 15 year old boy named Adian Falconer and his 11 year old sister named Megan Falconers, who try to prove their parents innocent for a crime they didn’t do. But here the catch, they have to get of Juvenile Corrections first. They tried to get out but failed. They were about to give up until the whole facility caught on fire by a kerosene lamp. Now Adian, Meg, and their new friend Miguel have to not only run from the police, but an assassin. If you want to know rest get the book and find out.

I didn’t like this book because it’s very confusing to understand where they’re going. My favorite part of the book was when they escaped from Juvenile Corrections. My least favorite part is when they were stealing show more gas from the truck. The funniest part was when tried to jump out a window. There were so many places in the book I lost track. The descriptions were good but there were too many places. I wouldn’t recommend this book. show less