The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines

This is a wonderful, fast-paced mystery in the style of Nancy Drew (for those of you who read those), The Hardy Boys (if you're a boy), and most importantly, the awesome mystery chapter books of the 1980s (if you're me!)

Grace is a wonderful character - snarky, fearless but secretly very soft-hearted, especially about her father, whose disappearance (and presumed death) sets the story in motion.

She is backed up by a wonderful gang consisting of accident-prone Fred, extremely organize Mai, and the mysterious (and cute!) Jeeter, the new kid at school.

And on top of all this fabulousness, its setting (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia) adds to the atmosphere, as the kids go hunting for cool fossils while evading opportunistic environmental show more pirates.

This is a perfect book for all ages! show less

If you have ever enjoyed a Nancy Drew book in your life, you are bound to enjoy The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines. This is also a great mystery for the newest generation that might not be familiar with Nancy Drew. Yhard has successfully breathed some fresh air into an old school concept.

Grace is a very cool character. She is not the "can't get dirty" type of girl. She spends her time in abandoned mines searching for fossils. It was great to see a girl who looked up to her dad, and took interest in her dad's interests. I looked up to my dad very much at Grace's age, so it was neat to be reminded of that in Grace. Grace's friends were also fun characters. Fred and Mai's bickering had me laughing. The cute and mysterious new kid, Jeeter show more was a great add to the crew.

I was honestly expecting a predictable plot, but Yhard gave the story some twists and turns that surprised me in a good way. From the moment we find out Grace is given a note saying "It wasn't an accident!", I was swept up in the mystery of discovering what exactly happened to Grace's father. I also enjoyed the mystery behind these mines this groups of friends liked to explore. Yhard has also woven in some important environment issues in a way that comes off as interesting rather than preachy.

The ending was a perfect one for the story and had me smiling. This was a quick and fun read for me. The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines is a wonderful addition to the middle grade genre. show less

Originally posted at http://lavenderlines.wordpress.com/

I forgot how much I loved a great middle grade mystery. When I was in grade six I got into Eric Wilson’s Tom and Liz Austin mysteries and started dreaming of being a writer when I grew up. Reading The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines took me back to those days and left me with a happy, glowy feeling.

This was a smart mystery. I mean, I’m 36 and there was stuff that I didn’t figure out. But once things were resolved, it was easy to look back and go “Ah, so THAT’S what happened!”. A lot takes place in The Fossil Hunters of Sydney Mines but it was all great. I mean, getting to read about the tar ponds? My Mom lost her grade 8 math book in those tar ponds. I love reading books show more about local places.

Grace was a great character. In fact ALL the characters were great. Her friends were fun to read about, each bringing something different to the story. And there was much talk of chocolate. How could you not love that?

Oh, you know what else The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines reminded me of? Scooby Doo!! It totally had a “those meddling kids” kinda vibe to it. Loved that.

I know this might not be an uber helpful review, but you know how I get when I love a book. I kinda go into blathering mode. If you enjoy MG fiction or have kids that read, go out and buy The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines. Just trust me. show less

On Grace’s 13th birthday, the police arrive to tell them that her dad was killed in a car accident. It appeared that he lost control and went off a cliff, but they were unable to recover his body. Grace was an only child and was very close to her father. He worked for a museum and she often went fossil hunting with him. Life gets strange when Grace receives a note telling her that it wasn’t an accident and she keeps feeling like she is being watched. Can Grace and her friends find out what really happened? This mystery book is exciting and should appeal to a great number of readers. The plots are not obvious and keep the reader guessing until the end.

The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines by Jo Ann Yhard is an engaging mystery for middle grade readers. Thirteen-year old Grace is trying to solve the mystery of her father's death. Set in Nova Scotia, the story involves fossils, mining, and environmental issues that will be attractive for youth.

The story moves quickly and is filled with authentic interactions among characters. The young characters must deal with everyday problems from parents and school while finding clues and conducting investigations.

The past several years publishers have been focusing on fantasy offerings. It's refreshing to read an "old fashioned" mystery. It reminded me of the many Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books I read as a child.

The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines is a short and sweet mystery book for middle-school kids. In it, the main character, a young teen who has recently suffered the sudden loss of her father, begins to explore a suspicious note she finds in her locker. She and her friends go on mischievous adventures to discover answers. It’s a cute book—an easy read for middle-school kid, with good moral values (except some small amount of lying and detention jumping). Adults who like kid’s books will enjoy it too—it kept me guessing till the end.

The only thing Grace loves more than looking for fossils is her father. She can't believe he is gone. She doesn't understand how they could find his crashed vehicle but not his body. She also doesn't understand who put the strange message in her locker that read, "It wasn't an accident!" She and her friends set out to find out what really happened to her father, who was behind it and why. I love mysteries and this was a really good one. I am looking forward to handing this off to one of my students who loves mysteries.