Published: July 30, 2011
Words: 52,368 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781465712837

Short description

Debbie and Joe, the Jinson Twins, aided by their friend, Mr. Benjamin, solve mysteries using scientific concepts. For children 10-13 years. Of interest to children, and to parents and teachers who want to teach science and math using fiction and integrated curricula.

Extended description

The Jinson Twins, Joe and Debbie, decide to start a business during their summer vacation, hiring themselves out to do odd jobs. They find themselves in an odder job than they counted on when Mrs. Gray, who lives with her talkative parrot, the Captain, in an old house down off River Road, engages them to help clean out her basement.

Aided by their friend, Mr. Benjamin, the proprietor of the Resource Recovery and Recycling Center (a.k.a. the junkyard), the twins use the clues that Mrs. Gray’s late husband, a former sea captain, left behind to figure out, using scientific principles, where the captain hid his enormous collection of antique Spanish gold coins.

But some other people know about the treasure too and have no intention of letting an old lady who spends most of her time with a parrot, an old man who runs a junkyard, and a couple of kids get the treasure.

Tags

science, suspence, childrens adventure, mystery detective, science fiction adventure action suspence humor, science fiction detective, childrens book fiction, childrens adventures, childrens books young adult books young adult fiction fiction middle grade fiction childrens fantasy fiction girl spy counterterrorism, childrens book juveline fiction excitement thrilling fear brothers home ducks pond woods mystery animals fear love bravery courage determination, science experiments, childrens action, childrens maths, science for kids, science fact, childrens book juvenile fiction excitement thrilling fear brothers home ducks pond woods mystery animals fear love bravery courage determination, childrens science

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Reviews

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Review by: Arlena Dean on Feb. 26, 2012 :
This was a wonderful story. I enjoyed it from the start
till the end. I believe any young person as well as an
adult would like this read!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Robert Zimmermann on Feb. 14, 2012 :
I was very surprised by the way I was hooked into this book. This is a children's book, but could easily (as it did with me) grab the attention and enjoyment of an adult. From the beginning the reader is left wondering what the opening scene has to do with most of the rest of the book, being that the opening scene is the outcome of what comes after it in the book with the exception of the final chapters or two. After a few chapters though, I forgot my question about what the opening scene was there for and read it like it didn't exist. With this said, I feel there isn't a need for it to have been there, but it does add a little to this being a story told by a child character. The recollection factor was well used.
I also enjoyed the addition of science into the book. When writing a children's book the amount of "learning" thrown in can either get more kids interesting in reading it or push others away depending on how it was written into the story. I think these elements were written perfectly into the story. Even at my age, while reading this I didn't realize that I was reading about science or learning till I got halfway through those parts. It wasn't terribly hard to follow either, which is always good for children.
I did feel though, that the "Yellow Jackets" were either unnecessary characters or just needed more involvement. This can be said about the strange man with the blue truck. At the end, his place in the story is explained. But in both cases I can't say for sure whether or not the story benefited from their involvement. Also if there was more development and concern shown from the other characters toward the "villains," I think this book could easily have been geared more towards an adult audience looking for a crime/suspense novel.
One last minor point to make. There were, if I remember my count correctly, about four sentences/paragraphs in the book that need some attention. The entire book was written in the first person from Debbie's point of view. In these few areas though, the author has slipped and written in the third person (i.e. "they" instead of "we.") This doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the book though, but I feel it should be mentioned to help out the author for the future. Plus no body, especially me, is perfect grammatically.

I do hope that Zeichner decides to write another Jinson Twins book. I would enjoy to read more of their adventures.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: julie barrett on Jan. 15, 2012 :
The Jinson Twins, Science Detectives, and The Mystery of Echo Lake by Steven Zeichner.
SO Funny, the air quotes and 'resource recovery and recycling center' and "A" and RA.
Just like a mystery for pre teens, Nancy Drew type mystery or Hardy Boys. Has all the makings of a mystery: map and treasure and mysterious things.
Boys start out trying to find a job for the summer, they are 12 year old twin boys.
One looks like a girl his hair is SO long. They do find a job organizing and old woman's
basement into different categories. Appears to be things from her dead husbands ship.
Some will be kept, some mailed and some sold.
There was even a box of things that Mrs. Gray gave to them to bring home. One such thing was a scroll with a map drawn on it and some riddles to figure out. It stated that's where
the treasure was. They go to Mr. Benjamin so he can help them with the map and what it could mean. He's the owner of the junkyard.
Different kids and a man are after them but they don't know why.
Can see how the teaching aids would help kids learn about science: charts, spreadsheets, graphs, etc.
They all head back to Mrs. Gray's house and ask if she can maybe help them solve the mystery.
She can in a way and that's how they start this book out, on their way to Echo Lake to find the treasure.
The yellow jackets almost get them at the lake, and then the other man enters Mrs. Gray house with his gun
to get the real treasure.
Love the science things at the end.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: moonry on Aug. 20, 2011 :
This was a fun book to read! I read it to my children (ages 8 and 10), and they really enjoyed it too! It's so nice to have a fiction book that incorporates some learning - my kids will probably always remember that the sound travels faster when it's warmer! It's also a nice mystery book for children - not too scary, but there's enough tension to make you want to keep reading!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

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