THE EINSTEINS OF VISTA POINT

What secrets will Zack and his siblings discover in and around the cryptic Tower?

When 11-year-old Zack Einstein and his family move to Vista Point, Zack still blames himself for the accidental death of his younger sister the previous year. He’s paralyzed by grief until he follows a mysterious girl into the abandoned nine-sided Tower. What he discovers sets Zack off on a summer filled with secret messages, a hidden cave, and a touch of the supernatural, But can Zack put the pieces of the mystery together before his family’s dream of opening a bed-and-breakfast is dashed by a cantankerous old man? The fascinating cipher that ties it all together is the highlight of this wholesome, gentle story set in 2002. There’s little doubt this novel was inspired by classic sibling adventure stories. Indeed, Zack’s favorite series, the fictional Falcons and Bandits, reads like an homage to Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons. Zack’s emotional journey is compelling, yet his siblings’ one-dimensionality keeps this work from ascending to the heights of more character-driven titles. The happy ending is sweet—some may find it cloyingly so—offering closure for Zack, his family, and even the story’s villain-turned-friend. The Einsteins are Jewish and White; other major characters are assumed White. Occasional spot illustrations add visual interest.

An inspirational throwback for families seeking tales with a classic feel.