Overview

After days of heavy rain, eleven-year-old twins Josh and Lizzie Parker, and their travel-blogging parents arrive at the Jacksons' home in Welshburg, Ohio, an area famous for ancient mounds. Their son, thirteen-year-old William, a prize-winning rock hound, is a candidate for The Ohio State University's All-Star Science Camp, a prestigious program he's longed to attend. But recently, William has lost all interest in rocks, and now he's into soccer, playing striker, with disastrous results. Josh suspects the cruel taunts of Brady Yoder, a neighborhood bully, are responsible. Suddenly, the twins learn of a golf course development deal that could endanger the historic area. The Yoders can't wait to sell their land to developers, and the sale seems certain to succeed. Occasionally, rain reveals artifacts long hidden near mounds, and the treasure-hunting twins hope a discovery might rekindle William's interest in rocks and disrupt the deal. But who else is looking for treasure, and what other surprises does the land hold? Readers aged 8-14 years old will relish this exciting mystery set in Central Ohio. Strong characters who overcome bullies, stand up for the environment, and bravely forge their own path forward will entice readers of every age, including reluctant readers, parents, and educators.

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9780991650989

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Reviews

""Failing's mystery series for young readers continues with a yarn set in middle America... 11-year-old twins Josh and Lizzie started up north, racing dogs in rural Alaska. Next, they traveled to Massachusetts, where they helped find a missing museum artifact. Now, the siblings are in Ohio, embarking on an adventure involving Indigenous American mounds... Throughout the fast-moving and often delightful story, themes of friendship, bullying, cultural respect, and rediscovery of personal identity are explored... Failing weaves them into her tale in a way that teaches but doesn't preach. It also whets the appetite for more escapades featuring Josh and Lizzie."" -Kirkus Reviews ""...Libraries will find Adventure USA - OHIO! The Mystery of the Mound works well as a stand-alone story... Its blend of realistic settings and characters, Ohio facts and history, a dash of mystery and confrontation, and the sense of adventure the twins experience makes for an exceptionally strong educational leisure read."" -D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Author Information

Barbara Larmon Failing, M.Ed. is the author of the middle grade adventure series, Adventure USA - Book 1: ALASKA! Danger on the Mushing Trail, Book 2: MASSACHUSETTS! The Stolen Spyglass and Book 3: OHIO! The Mystery of the Mound. She has enjoyed using her experience living in different states to craft adventures for 3rd - 6th graders. Barbara is also the author of Lasso Lou and Cowboy McCoy, Summer Success, and School Success. For over twenty years, she taught first and fifth grades, and she has reviewed children's books for Parent ABCs and The Press of Atlantic City. Barbara's joy is reading and writing and encouraging children to share that joy. A former reading specialist and elementary school teacher, she guided her first graders through the process of writing their own books, which were ""published"" and shared with others. Later, as a fifth-grade teacher, her students became editors and created a monthly school newspaper. Part of a US Public Health Service family, Barbara has lived in many areas of the United States, including New England, the Mid-Atlantic region, the Midwest, the West Coast, and Alaska. She now lives in the Midwest with her family. Writing and traveling are two of her passions, along with reading, biking, birding, and quilting. Visit her at https: //barbaralarmonfailing.com

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