Cliff-Hanger (Mysteries in Our National Park) - Softcover

Grade 6-9-Jack Landon, 12, and his younger sister, Ashley, who appeared in three previous adventures, are about to leave for Mesa Verde National Park with their veterinarian mom and photographer dad when the family is called upon to accept a foster child, 13-year-old Lucky, on an emergency basis. Mrs. Landon has been called as a consultant to the area because a cougar has attacked a hiker. Ashley is thrilled, but Jack is not pleased to have a last-minute intruder on the family's trip. His attitude changes as he finds himself attracted to Lucky, but she refuses to answer any questions, won't tell anyone her last name, and makes statements that strain credibility. Ashley is quicker than Jack to catch on to some of the inconsistencies in the girl's behavior, partly because he does not want to believe that his sister is correct. Lucky's actions eventually lead all three youngsters into a life-threatening situation involving the cougar. Once they are rescued, Lucky escapes the family's custody and flees the country with her less-than-honest father. The well-developed plot moves right along, and the characters have definite personalities. Descriptions of actual places, their history, and the environment add to the ambience. A solid adventure story enhanced by an interesting study of honesty vs. deception.
Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The third entry in the National Parks Mystery series features the Landon family (veterinarian mother, photographer father, 12-year-old Jack, and 10-year-old Ashley), which finds itself in Mesa Verde National Park, where Mrs. Landon is on the trail of a human-attacking cougar. But the Landons are not alone. With them is 13-year-old Lucky, whom they have taken into foster care on an emergency basis. Lucky immediately arouses suspicion, making mysterious calls in the middle of the night and taking things that aren't hers. But Jack is her friend (and thinks she's cute), so he protects her from questions. In a spine-chilling conclusion, Jack must try to save Lucky from both the cougar and her return to a life that Jack knows will cause her pain. The authors do a fine job of integrating lots of material into an exciting story. They neatly balance information about Mesa Verde National Park with details of Lucky's life as a scam artist, and they keep the threat of the deadly cougar hanging over everything. Readers will look forward to the next in the series. Ilene Cooper