Absolutely enjoyable book with suspense, but not too much drama.
Plot
After overhearing a mysterious conversation inside a mattress store, Jack Derwood convinces his sister Penny to help him investigate a ring of criminals. But after the two spies think they know more than they do and their mom is hospitalized, they are sent to their aunt's. Little do they know that they are not being sent away from danger, but into its very heart.
Morality
Good is good and bad is bad. When several characters do something wrong, they pay for it. The two main characters do tend to ignore one of their younger siblings, though.
Spiritual Content
The main characters are Christians and pray to God for help and guidance.
Violence
People are tied up, some characters wield guns, and a bully tries to force a boy to eat a worm. Also, several characters are kidnapped and the main characters' mother is in the hospital during the last part of the book. One character mentions that if you are out in the cold too long, you'll lose your toes.
Drug and Alcohol Content
Two people are chloroformed and a hamster is given coffee to keep it from falling asleep. One of the main characters' uncles used to be a bootlegger and some bad guys use an old bootleggers' hut.
Sexual Content
None.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
None.
Conclusion
This is a very enjoyable book. It is split into two parts and is a suspenseful story, but not overly dramatic. It has a lot of clean humor in it too, but the jokes do not get old and it is well-written and fun. Though the characters do tease each other, and a joke between siblings does go too far at one point, the main characters are not afraid to stand up for themselves and for their family members, even when they know that the circumstances are not ideal (standing up to bullies and such). This is a book that I have read multiple times and thoroughly enjoyed each time.
This review is brought to you by Luthien.
