Capture the Flag

Messner's book is a locked-room mystery in the sense that a bunch of people is trapped in an airport because of a snowstorm. Among those people are four kids who, after initial disinterest, team up to solve a mystery: someone has stolen the historic American flag that inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner." Each of the kids has some sort of connection to the flag. To start with, all four of them were at a museum reception for the flag exhibit the evening before--and the flag was stolen that night. Anna's mother is a newscaster and her father is a Senator. She sees herself as a budding news reporter. José's mother worked on restoring the flag. Henry's aunt is a history buff, though Henry would far rather play video games. Sinan is the son of two members of an orchestra from Pakistan that performed at the exhibit--an orchestra that is eventually accused of stealing the flag. Sinan is the owner of a rambunctious poodle named Hammurabi, too.Anna tries to get an interview with Senator Snickerbottom, who is also in the airport. He's leading up to a campaign for president. Then there's Snake Eye, a man with an odd tattoo who acts suspiciously. Throw in a couple of thugs while you're at it. Pretty soon Anna and her friends are sliding and hiding in the luggage area, where a lot of chase scenes in the book take place. Later we find out about a secret society.The four kids are likable, each with his or her quirks. For example, as he learns English, Sinan keeps a notebook in which he draws pictures to help him remember expressions like "full of beans" and "killing time." These pictures are included in the book. Anna is intrepid, José is sweet but sturdy, and Henry is sucked into things against his will but proves helpful in the end. A lot of books have a main hero, but I liked meeting this ensemble cast.Capture the Flag is a very kid-friendly book, with exciting yet ultimately non-perilous peril. I can easily see it being turned into a movie. I'll just end by saying that the book's title deserves to be in the Clever Title Hall of Fame.First line: "They never should have unlocked the door."

What do I like so much about  Capture the Flag ? I personally find history fascinating, but I have a hard time selling "historical fiction" to most of our elementary school students. It seems dry and distant to them, and they have a hard time connecting to events in our past.  Capture the Flag  is a fast-paced mystery/adventure, set in contemporary time, but it includes historical details. These details will tie in with what students are studying in the classroom, and stir their interest in American history.The characters are believable middle school students (not sugary sweet, not juvenile delinquents) who find themselves in the midst of an intriguing crime. Someone has stolen the original Star Spangled Banner flag from the Smithsonian, and the three students are snowed in at a Washington, D.C. airport with the criminals and other interesting travelers. It's like the National Treasure movies, but with kids instead of adults solving the puzzle. I found that it was written at the right level for students to figure out the mystery at the same pace that the characters do, and to feel clever as they make those inferences.Fourth and fifth grade teachers at our school have been reading this book aloud to our students and thoroughly enjoying it. If you are a teacher or librarian, consider buying  Capture the Flag  to encourage your students' interest in history!

Great read for young kids….like a national treasure movie written just for them! Entertaining and lighthearted chase but just suspenseful enough for young readers.

The characterizations of the 3 heroes, 2 boys and a girl, are very well done and contemporary. Read this book with my 9 year old, and even though this book is told mostly from the girl hero's point of view, he enjoyed the book very much. There is definitely ethnic and cultural diversity in this book, but not so much so that it is in your face, but rather as seamless elements in the story as a whole, which is reflective of the modern USA. The story was unique and provided much for the imagination. Could easily be made into an after school movie. Well worth the time to read.

My granddaughter got me reading middle grade adventures, so it's a delight when I find one I can recommend back to her. From the first page I was swept up in the mystery and found it hard to put the book down until I'd reached the end. Kate Messner gives us four unique main characters with completely different motives. That it all takes place during a wait of a storm-delayed flight keeps you on the edge of your seat with a very present clock ticking away. I will be reading the next in the series and looking forward to future installments.

I purchased this book because it received so many great reviews. Now I wish I hadn't spent a penny for it. It started out fairly promising, but after about the third chapter I knew who the culprit was; it was that obvious. The rest of the book consists of four kids running around in the baggage area of the airport they are stranded in due to a blizzard. These four kids, who are strangers to each other, suddenly become best friends in only a matter of what seemed like a few minutes. Two-thirds of this book is all about the baggage area and it's rollercoaster of conveyor belts. I've never seen the back rooms of an airport, but I imagine the descriptions are an extreme over exaggeration. I would imagine an airport is a great deal more secure and orderly than what is painted here. I literally felt stuck in the baggage area and couldn't wait for this book to end so I could get out.

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My boys ages (11, 9, and 7) loved how the action in this book started right from the start.

This book was chosen for my 5th grade (10 year old) daughter as the school summer read. She is a very reluctant reader but still loves it.We were unable to find it in a local UK bookshop. Delivered in three days!

A great read for boys and girls alike, this story features strong characters and an action packed story that is fast paced and keeps you guessing. My only concern is that it is very American, so i would not use it as a read aloud in my classroom, but that did not hinder my enjoyment of this book.