Scavenger Hunt

by: Christopher Pike

Review done by:

Kristin Florell

Grade 6

Van Antwerp Middle School

Niskayuna, NY

An excellent novel I read this year was Scavenger Hunt by Christopher Pike.

This book is about a teenager named Carl who recently lost his best friend Joe in a really, really strange accident. He drowned in a flood which seems usual but the weird part was it was in the desert. After his death, a new boy Tom arrives, and Jerry starts having these really scary flashbacks about Joeís death. A month or so later this really creepy teacher and some students plan a scavenger hunt for the seniors. What Carl doesnít know is that it is not just your ordinary scavenger hunt and his team isnít just your average teenagers. They start off and the only other team behind them is Tracieís. Tracie has a really big crush on Carl. They go along to find items that you would use to go hiking. Well, the hunt leads them out to the desert, the spot where Joe was killed. Carl doesnít know where or why he is out there, but he is soon in for a big surprise.

There were a lot of action and surprises in this book. One of my favorite parts is where Tracie sees Davey and Cessy kissing, and they are brother and sister. Then she starts to figure out that this not just a scavenger hunt but a scarfice of a life. I canít tell you the surprise at the end even though it was one of my favorite surprises. If I did, I would ruin the whole point of the book. Some of the major characters are Davey and Cessy Shephard, Carl Timmons, Rick, Tracie, and Paula. Rick and Paula are brother and sister. Carl is the one telling the story of the Scavenger Hunt to the priest.

Why I chose this book as one of my favorite is because it is a horror book with a tad of mystery and adventure here and there. That is also when this book held my interest. This book was well written. Christopher Pike described the action, characters, and settings, so well that he made you think you are part of the book.

I would definitely recommend this book because it is not boring and short. It is actually long and exciting. So borrow it from your library or borrow it from a friend.