Eleven-year-old twins, Josh and Lizzie Parker, and their travel-blogging parents are off on a new adventure, this time to Nantucket Island off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Aboard a ferry to the island, the twins meet Sara Coleman Clarke, or Grams, as her friends call her. Grams is desperate to boost her struggling family museum and has organized a Spyglass Spectacle gala to raise money for exciting improvements. Baxter Benedict, a long-time friend and famous collector, has finally agreed to allow the museum to display his most treasured item: a priceless antique spyglass that once belonged to Nantucket whaling captain, Reuben Coffin.
Suddenly, the spyglass turns up missing from its locked showcase. Mr. Benedict is furious at this unimaginable loss, and the future of the museum is in danger. With the Spyglass Spectacle just days away, will the twins, along with their new friend, Maya Benedict, be able to piece together a complex web of clues and recover the spyglass before it's lost forever?
Readers aged 8-12 years old will relish this entertaining mystery set on Nantucket Island off the coast of Cape Cod. Strong characters and a plot filled with twists and turns will entice readers of every age, including reluctant readers, parents, and educators.
"The Stolen Spyglass is a thrilling adventure-mystery. In the company of Josh and Lizzie, we are immediately thrust into a series of events that steadily build tension toward a last-minute, unexpected twist. I read it with my niece and nephew and found myself just as engrossed in the story as they were, relishing every moment."
Michele, Illustrator and teacher, Tennessee
"Readers will be caught up in the twins' latest exciting adventure mystery set on Nantucket Island."
Susan Masters, Middle-grade author and former teacher, New York
"Set on Nantucket, MASSACHUSETTS! The Stolen Spyglass, is an appealing and delightful adventure tale. Barbara Larmon Failing has a talent for immediately drawing the reader into a story that has a suspenseful plot and interesting characters."
D. Finn, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
"The twins are very quick-thinking as they unravel the clues in this second book of the Adventure USA series! Readers will love following Josh and Lizzie as they meet new friends and make a big impact on the community!"
Susan, Grandmother of 3 and retired elementary school teacher, New Jersey
"I finished this wonderful book today. Besides being great fun, it's so pleasant to be transported to Nantucket! I love this twin series filled with adventure, information, and danger."
Sara Clancy, Poet and author of Ghost Logic, American Southwest
"I was fortunate to get an advanced copy of MASSACHUSETTS! The Stolen Spyglass. I found the characters and location descriptions so well written that I could imagine myself there. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading about the twins' next adventure."
M. Blum, Columbus, Ohio