This Odyssey book series explores the history of the much-loved character John Avery Whittaker. The series introduces newcomers to the larger world of Odyssey. For readers who are already Odyssey-philes, the novels provide the history of the franchise’s most important character.
Whit and his family (father, Harold; stepmother, Fiona; half-sister, Charlie) have just moved to Provenance, NC, in the middle of the Great Depression. Harold will be teaching at nearby Duke University. Not-quite-10-year-old Johnny soon makes a friend in Emmy, who lives across the street and joins him in his adventures. At his new school, he encounters a bully who makes his life miserable, and he makes a new friend in Huck, the custodian. Both of them play key roles in the mysteries and action.
The central mystery in book 1 involves Confederate gold missing since the end of the Civil War and the question of whether Johnny’s ancestor was the coward and thief who stole it, as everyone believes.
Firstly, this book is intended for young kids – Amazon lists the book for kids ages seven and up. It’s not your typical young reader, though. It’s a historical mystery, dealing with the battlefields of the Civil War, the prejudice that lingers in the South, and slavery. There are complex characters dealing with being the new kid in school, losing family, gaining a stepmother, bullying, and grief. The text is easy to read and the words flow, but this is not your ‘I like my cat’ kind of book. It would make a fantastic read aloud, and there are many things to discuss throughout the story, but it’s perfect for young and advanced readers.
Topping out at nearly 250 pages, it’s not your typical entry-level chapter book, either. There’s weight and heft to this book, and I love it. The length gives time for the authors to develop the storyline and the characters. I wish we’d had this book when my kids were this age, because deep, well-written books that are clean and encouraging for younger kids are really difficult to find, but this gives me high hopes for the rest of the series.
It’s not your typical Christian-book-for-kids, either. Like all Adventures in Odyssey books, the main characters are, well, of great character, but John isn’t yet a believer. While he has several strong examples in his life, he claims not to believe at the beginning of this story. I don’t think this is a bad sign, however; John obviously knows his way around the Bible and sees attending church services as a positive thing. This gave me the impression that while John may not believe right now, the series may develop his faith in a realistic journey-style. I like that the book didn’t come across as preachy or make it feel as if John was claiming other people’s faith as his own, but that he was discovering elements of faith for himself. I’m hoping to see this faith continue to grow and develop in subsequent books.
I want to read those other books, too. I love the plot lines in this book; they’re realistic, exciting, and fun to read. I love that there is both history and culture in this stories, and as a part-Scot who also had an ancestor at the Battle of Gettysburg, it was fun to read that scenario in a story. My Big Helper was excited to see so many references to our local areas: Charlotte, Raleigh, but especially Duke University, as this all helped to bring the setting to life for her.
Lollar and Arnold have penned a real winner with Whitt & the Traitor’s Treasure. I can’t wait to see what they do next!
I received a free copy of this book from FrontGate Media. All opinions are my own.
What are your thoughts?