The Explorer’s Code by Allison K. Hymas

The Explorer’s Code by Allison K. Hymas is a novel meant for anyone who loves puzzles as well as a perfect read. The novel is about three kids: Anna, a restless, adventurous girl, Charlie, Anna’s brother as well as a math whiz, and Emily, who is on a secret mission with her own parents to protect the mystery—and puzzle—in the book, a giant mansion owned by the sister and husband of the great explorer Virginia Maines. All three of them quickly realize the house isn’t quite as it seems. They all work to try and figure out the mansion’s many secrets, and though they don’t know it, they must work quickly before it’s too late.

All three kids find clues at around the same time. First, Anna finds a key buried in the ground. Then, Charlie realizes the numbers on the doors aren’t as they seem.  Lastly, Emily finds that Mr. Llewelyn will be selling the house after the weekend they are there. Though they have all found clues, all are at odds with each other, not sharing anything with the others. Emily is just suspicious of the other children there and Charlie and Anna’s relationship as brother and sister has fallen apart over the years.

Anna then finds a secret passageway to the third floor, Charlie continues to find more and more codes hidden everywhere, and Emily is restlessly helping her parents with their jobs of saving the historical treasures inside the manor as well as the manor itself.

As the story continues, the characters slowly begin to learn that they must trust each other in order to succeed in figuring out the code and saving the mansion.

I loved this book not only because it was a great read, but also because Hymas wrote it in a way that you could try to find clues using the codes she provides. I tried reading the book as well and that was great too.