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Title: Newspaper Caper by Max Elliot Anderson ISBN: 0-9729256-4-3 Publisher: FaithWorks Pub. Date: 10 September, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $9.95

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Average Customer Rating: 4.8 (5 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: A Great Start to an Exciting series of Books
Comment: 12-yr old Tom Stevens is a paper boy. A born leader and 'business man,' Tom parleys everything he touches into a money-making enterprise. "When he was only four, Tom was the first boy on his street to set up a lemonade stand -- in January. And, even though snow already covered the ground, people still stopped and bought some. He could just as easily sell hot chocolate on the most sweltering day of the summer if he wanted to."

Thus Max Anderson introduces us to Tom. With his two best friends Jimmy and Matt, Tom runs one of the largest newspaper routes in his home town. But Tom isn't your ordinary kid. His is an inquisitive mind and when he spots something not quite right, he is determined to get to the bottom of it.

That early in the morning, the boys often saw some pretty strange things: customers locked outside their house while retrieving the paper just delivered, not necessarily ready to meet the world - like a lady in curlers and green stuff on her face. But the boys instinctively adopted a rule of silence about what they saw on their daily route.

However, one morning, during their summer vacation, while it is still dark, the boys notice a tow-truck backing up to the car parked in the driveway of one of their customers. A man gets out of the truck and approaches the car, while in the cab sits another man. Tom gets a glimpse of him. He wears a light blue shirt with a nametag on the front and a patch on the sleeve. The man had dark hair. Though his face was hidden, Tom saw the name on his shirt -- "Jake."

But the man outside the truck sees the boys and instead of hooking up the car to tow it away he quickly runs back to the truck, jumps in and drives away with squealing tires and a trail of blue smoke. "That's strange," thought Tom. And the investigation is on.

Max says he really hated to read, and everything he tried to read failed to hold his interest. He wanted "music, action, and moving pictures...not just a bunch of words." So, he set out to write a book that he would like. NEWSPAPER CAPER is the start of an adventure series he developed will hold the interest of ...'Tweeners' - ages 8-13, especially boys."

I loved this book - and I'm a girl! And I'm definitely not a Tweener. Yet this book captivated me from the first page. I think Max has done exactly what he set out to do - and beyond. I'd give this book SIX stars, if there were such a thing. Max, you're on the right track, and I wish you all the best!

Rating: 5
Summary: Heartland Review of Newspaper Caper
Comment: Newspaper Caper is a wonderful mid-grade mystery adventure book for reluctant readers. Tom Stevens is a nine-year-old businessman who has talked he two best friends into working for him on his morning newspaper route. They witness, try to solve, and become enmeshed in a car theft ring.

This book teaches the work ethic, honesty and many positive values, while not preaching. The action is fast, and young people will quickly get pulled into the story. We feel this author is providing a much-needed resource for those readers who would rather not read if they don't have to. We rated it five hearts.

Rating: 4
Summary: Quick moving, exciting read for young readers
Comment: Tom Stevens could sell anything to anyone. He immediately reminded me of Tom Sawyer with his ability to convince the other kids that it was fun and a privilege to paint the fence. Tom Stevens had the same gift of persuasion. In "Newspaper Caper" Tom soon convinces his friends Jimmy and Matt to help him with a newspaper route and the adventure begins.

When cars start disappearing from the neighborhood the boys decide to keep their eyes open for anything unusual as they deliver their papers early in the morning. Their diligence soon pays off. Ride along with them on their adventure as the story unfolds and the suspense continues to build. Although it is more likely to appeal to boys than girls, it is an excellent story for kids around eight to twelve years old of either sex.

There is one section of the story that some parents are likely to find offensive. Near the beginning there is an incident with a vicious dog. In dealing with the dog Matt prepares some fresh meat with jalapeno juice and Tabasco sauce and finishes it off by lacing it with laxatives. Needless to say it makes an immediate impression on the dog and it no longer is a problem for them. In fact, by the end of the adventure it is on a friendly basis with them. It would be a shame for a child to miss a good story because a parent is offended by such a passage (although I can understand their being offended). Taking the positive angle with the incident it could be used by parents to open up a discussion of cruelty to animals or whether or not the ends justifies the means in many situations. The same passage could be used as a reason not to allow your child to read the book or used as a springboard for an important and educational discussion. Other than that one caveat, this is a suspenseful, fast paced, story with the choice of words appropriate for pre-teen readers and a recommended read.