From School Library Journal
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Gr 6–9—Fans of the "Tunnels" series (Scholastic,
2008) will enjoy Smith's latest. Pat and Coop were always close.
Coop even let Pat help with his secret tunnel project under
Washington, DC. But after an accidental explosion, Coop runs
away. One year later, Pat receives a package with a recorder and
a message that leads him on a mission to find and rescue his old
friend. Smith spends much of the first 100 pages on backstory,
though it is imperative to understanding the relationship between
Pat and Coop had and why Pat is so motivated to travel alone to
New York City to find him. This makes the pacing slow at first,
but it increases dramatically once Pat makes it to the society
under the city. The second half is better paced and
action-packed. Beneath hits all the notes of an underground
novel, with several allusions to classics such as Jules Verne's
Journey to the Center of the Earth and H.G. Wells's The Time
Machine. Avid lovers of adventure fiction will enjoy this quick
read.—Patrick Tierney, Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School
RI
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Review
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Praise for TENTACLES:
"A high-octane page-turner that will reel readers in and keep
them riveted." --SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Swashbuckling adventure, narrow escapes, sea monsters: The
fascinating science of cryptids and Smith's fast-paced story will
capture the imagination of any action-loving reader." --BOOKPAGE
Praise for the STORM RUNNERS series:
"A breakneck read, perfectly geared to the restless and
reluctant." --BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS
"This slice of natural disaster . . . offers nary a dull moment.
A high-velocity page-turner . . ." --KIRKUS REVIEWS
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About the Author
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Roland Smith first worked with animals at the Portland Zoo, and
he has been involved in animal rescues and conservation work
around the world for more than twenty years. He is the author of
numerous books for young readers, including JACK'S RUN, ZACH'S
LIE, CRYPTID HUNTERS, PEAK, TENTACLES, and the Storm Runners
series. He is also the co-author of numerous picture books with
his wife, Marie. Roland lives with Marie on a farm south of
Portland, Oregon. You can find him online at www.rolandsmith.com.
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Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
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Exactly one year to the day after my brother, Coop, ditched me, I
got a package in the mail.
It came to the school, not our house.
The secretary handed me the package with a warning that I was
never to use the school as my personal address.
I was going to tell her that I hadn't when I saw my name: Pat
Meatloaf O'Toole scrawled in Coop's familiar handwriting.
Meatloaf is not my real middle name.
I told her I would never do it again, grabbed the package, locked
myself in a restroom stall, and tore the box open.
Inside was a handheld digital voice recorder, a supply of memory
sticks, and a note written on a greasy hamburger wrapper:
"Lil Bro, Pat, just turn the recorder to Play, and I'll explain
what you're supposed to do with this. DO NOT share with parents.
This is just between you and me. Your big bro, Coop . . ."
I made sure the restroom was empty and switched on the recorder.
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