Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt

Author: Megan McDonald
Lexile measure: 560
Language:  Acceptable, no potty language or overt swearing, but there is some pirate language
Violence:  Pirate language, but no actual violence, guns, or use of swords.  They kind of mention stuff like walking the plank and skull and crossbones, but its mostly in the context of characters showing off their ability to talk like a pirate.
Big Kid Mature Topics: competition/winning/losing, money, glorification of pirates
Illustrations: Frequent color pictures--rare in this length of book.
Plot:   complex, but interesting because of the puzzles.


This was a fun book.  This is also a good book for gifted kids because its about a treasure hunt with hints they have to figure out.  Some are riddles, some are puzzles, but nothing requiring calculations.  Its like an activity book and story rolled all into one.   This isn't one I would read as great literature--the book isn't about the characters or the plot or any great moral struggle, but about the puzzles--but its still fun reading and mind stretching in a way.  This is a good one to read on vacation, just for the enjoyment of it.