Summer of the Woods (The Virginia Mysteries)

My son love this! We met the author this summer and got a copy of this - it was a perfect summer reading adventure. It is very cool that it takes place in Virginia where we live. It's got a bit of history, adventure and mystery which is perfect for a second grade reader. It reminded me of the way he enjoys the Magic Tree House series. I can't stress enough how exciting the local aspect is for us. We are very excited for the rest of the series! -CBL
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"It's the best book ever! I want to go looking for the Indian head cent penny! It's cool that it takes place in Virginia!!!" -STIG WROTE THIS!! (and mom loves the idea that Stig wanted to write a review!)

This book was so good. It is exactly as the description described it: Magic tree house meets hardy boys. The plot was good, Derek and Sam were such great characters to follow and the family dynamic was great. I am looking forward to picking up the rest of the series as soon as I can!

I am reading these in the car this summer to my 11 year old grandson as we travel around. He is a good reader on his own but has issues with motion sickness and he loves these books. The adventures have taken him to new places as well as teaching him history in a fun way. We are starting the third book and hope there are more coming out.

My nine year old, reluctant reader was the first in our family to complete Summer of the Woods. She fell in love with the story. The mystery and adventure drew her in right away. As a parent, I loved the book because Mr. Smith did not talk down to the reader. It was a perfect read aloud for my seven year olds. This fast paced, wholesome adventure story will leave you wanting to take a hike with your kids and get book two, Mystery at Church Hill, right away!

I am a eight years old and I am in second grade, and my name is Catalina.This book is very,very good. It has so much emotions,and it’s mysterious and you never know what will happen next! I recommend this book to persons who like excitement and who like mysteries.???

I was so thrilled to find a mystery adventure series that reminds me of reading the hardy boys when I was young. Every young person should be introduced to this kind of book. I look forward to reading more in the series and go on another adventure.

My children and I loved this book! Living in the suburbs of Richmond, VA, we felt like this could have happened in our backyard. What a fun and exciting mystery taking place in our hometown! Already started the next one!

I thought the book was awesome and super adventurous. I liked the journey that Sam and Derek took in their new environment. I like how you learn things while your reading for fun. This book is a mystery but it is not scary, I thought it was a cliff hanger at some points. I suggest this book to other kids because Summer of the Woods gives incredible details so you can picture what is going on and not be completely clueless. I loved this book and I am looking forward to reading the next ones!

Two brothers, eight-year-old Sam and ten-year-old Derek, recently moved to Virginia at the start of summer. They are excited and anxious to explore their new backyard, which happens to be the woods. Their parents trust them to explore the woods alone and the summer they won't forget begins. Sam discovers an old, worn down coin in the creek and pockets it. After showing their dad the coin and talking with the neighbors they discover that there was a rare coin collection stolen from a local museum. Derek and Sam believe they can discover where the coin collection now hides. However, they don't often know what to expect within the dark woods and mysteries behind the coin collection. What dangers await the brothers in the woods? Will Sam and Derek discover the old coin collection?

I really enjoyed Summer of the Woods. The story was well written with good descriptions. I could really visualize the brothers' quest into the woods. It reminded me of the film, The Goonies. The brothers are young explorers who are determined that there is more within the woods. Besides showing their dad the coin, the treasure hunt remains a secret between the two. This is Steven Smith's first book and I'm excited to read what he writes next. I recommend Summer of the Woods for a fun adventure read.

My son (7 years old) LOVED this whole series! I cannot recommend it enough. The characters are relatable and grow up as the series moves forward. We LOVED them!!! I have recommended them to all the school librarians I know.

I met the author at the annual watermelon festival and he was so nice that I decided to buy his first two books and check them out. So glad I did. What a fun read. Reminds me of the Hardy Boys mysteries only shorter. Flows very well and overall a good story. Boys and girls should love this. I read it in one sitting....hard to put down. Nice job.

I have truly enjoyed reading this book to my son. He is eleven and I am fifty. He will plead for the next chapter. He was drawn in by the adventure and enjoyed learning about wheat pennies, which has sparked an interest in coins and collecting.

I have been reading this with my second grade class and we are all hooked! We love the story line and the adventure, perfect for 2nd grade and up. My class has enjoyed the book so much that they have been disappointed when we come to a stopping point and have to pick it up the next day, because they have wanted to keep reading! We can't wait to start reading the next book!

I read Summer of the Woods I with my first and fourth grade sons. I have to say that I was very impressed with the writing and the story kept all three of us engaged throughout. My boys were rapt and begged for "just one more chapter" each night. Well done, Mr. Smith! Can't wait to read the second!

Read this book to my kids ages 5, 6, & 7 and it really kept them entertained. I thought the plot & characters could have been a little more developed--especially in the closing chapters--but overall we enjoyed the book. Also appreciated the lessons the parents in the story teach their kids. Good family story.

My 7 year old loved this! While there is a place for the "silly" books targeted for little boys nowadays, it's refreshing to find a story reminiscent of the Hardy Boys, yet updated for this generation. Excited for the next one!

Young readers will find this mystery exciting and entertaining as they follow two young brothers who have relocated from urban Northeast to suburban VA and find much more adventure than they expected while exploring the woods near their new home. The interaction between the boys is genuine and humorous and the mystery surrounding the old coins may well spark an interest in coin collecting. Parents (and grandparents) will appreciate the good, solid values that are woven into the story line almost imperceptibly and kids will relate to the issues of seeking adventure, moving and starting a new school, and trying to please parents while at the same time achieve more independence. My 7 and 9 yr old grandkids loved it.

Summer of the Woods is an excellent summer adventure story. The story about Derek and Sam's adventure captures the imagination and made me think of my own summer adventures as a child. The story kept us engaged and curious about how it was going to progress and would Derek and Sam be successful in finding their treasure. It is stories like Summer of the Woods that keep children engaged in reading and satisfies their thirst for adventure and wholesome fun!

My boys (ages 9 and 6) and I just finished reading the book together! We all loved it! Derek and Sam's adventure kept my boys interested, and curious about what was going to happen next! It was a great book to read aloud with them. With the book's vivid details, it was easy to picture the characters and the woods. It also had some humorous parts that had my sons laughing out loud! When we finished it, my sons had smiles on their faces, and asked if they could go out into the woods!!

As a Montessori guide, I look long and hard for books like this one. I can provide this book with full confidence that the reading materials is accurate, fun, creative and worth the child's time. For a 9-12 classroom, I would order two copies of this and order the next ones in the series as soon as they are available. As the promo states, this is the school bus and hardy boys in tandem. With the added, correct historical facts and information, it can be very rewarding reading. Not complex in the wordage, but hard enough to make it fun and rewarding for even beginning readers fo novels.

I read this book with my kids, and since the characters were similar in age to them, they were really drawn in. At the end of each chapter, both were wide eyed and wondering what would happen next. We will definitely be reading the next book in the series.

I read this aloud to my 8 and 13 year old boys. They laughed a lot, especially the younger one. It was an enjoyable, interesting, and clean read. Thank you, Mr. Smith, for quality reading materials. We've started the second book now.

I bought this book for my 6 year old grandson. He loves mysteries and this one is a cut above most of what is available for young boys. It is well written, wholesome, and includes some historical info.

I borrowed this in the Kindle format so I could read it, and decided to get my great - nephew started on the series for Christmas. I've purchased the first three. I found it intriguing, encouraging youngsters to experience life beyond a flat screen and keyboard! Looking forward to hearing my nephews response.