Once Upon A Romance's Review Of...
McKenzie’s Montana Mystery by Shari Barr

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Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: McKenzie’s Montana Mystery - 3rd in the Camp Club Girls series
Author: Shari Barr
Publisher: Barbour
ISBN-13: 978-1-60260-269-4
Release Date: March 2010
Genre/Sub-genre: Youth/Tween Inspirational Fiction
Publisher’s Age/Grade Recommendation: Ages 9-12
OUAR’s Age/Grade Recommendation: Ages 8-12
Year/Setting: Present day, Montana
Overall Rating: 4.5
Camp Club Girls Website/Blog: www.campclubgirls.com

I am a huge fan (yes, still) of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. When I was a youngster, I was so enthralled and captivated with how they solved their crimes. At that age it was more action-packed than Indiana Jones. This series, as far as I’m concerned, is most definitely the Nancy Drew of this generation.

To catch you all up, The Camp Club Girls are six females who met up at camp one year and solved their very first mystery together. Although they are all scattered across the country, they keep in touch over the internet. In this third adventure, McKenzie from Montana is the Camp Club girl stuck in the midst of a real Wild West whodunit mystery. She’s helping out at a horse ranch for the summer. While there, she’s practicing her horseback riding and barrel racing abilities in order to enter the Rodeo that’s coming up. She loves riding and working with horses. Unfortunately, her mother also convinced her to enter the Miss Rodeo Queen Contest, which makes McKenzie want to up-chuck in every stall.

Bailey arrives at the camp. Now, Bailey is the youngest of the Camp Club Girls at nine years old, and her family has allowed her to come and spend some time with McKenzie (who’s thirteen). Bailey loves helping McKenzie out, but she really wishes that she could win Rodeo Queen, or any of the other events that are scheduled. I think she’s a little sick and tired of being the youngest, and desperately wants to "break out" of her shell. It’s the Camp Club Girls to the rescue. They go on the Internet and discuss every facet of the mystery with the others, as clues begin to mount up including: a candy bar wrapper, an old horseshoe, and a yellow plastic tie from one of the fences.

These books are so endearing. The adventure is fast-paced and fun and the novels always offer wonderful lessons about hope and faith in the Lord. Not to mention, for an old hag like me , it is so nice of the author to list the Internet Chat room terms (i.e.: G2G = got to go; and, LTNC = long time no see). Believe me, the writer covered all the bases so that any mom can enjoy reading these adventures right along with their kids.

Until next time, Amy

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