Melissa is a nobody. Wilf is a slacker. Bondi is a show-off. At least that’s what their middle school teachers think. To everyone’s surprise, they are the three students chosen to compete for a ten thousand-dollar scholarship, solving clues that lead them to various locations around Chicago. At first the three contestants work independently, but it doesn’t take long before each begins to wonder whether the competition is a sham. It’s only by secretly joining forces and using their unique talents that the trio is able to uncover the truth behind the Ambrose Deception–a truth that involves a lot more than just a scholarship.

With a narrative style as varied and intriguing as the mystery itself, this adventure involving clever clues, plenty of perks, and abhorrent adults is pure wish fulfillment.

Thank you Rockstar Book Tours and Disney Hyperion Books for allowing me to be a part of this awesome tour and sending me a copy of this book. Be sure to click the photo above to check out Rockstar Book Tours website for all past and upcoming tours. They host some pretty amazing tours so check it out!

The Ambrose Deception is a fun middle grade book. Wilf, Bondi, and Melissa are all kids who are overlooked at their schools. When they are chosen to compete in a scholarship program, no one can quite believe it, including the kids! But things aren’t what they seem, and the clues they have to solve aren’t the only mystery they find themselves in the middle of.

There is a lot to love in this book. If you are a parent or teacher, this is a super fast read. I love how they mystery unfolds at a great pace, and the clues are for real landmarks around the Chicago area. I love that! Kids living in Chicago will have a ton of fun trying to solve the clues while reading. In fact, I think that would be such a fun interactive way to experience this book!

Beyond the treasure hunt, this book has fantastic themes about friendship, trust, and working together. I really liked how the clues for the hunt were repeated throughout the book, so that kids can easily follow along and remember what the kids in the book are looking for.

Sprinkled along with the hunt and each story line searching for the answers to their clues, are text message with parents, notes from the drivers, emails from teachers and much more. It helps tell the story and bring the worlds around each child to life in a fun way.

I think that parents will chuckle and kids will be delighted reading this book. It has awesome potential to be turned into a fun interactive experience. Even if you don’t live in Chicago, it would be easy to help them try and talk through how they would solve each clue, and even Googling the answers to see what you come up with! Books that are entertaining but can also be used to help kids learn is always a HUGE win for me! If you have kids, or work with kids, I recommend checking this book out. Especially if you live in or near Chicago!

The Ambrose Deception is available now! The links are below. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a finished copy. And please go visit the other amazing blogs on this tour. They’ve put together some fabulous guest posts, author interviews, along with awesome reviews!

 

 

Title: THE AMBROSE DECEPTION

Author: Emily Ecton

Pub. Date: February 13, 2018

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pages: 368

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD

 

 

Emily Ecton is a writer and producer for Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!,
the NPR news quiz. She has also been a playwright, a chinchilla wrangler, an ice cream scooper and a costume character. She lives
in Chicago with her dog, Binky.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

And now….. It’s time for a GIVEAWAY!!!!

Click the photo or HERE to enter!

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE AMBROSE DECEPTION, US Only.

Ends on February 27th at Midnight EST!

Tour Schedule:

Be sure to check out the rest of the blogs on this awesome book tour! See the schedule below!!!

Week One:

2/12/2018- For the Love of KidLit– Interview

2/13/2018- Christen Krumm– Review

2/14/2018- Books, Vertigo and Tea– Excerpt

2/15/2018- BookHounds YA– Review

2/16/2018- YA Books Central– Interview

Week Two:

2/19/2018- As The Book Ends– Review

2/20/2018- Nerdophiles– Review

2/21/2018- Jena Brown Writes– Review

2/22/2018- Novel Novice– Guest Post

2/23/2018- Cindy’s Love of Books– Review