Author: Christy Davis 

ISBN: 1 4184 1796 3

The narrative opens with Jenny smiling on the first day of summer vacation.  At last the school year has ended and next year Jenny will be starting High School.  When Jenny’s parents announced they were planning a move from San Francisco to Millersville, Jenny was less than thrilled.  That was two years ago and now Jenny has a new best friend Laura and loves her new life.  Everything is pretty great except when Jenny and Laura must deal with Laura’s little brothers Alan and Casey the boys are only six and seven however, they are less problem than Laura’s older brother John and Jenny’s older brother Ben.  

It is when the girls find a bottle in the river that an unexpected summer adventure begins.  The bottle holds a key and a note signed by ‘Gus’ telling of a cache of treasure, misfortune and even death.  Jenny decides to show the note to her brother John’s friend Ben and that is when the hunt for the treasure cache begins.  Backpacks filled with supplies, an unexpected slide into the interior of the mountain, a skeleton, another bottle, a trapdoor, more skeletons, something that growls, and more notes all figure in the adventure before the kids find their way out of the cave.

Writer Davis has crafted a quick, fun read meant for kids in middle grades.  Repartee between the siblings is typical, believable and real.  That The Mountain of Stone is a kid’s adventure that might well take place is a good part of the draw for kids in the target audience.  Writing is good, fast paced and easily read.  Characters are detailed enough to give the reader a clear picture of who and what the kids are all about without being over done.  Siblings squabble as youngsters do, grumble over chores and having to watch over ‘tag along’ little brothers, also as youngsters do.  The kids also work together when the situation calls for it and they care for one another when the going gets tough.  The storyline itself is believable and acceptable. 

Writer Davis throws in a little quiet teaching as the kids consult the dictionary for help in deciphering the cryptic note left in the bottle, or when they decide what supplies might be needed to ensure the success of their adventure.

Reader interest is captured from the opening page as Jenny faces summer vacation with a smile on her lips and is held fast right down to last paragraphs as the kids make it home in time to avoid being grounded. 

Sure to please both boys and girls in the target audience The Mountain of Stone is a good choice for the home pleasure reading shelf, the home school reading list and the classroom library.