Longleaf: A Jason Caldwell Mystery

By Roger Reid

Book Overview

An Alabama Department of Education "Emphasis on Reading" Selection

When 14-year-old Jason Caldwell goes camping with his scientist parents, all he expects is peace and quiet. But before they arrive, Jason has already been the witness to a crime, and soon he'll find himself lost among the very longleaf pines that his parents hoped to study. Now Jason--and his new forest-smart friend Leah--will have to use all their knowledge of the outdoors to outwit a trio of villains and make it home safe. Set in the real-life Conecuh National Forest, Longleaf is a thrilling adventure for boys and girls--and an excellent introduction to the plants and animals of the Conecuh region, written by Discovering Alabama producer Roger Reid.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1588383113
• ISBN13: 9781588383112
• Release Date: February 2015
• Publisher: NewSouth Books
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.4" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

My son readLongleaf in 3 days

My son seemed to enjoy this story, though he did complain there was a lot of detail about trees thrown in. Of course, the author wanted him to learn those details. Any book that keeps my son reading gets a good review from me.

Wonderfully engaging

My son and I read this together. Inevitably, we would stretch reading time for an extra five, ten or fifteen minutes. The plot is constantly moving, and the descriptions of characters and scenery are very well done. One of the highlights of the book is the true and accurate sense of place - a longleaf pine forest - and the forest is just as engaging as any of the (human) characters.

I use this book

My house borders the Conecuh National Forest and I am a forester/researcher who specializes in longleaf pine. I've traveled to about 20 schools with Mr Reid. Roger talked about writing the book, the plot, and the characters. I give the "science" end of it. The kids loved "Longleaf", and this book gave us a entry to teach them about the forest they should see from their windows and doors of today, but probably do not. At school after school we asked "How many of you know about the rainforest in South America?" Then, "How many of you know about the longleaf pine forests here in the US?" If they had not already read the book "Longleaf" twice as many children said they knew more about the rainforest than the native longleaf that once covered most of the SE. At schools where the kids had read this book, they loved the story. And in the process of reading the book they learned about prescribed fire, red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoises, and many other components of this beautiful forest. This book works with its intended audience. And from the view of a forester/biologist this is the best book I can imagine for stirring the interest of young children in a forest that many of us hope to restore to some version of its former glory.

Fun, believable adventure

This is the ideal book for that kid you know who's already read a lot of Gary Paulsen. Not to take away from either author! It's just that it's hard to find an adventure book so authentic feeling, and with such good characters. And while there's no doubt, even for a page, that the good guys will eventually win, I was surprised by how the good ending occurred. The parents in this book were well-drawn, as well, and the local girl who befriends the protaganist is funny and believable. The bad guys were suitably scary without being cliches, and you definitely want them to get what's coming to them. Very satisfying book.