The Eureka Key by Sarah L Thomson

Secrets of the Seven book 1. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681190617
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. When middle school puzzle master Sam and history wiz Martina win a contest for a summer trip across the US, they discover they've been drafted into something vastly more extraordinary. Joining another kid on the trip, Theo, a descendant of George Washington himself, they must follow clues to find seven keys left behind by the Founding Fathers. Together the keys unlock Benjamin Franklin's greatest invention - a secret weapon intended to defend the country. Each key is hidden in a unique location around the U.S., protected with puzzles, riddles, and traps. This has kept the weapon safe . . . until now! Gideon Arnold, a dangerous descendant of the infamous Benedict Arnold, is on the chase.
Competition heats up between Arnold and his thugs and Sam and Martina to reach the artefacts first. Sam, Martina and Theo must use their problem solving skills to solve tricky puzzles, escape death and survive booby-traps. By the end of the series, they must be able to save the USA , uncovering many deep, dark secrets.
Readers will love trying to solve the clues themselves using deductive reasoning to escape and survive the high-stress situations the characters find themselves in. Will they be able to stay one step ahead of the baddies? The story is a fast paced, action thriller that is highly entertaining. It will appeal to students aged 11 and up who will eagerly await the release of each new book in the series of which will need to be read in order. It would make a great read aloud, particularly if studying American history as many of the clues are linked to this.
Kathryn Schumacher