Sean Vogel

Fifteen-year-old Jake and his friends spend their winter break in Chicago at a music camp. In addition to honing his violin skills, Jake finds himself delving into the death of his mother in the Windy City 13 years earlier (when Jake was just a toddler). Jake's mom was an art consultant who was investigating a lost Mary Cassatt mural at the time of her death.

Fun, engaging mystery where tech-savvy Jake was able to pick up on clues left by his mother about the recently-found Mary Cassatt mural which she believed was a fake--this led to her being struck to death by a car in front of the Chicago Theater on State Street which was initially written off as an accident. Jake's mom had also left possible clues as to the whereabouts of the real mural. Jake and his friends soon find themselves in danger as well. The author did a good job of bringing the sights and sounds of Chicago to life. Would recommend this to teen mystery lovers, especially guys. Readers will enjoy the traps Jake and his friends set up at the end to catch the bad guys--more elaborate than any trap set on Scooby-Doo.… (mais)

Zach, Jake's rival, and Julie, his crush, also end up in the same small town in Ireland. When they uncover a clue to a treasure, the foursome quickly get to work unraveling the clues. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones looking for the treasure.

The entire book felt like a cross between Goonies and Home Alone. Despite this, I thought it was quite enjoyable, if not a bit serendipitous. Everything magically fell into place, including the fairy-tale like ending. Nonetheless, I think middle-schoolers will highly enjoy the book and be left wanting to read more about Jake and his friends.… (mais)

From its opening pages to its final chapter, Celtic Run offers readers an action-packed adventure full of romance, peer problems, and more than a little luck o’ the Irish. Set amidst a breathtaking backdrop, this story follows Jake McGreevy as he travels to the place of his ancestors for a school project only to find himself in the middle of a centuries-old treasure hunt. Armed with his trusty Leatherman multi-tool, a well-worn guidebook, and three friends (only two of whom he actually likes), Jake pieces together clues to find the loot that may be his last hope of making things right with his father. The teens battle the elements (endless gray skies, chilly summer nights—typical Ireland) and their own inhibitions to find the treasure before a gang of thieves beats them to it—or kills them all—and what they find is more valuable than they could ever imagine.

Sean Vogel does the Irish landscape justice with his attention to detail. From the soaring cliffs that hug the coastline to the majestic make-up of Corráin Castle, readers can easily envision the juxtaposition of a peaceful country and the dangers the teens face (some of which seem very improbable, but a little willing suspension of disbelief will do the trick). Vogel’s occasional sprinkling of Irish phrases will enchant readers, leaving them with foreign words to add to their collections. Despite a few passages that suffer from awkward syntax, Vogel manages to charm his readers with his amiable protagonist, non-stop action, and witty one-liners. Readers won’t be able to help eagerly flipping the page pages, reading as quickly as the characters run away from their pursuers, until they come upon the satisfying conclusion. Teens and YA-fiction lovers of all ages will find themselves cheering for Jake and his crew as they traverse the rugged Land of Éire in search of the fortune of a lifetime.

POTENTIAL TEACHABLES: Irish words and phrases; difference between “Irish” and “Gaelic”; types of Gaelic; Ireland’s geography and brief history; Spanish words and phrases; Spanish Armada; 1588; inner monologue as indirect characterization; rising action points to build climax; landscape as character; words to enhance imagery.… (mais)