4 Reasons Young Readers Will Love James Patterson’s Treasure Hunters Series

The Treasure Hunters series, written with co-author Chris Grabenstein, ranks particularly high on the hard-to-put-down, adventures-at-every-turn scale. It introduces the Kidds, a family of seasoned travelers whose four siblings who grew up sailing around the world on a houseboat with their thrill-seeking parents, renowned treasure hunters who spend their days exploring sunken shipwrecks.
That is, until mom and dad disappear—leaving their smart and resourceful children to become treasure hunters themselves as they decipher the buried clues and complex riddles their parents have left for them to find, all while dodging bad guys and trying to determine who they can really trust.

In the newest book in the series, Secret of the Forbidden City, the Kidds find themselves up against ruthless pirates who have kidnapped their mother—and whose demands keep escalating. First they must travel to China to locate a precious ancient artifact to trade for her return, but before long, they’re told that they actually have to find priceless paintings that were stolen by Nazis. As they careen across the globe in a madcap race against time, will they manage to outsmart their mother’s captors in time? And what’s with the cryptic messages they’ve started receiving from their dad?
There are many reasons why young readers (and their parents) will love this series, but here are our favorites.
The Kidd siblings are big on teamwork
The Kidds have their share of squabbles, like all siblings. But when trouble’s afoot (which it frequently is), they are able to set their differences aside and work together. It isn’t always easy—especially without their parents to guide them, help them sort out their differences, and keep them from snapping at each other. But beneath all the teasing (and a few “Twin Tirades”), their fondness for one another shines through, and they aren’t above seeking comfort in the occasional (adorable) group hug. This series will remind children with complicated sibling relationships that deep down, they share a strong bond with their brothers and sisters.
Their different strengths are celebrated
Like every kid, every Kidd is special in their own unique way, and has their own strengths and weaknesses. From Tommy’s navigational abilities, and Bick’s martial arts skills, to Storm’s razor sharp photographic memory, each sibling’s special skills are valued and appreciated, and each contributes to the success of the group as a whole.

They travel the world
It may not surprise you that a family headquartered on a houseboat manages to cover a lot of ground, so to speak—and as a result, an astonishing amount of fascinating cultural, geographical, and historical information about different parts of the world is packed into every adventure. During the second book, Danger Down the Nile, the Kidds travel to Africa, where they float down the Nile river and face down villainous bad guys, along with angry hippos and poisonous snakes. The third book, Secret of the Forbidden City, takes them from China to Germany, and in each country they manage to visit historical landmarks, view priceless art and artifacts, and sample the local cuisine along the way—from soft pretzels to fried scorpions. Young readers will be inspired to dream of seeing the world after reading these horizon-expanding adventures.
There are illustrations galore
One of the best parts of the Treasure Hunters series are artist Juliana Neufeld’s effervescent illustrations, which sibling Bickford explains are drawn by his twin, Rebecca: “Wherever we go, no matter what happens…Beck keeps doodling in her sketchpad,” he says, adding, “This also explains why so many of her drawings have helpful notes like that one over there about my excess body odor. It’s not really true. I bathe on a regular basis. Honest.” These vibrant, entertaining portraits and scenes often contain their own jokes, and they help move the story along quickly. Reluctant readers who are fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants will love these illustrations, which will make the 400+ pages in these sizable novels fly by.