"Margi Preus shows her deep knowledge of and appreciation for Minnesota while telling an engaging story with puzzles and action and heart. The Silver Box is truly a celebration of our state—from its North Woods to its Twin Cities landmarks."—Kurtis Scaletta, author of Lukezilla Beats the Game
"This is a great end to what was a really enjoyable YA adventure/mystery series. A fun, entertaining read."—The Book Lover’s Boudoir
"A modern Nancy Drew replacement grounded in current technology but largely reliant on brain power and courage."—Kirkus Reviews
"I think mystery lovers will definitely enjoy the pacing of this book as well as its unforgettable characters and charming Northwoods setting. It’s an excellent series to get lost in if you’re looking for an engrossing story or something to distract from reality."—The Story Sanctuary
"Francie continues to get herself and others into precarious situations. However, in this book she comes across more consequences to her choices than in the previous books. More details are unraveled and the reader gets to know the characters on deeper levels. That being said, there are still twists and turns all along the way up to the end of the book. As with the other books in the series, this is for mystery lovers and young sleuths. However, this is also more of a coming of age and self-discovery book."—Compass Book Ratings
"As always, Margi’s engaging prose carries the story."—Lake Superior Magazine
"Filled with humor and suspense, The Silver Box is the final book in the Enchantment Lake Mystery trilogy."—Northern Wilds
"This is a great mystery series for middle schoolers: the characters are interesting. the action moves at a great, page-turning pace, and the Northwoods setting is just perfect for a mystery."—Mom Read It
2020-08-18
Plucky 17-year-old investigator Francie is back for the concluding episode of a trilogy set in Minnesota.
Francie has discovered a small silver box that is somehow connected to her mother’s mysterious disappearance 13 years earlier. The additional discovery of a mysterious abandoned cabin in the woods awakens vague memories of when her mother went away, all clues to opening the tricky puzzle box and locating a vital (but forgetful) elderly woman in a nursing home. Aided by her pal Raven and Jay, another classmate, Francie follows clues she hopes will lead to her mother. Although a few red herrings add uncertainty, the villains remain largely hidden from readers, leaving the mystery mostly unsolvable even to clever armchair sleuths until the evildoers eventually reveal themselves. Brief environmental messages crop up frequently and are only mildly didactic. Although the mystery and its resolution rely on sometimes improbably convenient happenstance, Francie’s plausibly intrepid nature (and remarkable lack of reliance on adults) keeps the plot moving at an engaging pace, and the wintry Northwoods setting provides an appealing backdrop. Although the mostly White characters are only sparingly depicted, Raven talks about biased treatment and double standards she experiences as an Ojibwe person.
A modern Nancy Drew replacement grounded in current technology but largely reliant on brain power and courage. (Mystery. 11-16)
