Disclosure: I received free books from the publisher. Post contains affiliate links; I may earn commission if you make a purchase. Opinions shared are mine.

For some students, being a good reader means a struggle to find “the right”  books.  I’ve known many children who read at an advanced level (one fourth grader in my class read — and understood — War and Peace!)  It’s difficult to find books that provide a challenge, yet contain age-appropriate content.  The Samantha Spinner series is a great choice for elementary students who want a complex story, engaging drama, and kid-friendly situations.  

With this series, you’ll definitely want to start with book one.  In Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans, readers are drawn into a whirlwind of activity!  The main character is spunky and smart as a whip.  It’s almost like reading about a young-girl version of Indiana Jones, Seattle style.

There are so many lessons waiting to sprout from this book.  Use excerpts to introduce geography, history, vocabulary, logic puzzles, and more!  It’s especially interesting to follow the landmarks and historic events mentioned in the book.  The Eiffel Tower is pictured on page 1.  Page 7 mentions the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, and the Titanic.  See what I mean?  This is a must-read for the social studies teachers of the world.  Homeschool parents, can you see this book as a valuable starting point for a unit?

The whole premise of the book is based around the mysterious missing Uncle Paul.  Samantha must follow a series of clues to navigate the unknown; she also learns how to trust her gut.  I love the way that girl thinks!  The back of the book contains a treasure of smart-kid stuff, such as amazing facts and decoder puzzles.  Thankfully, the answers are included for brain weary moms like me.

The second book in the series goes off in an entirely new direction.  Literally.  There were several places mentioned in this book that I’d never heard of.  You could plan an entire cross-curricular project around this series!

You might be surprised to know that many school-aged children are unfamiliar with using encyclopedias or dictionaries.  Growing up with Google means being able to search and find information in seconds.  I love that the Samantha Spinner series encourages kids to research, think, and speculate.

The second book is considerably longer than the first one, which is another feature that made me smile.  I’m not above getting kids hooked on a series by introducing them to the first book, then dangling that second book when they want MORE of the story!

The Samantha Spinner series would be great for the smart kid who needs a good brain book.  It’s a terrific option, too, for children who love an exciting read-aloud.  My son loves history and trivia.  I plan to listen to this series on Audible with him!

Giveaway Details:
3 lucky winners will win a finished copy of SAMANTHA SPINNER Series, US Only.

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Title: SAMANTHA SPINNER AND THE SUPER SECRET PLANS (Samantha Spinner #1)
Author: Russell Ginns
Pub. Date: February 27, 2018
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, audiobook, eBook
Pages: 256
Find it:  Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B&N, iBooks, TBD

Get ready for round-the-world adventure with Sam Spinner and her brother Nipper in the first book in a new hilarious, puzzle-packed series filled with super-secret messages! Perfect for fans of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and classics like Holes.

Samantha Spinner’s uncle Paul disappeared, and here’s what he left:
* Samantha’s sister got a check for $2,400,000,000.
* Samantha’s brother got the New York Yankees.
* And Samantha got a rusty red umbrella with a tag hanging off its worn handle. The tag says “Watch out for the RAIN.”

Thanks a lot, Uncle Paul.

After all the strawberry waffles, stories, and puzzles they’ve shared, how could he just leave without saying goodbye? And what is the meaning of that mysterious message?

The answer is simple. Sam knows in her heart that Uncle Paul is in danger. And if he taught her anything, it’s that not everything is exactly what it seems. Which is why we should pay close attention to that rusty red umbrella, and never trust a monkey at a hula-hoop contest.

The RAIN is coming and Samantha Spinner is about to find herself mixed up in some super-important, super-dangerous, super-secret plans.

Praise for Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans:

“A winning mix of fast-paced action, fascinating facts, bathroom humor, and hidden puzzles…[that is] sure to please action-loving middle-grade readers.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Full of adventure and survival,…[and with] characters [that] are likable, realistic, and well rounded…[Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans is] great for [readers of] series like The 39 Clues.” –School Library Journal

Title: SAMANTHA SPINNER AND THE SPECTACULAR SPECS (Samantha Spinner #2)
Author: Russell Ginns
Pub. Date: March 12, 2019
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, audiobook, eBook
Pages: 416
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B&N, iBooks, TBD

Get ready for more round-the-world adventure with Samantha Spinner and her brother, Nipper, in the second book in this hilarious, puzzle-packed series filled with super-secret messages! Perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and classics like Holes.

When Samantha Spinner’s uncle Paul disappeared, he left presents for his nieces and nephew. Samantha’s sister, Buffy, got $2,400,000,000. Her brother, Nipper, got the New York Yankees. Samantha got . . . a rusty old umbrella.

Wow! So unfair, Uncle Paul.

Well, it seemed unfair–until Samantha discovered that the old umbrella holds the plans for a super-secret network of transit systems that covers the globe. It’s the ticket to danger and adventure beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.

But Uncle Paul is still missing. And Samantha just received a new gift from him: a pair of strange purple sunglasses. Are they another powerful present? A clue to his whereabouts? Or just a bad fashion choice? Samantha and Nipper need to figure it out fast, because . . . here comes the SUN!

Praise for Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans, Book 1 in the Samantha Spinner series:

“A winning mix of fast-paced action, fascinating facts, bathroom humor, and hidden puzzles . . . [that is] sure to please action-loving middle-grade readers.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Full of adventure and survival . . . [and with] characters [who] are likable, realistic, and well rounded . . . [Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans is] great for [readers of] series like The 39 Clues.” –School Library Journal

About Russell:

Russell Ginns is a writer and game designer who specializes in puzzles, songs, and smart fun. He has worked on projects for a wide variety of organizations, corporations, and publications, including Sesame Workshop, Girl Scouts of America, Nintendo, and Scientific American. Russell lives and writes in Washington, D.C. He is the author of Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans and Samantha Spinner and the Spectacular Specs. To learn more about him, visit samanthaspinner.com and follow @rginns on Twitter.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/25/2019- Lifestyle of Me– Review

3/25/2019- BookHounds YA– Excerpt

3/26/2019- Lone Tree Reviews- Review

3/26/2019- A Dream Within A Dream– Excerpt

3/27/2019- Nerdophiles– Review

3/27/2019- For the Love of KidLit– Spotlight

3/28/2019- Brooke’s Library- Review

3/28/2019- Literary Gold– Spotlight

3/29/2019- Feed Your Fiction Addiction– Review

3/29/2019- Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers– Excerpt

Week Two:

4/1/2019- Rhythmicbooktrovert – Review

4/1/2019- Kelly P’s Blog– Excerpt

4/2/2019- Christen Krumm, Writer– Review

4/2/2019- ❧Defining Ways❧– Excerpt

4/3/2019- Adventures Thru Wonderland– Review

4/3/2019- The Hermit Librarian– Excerpt

4/4/2019- Savings in Seconds– Review

4/4/2019- Twirling Book Princess– Excerpt

4/5/2019- Two Points of Interest– Review

4/5/2019- Dazzled by Books– Excerpt