From the Publisher
Praise for Scouts:
Amazon Best Book of the Month
"A little Goonies, a little Stand By Me, and all heart, Scouts is that special kind of book that makes you feel like you've made new friends. I loved every second of adventuring with Annie, Beans, and the rest of the gang."—Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of The Girl Who Could Not Dream
"Greenland spins a tale that is part Goonies, part Stranger Things, and 100% fun! Set in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Scouts is filled with chuckles, supernatural mystery, and out-of-this-world adventure!"—Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, author of The Story Collector series and A Dog Like Daisy
AUGUST 2019 - AudioFile
Narrator Kathleen McInerney's bright, youthful tones are well matched to Greenland's exuberant group of middle school best friends—the Scouts. Annie and her best friends, Fynn, Beans, and Rocky, are heading out on their annual summer camping trip, but this year something feels different. As new kids join the excursion and a meteor shower takes an unusual turn, listeners follow the young adventurers through danger, exploration, and mystery. McInerney's portrayals emphasize the range of characters—from strange villains and somber parents to each courageous member of the Scouts. Her pacing effectively juxtaposes Annie's thoughts with the mounting tension of the narrative as bonds are tested and longtime friendships hang in the balance. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2019-04-10
Sixth grade is out, and Annie is about to have the camping adventure of a lifetime with her three best friends.
The Scouts have been friends since kindergarten, but Annie's mom isn't happy that she only hangs out with boys. Beans is a near genius with a burdensome secret. Handsome Fynn has started to like girls. Rocky is coping with his widower dad's entry into the dating market. Their friend group is under stress, and Annie feels jealous of Fynn's older cousin, Scarlett, who has tagged along on their trip. But when they witness a UFO crash in the woods near their campsite, they get their problems moving, hoping the adventure will strengthen their relationships. They encounter bat-infested caves, a near drowning, a black bear, a human skeleton, and a stranger named Edge as they seek the mysterious silver object and try to resolve their growing pains. A stereotypical hillbilly family known as the Mason Mountain Clan and a wrongheaded legend about Cherokee gold are two of the weaker storylines in the meandering tale. With a Cherokee mom, biracial Annie knows to call out that legend, but neither her heritage nor Rocky's (his mom was Vietnamese) is explored in any depth, and the book otherwise adheres to a white default.
This adventure tale about a UFO, set in 1985 Tennessee, sensitively explores the changing nature of adolescent friendships—but its subplots not so much. (Historical fiction. 8-12)
