Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O.

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O.

by David A. Adler

Illustrated by Susanna Natti

★★☆☆☆

After meeting Cam Jansen in book one Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, she and her co-detective Eric see lights floating in the air.  Eric uses his actual camera to snap a picture of them, while Cam uses her photographic memory, and reason to find out what is really happening.  They follow the lights to the source and are almost caught by the creators of the floating lights, and lets just stay they were "aliens" from a place not so far, far away.  

While this book is very predictable for older readers making it maybe not so exciting, it would be great for young developing readers because it is fast paced and at an easier reading level.  I would use these books for students with 2-3 grade reading levels.
There is a support website with pages both for kids and teachers.  On this Cam Jansen website there are check lists for all of David A. Adler's books, comprehension questions for readers, and fun quizzes that test your own memory like Cam Jansen is always doing. 

New cover of the book

David A. Adler talks about the inspiration for the character Cam Jansen. He says the reason the mystery moves so fast is that the books are meant for slow readers so that as they read events unfold more quickly to keep children engaged in his books!




Citation:
Adler, David A. Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O.  Ill. Susanna Natti.  Viking Press, New York. 1980.


ISBN: 0-670-20041-7
AR reading level: 3.4

The Many Troubles of Andy Russell

The Many Troubles of Andy Russell
by David A. Adler

★ ★ ★ ☆☆

Andy Russell is a young boy with lots of troubles at home and at school.  Andy's best friend Tamika who lives in foster care might be forced to move away if he can't convince his parents to let her move in and share a room with his sister.  Before he has a chance to ask his parents seven of his gerbils escape and are running all over the house. Ms. Roman, his teacher, is always calling on him when he isn't paying attention in class.  Andy tries so hard, but he just can't seem to make things turn out the way he wants. 

I think that this is a good book, where the children in it are not purposefully causing trouble, but inconveniently things are always happening to them.   I would recommend this to kids in 1st-4th grades.  This book might be helpful for kids with ADHD symptoms to understand their situation better as Andy has a mind that wanders and he can't focus even when he really, really wants to.  

Adler, David A. The Many Troubles of Andy Russell. Ill. Will Hillenbrand. Gulliver Books, Harcourt Brace & Company.  San Diego, CA. 1998.  

ISBN: 0-15-201295-8

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds
by David A. Adler, Illustrated by Susanna Natti

★★☆☆☆

This is the first book in the Cam Jansen book series with over 30 books in it as well as another 16 books in the Young Cam spin off series.  Cam is short for Camera, Jennifer's nick name, because she has a photographic memory.  In this book she and her friend Eric witness a man running from a jewelry store but when the police catch him he does not have the stolen diamonds.  Cam looks back at her mental picture that she took and now notices a man and woman walking away from the scene quietly.  She and Eric follow the suspects and after a bit of suspense, wind up heros.

While this book is very predictable for older readers making it maybe not so exciting it would be great for young developing readers.   I would use these books for students with 2-3 grade reading levels.

There is a support website with pages both for kids and teachers.  On this Cam Jansen website there are check lists for all of David A. Adler's books, comprehension questions for readers, and fun quizzes that test your own memory like Cam Jansen is always doing.  

David A. Adler talks about the inspiration for the character Cam Jansen. He says the reason the mystery moves so fast is that the books are meant for slow readers so that as they read events unfold more quickly to keep children engaged in his books.