The best in Middle Grade and Young Adult literature not only speaks to the intended audience of young readers, but also manages to spark nostalgia in readers of all ages. Take for example, the Agatha-Award-winning Sasquatch Hunters series from K. B. Jackson—filled with the aura of mystery and discovery younger readers crave, balanced with a wholesome energy that all readers can appreciate. The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui is the third book in this series featuring our intrepid gang of adolescent cryptid hunters and it just might be the best book in the series so far.
When last we left Jake, Jasmine, and Lanny they were up at Harriman Lake, where the addition of a new member (Bernadette aka Benny) to their clique caused some unexpected internal strife. The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui picks up and its Christmas time and when Jasmine’s father needs to travel to Scotland to sign a new business contract, the opportunity to investigate Big Foot-type creatures internationally is too much of a temptation for the group—even if it means being separated from family during the holiday season. Benny’s father is also involved in the business proceedings, so the entire gang reunites across the pond.
Just as she has done throughout the series, K. B. Jackson uses her newest storyline to help educate young readers while they are entertained—i.e., distracted—by the adventures playing out on the page. The first books in the series focused on vocabulary words and using critical thinking skills to decipher puzzles, but this time out, she uses the international setting to teach about cultural differences and the flexible nature of the English language. For example, the kids learn about how other countries use different words for familiar items—e.g., a loch is a lake—and how sometimes the spelling can be different even when the meaning is the same—e.g., that pesky “u” that pops up in so many United Kingdom words.
What makes the Sasquatch Hunters series so delightful is the interaction among the group of children at the center of the action. Many of the dilemmas they must negotiate are things we all deal with on a daily basis. As we age, we rarely stop to think about the why behind the what that we do. K. B. Jackson uses the still-developing minds of her youth characters to allow the reader to witness how these young people weigh the options and come to what they think is the “right” choice. Of course, it’s not always the correct decision—but that’s what growing up is all about. And sometimes she just lets them be completely silly, which is just as important as learning new lessons.
The S.H.O.W. (Sasquatch Hunters of Washington) gang find themselves in some truly life-threatening situations in The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui and fans will find themselves quickly turning the pages to see how they manage to escape—all while wondering if they will finally discover Big Foot (Or the Big Grey Man. Or the Loch Ness Monsters.) Pick up K. B. Jackson’s The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui today for a wonderful and enjoyable international adventure that will surely be showing up on awards shortlists once again in the months ahead.
BUY LINKS: The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui by K. B. Jackson
Disclaimer: A finished copy of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the author. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
