The Alcatraz Escape

The Alcatraz Escape follows Emily and James into their most thrilling mystery yet, a puzzle-filled adventure set on the hauntingly beautiful Alcatraz Island. This third installment in Jennifer Chambliss Bertman’s New York Times–bestselling Book Scavenger series blends suspense, wit, and problem-solving for middle-grade readers who crave clever clues and teamwork. Perfect for fans of mystery and adventure, The Alcatraz Escape invites curious minds ages 9–12 to test their logic, follow intricate puzzles, and cheer on the sleuths as secrets unravel. In The Alcatraz Escape, the book balances a pulse-pounding escape-room premise with heartfelt character moments, returning legendary game-maker Garrison Griswold and mystery writer Errol Roy to a new web of secrets on Alcatraz Island. Emily and James are pulled into a high-stakes competition called Unlock the Rock, where missing items, cryptic notes, and whispers of danger test their trust in one another and in the clues they chase. As Emily’s brother Matthew becomes swept up in the chaos, the duo must piece together what’s really at stake and who is guiding the game—and who might be lying. The experience is fast-paced, richly atmospheric, and designed to spark curiosity. The narrative weaves deduction, pattern recognition, and collaboration into a thrilling puzzle journey, with chapters that unfold like an escape-room you can almost feel, guided by sharp dialogue, vivid settings, and just the right balance of danger and humor. A high-stakes puzzle competition called Unlock the Rock set against the eerie beauty of Alcatraz Island The return of legendary game-maker Garrison Griswold and collaboration with mystery writer Errol Roy Clues, secret notes, missing items, and twists that test trust, teamwork, and problem-solving Brisk, page-turning pacing with clever twists, warm humor, and memorable characters Accessible for readers: builds critical thinking, observation, and deductive reasoning through engaging puzzles Readers finish with a sense of pride in their problem-solving skills, a deeper belief in the power of teamwork, and a lasting curiosity to spot clues in the world around them.