Review Detail

What I Loved:

This is a fabulous book full of legends and mysteries located in Canada. From lost pirate treasure to underground cities full of gangsters to the story of the Free Masons, this book is a well-researched, fascinating historical tale from cover to cover.

I really enjoyed the way each chapter is laid out. The author starts with the original mystery, then adds a section called Puzzle Pieces which fleshes out the mystery with a solid list of historical facts, then moves to a What Now? section to discuss how the mystery is currently being handled, and finally ends with an Ask an Expert section which interviews an expert on the subject. Throughout it all, the narrative flows well and is engaging and easy to read.

The pictures that accompany each chapter are illustrative and definitely add value to the book. As a former home schooler, I can see this being a fun resource for home schoolers or for classrooms to use for both historical research and for writing prompts.

What Left Me Wanting More:

The only thing that left me a little cold were the illustrations themselves. The photographs are excellent. The drawings felt a bit too simplistic and childish for the 8+ age range. But because the photographs are the majority of the book's illustrations, it really didn't take away from the overall impact of the book.

Final Verdict:

CRYPTIC CANADA is a fascinating book that brings old mysteries to light using solid research, engaging narrative, and colorful pictures. Readers of all ages are sure to find many compelling mysteries to explore!