North Woods Poachers (Tweener Press Adventure Series)

Max Elliot Anderson
Tweener Press (2004)
ISBN 0972925686
Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (#/06)

I found “North Woods Poachers” to be a thoroughly enjoyable and well written story with a wholesome message meant to be enjoyed primarily by young teens, particularly boys, in the 11-12 year age range, but I truly think anyone will enjoy it. Max Elliot Anderson shares a good message on the importance of having and establishing family traditions while keeping a reluctant reader with a short attention span enthralled with the question, “What will happen next?”

This story is about the two Washburn families going on their annual camping vacation in Canada, far from civilization, near the lovely Dore Lake. Andy and Jessica are cousins to C.J. and Jessica. Both the boys are age 12 and the girls are both age 9, and they are all good friends and get along well. As what typically happens when kids get older, Andy, the athlete of the bunch, no longer feels he wants to go on the trip, dreading a few weeks of doing nothing but being bored with fishing. C.J. is a computer and electronics whiz, with a father that owns a computer solutions company and brings along all kinds of new and fun things for the guys to try out. Of course, Andy soon forgets that he didn’t want to make the trip when he and C.J. have a great time with all the new gadgets.

As the families are crossing the Canadian border in their vehicles, guards are stopping all the trucks and are inspecting the contents and the people inside. The families learn that the guards are checking for poachers involved in organized crime. The curiosity of C.J. and Andy are now on high alert, and they keep their eyes open for any signs of poachers. It isn’t long until the boys do spy some odd things going on, but they keep it to themselves until they can prove something beyond a doubt. The boys learn about the harmful things poachers do via the Internet, which convinces C.J. and Andy they have come upon some poachers in the act near the Washburn’s secluded vacation cabin. The adventure takes off from here, and all four kids work to solve the mystery of the loud, black float-planes with blinking lights which take off, land and skim the water at full speed. The children encounter some very real and alarmingly dangerous situations, especially the boys.

On a lighter note but just as interesting, the Washburn cousins learn all about the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, how catching Big Wally is the goal of every fisherman on the lake but yet how vulnerable any fish really is out of water, and how Jesus himself was a fisherman. They also get a very thorough lesson in the dangers of illegal poaching and how wrong and hurtful it is, especially to the animals. And finally, the families learn how important carrying on traditions can be, even though we may not see the importance at first.

In my opinion, this book has all the important elements of a truly great work. I can recommend this book completely to any parent looking for a good story for their tween, particularly boys, but girls will like it too. Anderson makes you feel you are right there in the woods with the families, seeing all the beautiful scenery and bright lights right along with them! I fully enjoyed this story!

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