Billy Stuart embarks on an adventure, inspired by the voyages and discoveries of his grandfather. What Billy doesn't know is that some mysteries and secrets are better off left alone. This adventure filled book will excite and engage readers of any age and the colorful illustrations only add to the excitement within this book.

I felt like this book was never going to end. It wants and tries to be a version of Geronimo Stilton, but fails. Billy Stuart is a Racoon with a summer job of walking the neighbors dag. He hates it, and reminds everyone it’s not his dog. His grandfather is a great adventurer and thinks he has found the secret to time travel. The Intrepids are a scouting group. They are to go on a nature hike/fishing trip. Billy believes that he still has time to meet up with gramps and see what his new adventure is all about. Instead he gets lost in a cave and takes his friends with him.

Billy is a racoon, and all his friends are anthropomorphic as well, but the neighbors are human, dog is a poodle, and a bear is a bear. That in itself is a bit confusing and plays into the rest of the story, like the kids automatically believing the bear is a menace or a threat. Maybe he just wants to see cookies. Plus Billy has an attitude problem. It really gets grating. The best character is the weasel who for some reason makes me think of De Niro in Taxi Driver.

The book seems like it should be written for second grade, but there are lots of fifth grade plus words used. The author breaks in with post-it notes but only once is it to define something. Then there are the puzzles. Don’t get me wrong, the puzzles are fun, but what part do they play in the story. They just hop up out of nowhere. What isn’t this a special chapter in back, or a way for the scouts to use the puzzles in the story. Overall to me this book was not successful, but I know others will disagree and that is their right. But they will have to pay for the book themselves as I will not be adding it to my library.

I couldn't finish this one. The illustrations were not cartooning, and the writing lacked depth, even for children.

This book is definetely not for younger children. I guess being an animal lover I did not understand the fact that Billy did not like FrouFrou the poodle and did not treat him very well. It also showed children that even though you take on a responsibility you can make it harder on yourself instead of doing it and finishing the job. The story revolves around Billy a racoon who gets a letter from his Grandfather who has discovered time travel and gives Billy a clue to how to do it also. Billy and his friends Foxy the fox, Yeti the badger, Musky the Skunk, and Shifty the Chameleon all form a scout group called the Sintrepids. What Billy does not tell his friends is that instead of going on a hike they are going to find the time travel entrance. The book cuts off to continue with the adventure in another book. I wish that Billy's attitude had changed toward FrouFrou during the story but it did not. I do give it a 2 rating for the illustrations that I thought were very well done.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review,

A big thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. First time reading this author. I had never heard of this series, so thought I would try it. Well hmmm, I found it odd. Maybe it's because I had to read it on my computer since I got it as a protected pdf, but I had a hard time viewing the pages so that the words and graphics were together. I didn't like the author joining the story I found that silly. Adventure you have it, silliness you got it. I can see how kids would enjoy this series. Food me, anything that will get a kid excited about reading is a winner. Did I personally like it no. But I think many kids would and that's what matters. The one thing that really bugged me is that it had a cliffhanger! I rate this a 3.5.