Firstly, I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of the book. This review is based on my personal opinion and enjoyment of the book.

To be continued.

I loved the last third of the book, but the first 2/3 was a little slow. I enjoyed the codes and the historical mystery. I think that kids that like codes and code breaking will enjoy this.

Idlewood Manor was a home with a storied history, but has been empty for decades, until recently. The current owner has opened the doors, and a group of guests is coming to stay for a weekend; among them, Charlie, a math whiz who won the trip for his family, and his sister, Anna, who is far less scholastic in her pursuits, but that's because she's got the entire world to explore, just like her idol, explorer Virginia Maines. Also visiting with her family is Emily, whose historian parents have their own reasons for wanting to visit Idlewood. The three kids separately discover mysterious clues to Idlewood's history, and the history of those who lived there; they also notice that other guests seem to have a major interest in unlocking the Manor's secrets. It's a race to solve Idlewood's mysteries, but can the three kids work together to solve them in time? Loaded with actual puzzles, ciphers, and riddles, The Explorer's Code is full of mystery and scandal,with very likable, realistic characters at its core. A note about ciphers at the end invites readers to test their own coding mettle. The relationships are spot-on, with the ups and downs experienced by Anna and Charlie, who were close when they were younger, but have drifted apart in recent years, and Emily, desperate to make her parents proud of her. Anna and Emily rush into things for different reasons: Anna, because she's caught up in the spirit of curiosity and adventure; Emily, because she feels like she's racing against the clock. Charlie is slow and deliberate, thinking things through, which clashes with his sister's impulsive wandering. Together, these qualities make them stronger - something they have to work on over the course of the story. Perfect for readers who enjoyed Ben Guterson's Winterhouse, Jennifer Chambliss Bertman's Book Scavenger series, and of course, Chris Grabenstein's Mr. Lemoncello's Library series.

The puzzles in this book were fun and some are able to be solved on your own if you have knowledge of various ciphers. Each of the characters was interesting, though I found myself getting frustrated at how long it takes the three of them to communicate with each other. There's the typical clueless adults and plenty of red-herrings to throw readers off.

Overall it was an enjoyable addition to the puzzle-based-mystery genre that fans of Book Scavenger and Mr. Limoncello will heartily enjoy.

The Explorer's Code is a solid middle-grade mystery with plenty of adventure and fun, but no mature situations or language. For students wanting a good story that unfolds at modest pace, this one is a great recommendation. The main character, Anna, feels like she's under the scrutiny of everyone around her due to her adventurous spirit and love of exploring, which often takes her to places that adults want to decree off-limits, partially for her own safety. She feels like she's in competition with her timid, yet very intelligent, younger brother, Charlie, who has won a competition which affords the family a chance to stay in a historical house which has been closed to the public for many years. When she discovers the house has ties to her favorite explorer, whose mysterious disappearance has always intrigued her, she can't wait to find out more about the house and perhaps find clues to what happened. Her brother, meanwhile, has been finding clues of his own, involving secret codes which might help him find long forgotten treasure. Other characters, including, Emily, another girl who is close to their age, and whose family is trying to keep the house from being sold, flesh out the story and build interest. There were some holes in the plot which made it a little difficult to follow at times, but an ending which hints at more adventures to come will make readers happy. Great story for adventurous readers in the grade 4-7 group.

The Explorer's Code is a great adventure and mystery for middle grade readers. The main characters are extremely likeable and realistic.I would definitely recommend fans of middle grade fiction check this book out..

This book, with main characters children can identify with, is a great choice for middle school adventure lovers, . Codes, mysteries, an old house with secrets are a perfect invitation even for reluctant readers .
This book could be also for anybody struggling to be accepted and understood, and for those who want to find a way to get along with a sibling.
Easy, enjoyable read. (4..5 stars)

I received an electronic ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Mystery, adventure, secret codes are all part of a weekend away at an historic mansion. Three kids - Anna, Charlie, Emily - each explore on their own to solve their own mysteries. Eventually, they join together and solve all of their mysteries. This in turn saves the home and solves a mystery about an explorer who just disappeared. Secret codes are woven throughout the book but I was disappointed that readers were not given more opportunities to solve them too.
I was disappointed as the characters were stereotypes - free spirited adventurer, math nerd, history buff. The secondary characters were simply there as backdrop and weren't given much personality. The story did provide some surprises but was fairly predictable.

This book is for any child who has ever had felt misunderstood, struggled to get along with a sibling, or who simply loves a good mystery. I personally read this aloud and my children enjoyed speculating as we read. There was even an instance where they argued about which character was telling the truth. This was a great mystery and my children enjoyed it. However, this is a title that can also be used to teach children how to accept each other and how to accept themselves.

The Explorer’s Code has a very interesting synopsis and promise, however, I had a very hard time getting past the main character’s flaws. Anna is the adventurous older sister that is self absorbed and selfish. She breaks the rules just because she wants an adventure even though she knows it's wrong and then gets upset when she gets in trouble. Charlie the younger brother, math wizard, and lover of codes/chipers is the only redeeming character. I enjoyed his journey through the story and his point of view. Emily is the third character she starts the story coming off as rude and pretentious but when she starts to work with Anna and Charlie she is more likable. The story itself is very interesting with an old manor hiding a mystery that the kids solve with the the knowledge gained from each of their initial individual searches. It is a great adventure with secret rooms so if you don’t get hung up on the characters like I did then I think you will really enjoy this story.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Puzzles! Mystery! Smart kids! Plot twists! This book has it all. Readers who love to see mismatched characters discover new things about each other--and themselves-- will appreciate this title.

Upon reading that this book had puzzles and ciphers in it I knew I had to get my hands on it. I love solving puzzles along side characters. The Explorer's Code features Idlewood Manor a building that holds more secrets than the eye can see and some that are written in plain sight, if you know what you are looking for! 10 rooms, 10 families, 3 days, 1 mansion with a mysterious past.
Charlie has always been a math wiz. He is constantly seeing codes and patterns embedded in every day life. Meanwhile, his sister Anna could care less about puzzles and codes. She would rather spend her time exploring, just like her idol, Virginia Maines- even if it does get her into a great deal of trouble. How can two people be so different, yet related?
Emily has been brought to visit the mansion thanks to her parent's top secret mission to try and save the Idlewood Manor. Emily is determined to show her parents that she is capable of making them proud- thus it is why she has also secretly taken on their mission as well.
When each child fines an important (and different) piece to the overall puzzle, will they be willing to make themselves vulnerable to share what they have found with each other? Who else knows about the secrets the mansion holds? And will one weekend be enough to get the answers they are looking for?

Wow! This book captured and kept my attention as I embarked on an amazing adventure with Anna, Charlie, and Emily. The three children end up with their families at Idlewood Manor and what's not to like? They get an incredible house to explore complete with magically themed rooms, mysterious happenings, secret codes, treasure, and more! The plot thickens.... Where is Anna? Why is she always missing and why is she taking so many showers? What is Charlie doing roaming around the house looking for codes? What is Emily hiding behind her always present math book? Will Mr. Llewellyn (the owner) sell Idlewood and will all its secrets be lost forever?

At numerous points throughout this book, I could not stop reading, and, like the kids felt like I just HAD to know the next thing! I was literally on the edge of my (airplane!) seat! It was nice when the three kids came together as a team and exchanged information to possibly save the day. The end was satisfying. I had become so engaged in the story that after I finished the book. I looked up some of the explorers to find out more about them

It is very fitting that this author wrote a book about explorers. Allison K. Hymas was born on the anniversary of the day that Amelia Earhart, entered the ranks of fame by becoming the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic! I look forward to reading more books by this author!