In Search of the Fog Zombie: A Mystery about Matter

by Lynda Beauregard Narrated by Intuitive

Overview

When campers arrive at Camp Dakota, rumors start flying. The Fog Zombie is on the prowl, moaning and creeping through the thick fog that often settles on the lake. At first, the kids don't believe the rumors¿until they find mysterious clues leading to the zombie! Can the campers track down the Fog Zombie with their science smarts? Or will it find them first?



Look in the back of the book for experiments and more to help you become a science detective too!

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"These books are a fun way to teach basic science, and they are particularly good for readers who struggle with gleaning information from wordy textbooks. In the first title, twins Alex and Angie lose some of their enthusiasm for Camp Dakota when they arrive to find it hidden behind a thick veil of fog. Along with some new friends, they discover that there is a mystery to be solved. A series of science-related clues leads them to discover the truth about the Fog Zombie. Basic science principles are scattered throughout the story, supported by bubbles of information to give further explanation. The kids learn about the buoyancy of salt water, evaporation and condensation, and more. The same gang is back in Cabin Thief. Obnoxious Carly is accusing one of the other campers of stealing an important medal from her cabin. As other things start disappearing, the kids are determined to find the culprit. Once again, scientific know-how helps solve the case (along with an awesome art project). A counselor cleverly teaches the kids about light refraction by sharing a Native American legend. They also learn about reflections and mirrors as well as shadows. Imagine a Scooby-Doo episode with Velma in charge and you get the feel for this brainy way to solve a mystery. Bonuses at the end of each volume include simple science experiments and a synopsis of the principles related to the mystery." --School Library Journal

Children's Literature - Maggie Chase

When Alex and Angie arrive at Camp Dakota, they are not so sure they want to stay. There is a heavy layer of fog over the whole camp, lending an air of creepiness that makes them feel a bit uneasy. Soon after they settle in, they begin to hear rumors of a fog zombie that roams the camp at night, moaning and searching for kids to eat. While all the campers are busy looking over their shoulders and jumping at every rustle they hear, they are also learning about science concepts at this camp, specifically the three states of matter: gas, liquid, and solid. As they conduct experiments and talk about what they are learning, so, too, do the readers acquire knowledge about or refresh their memory of the properties of matter. There are little insets here and there that clearly state a fact, such as, "Gases such as air are made up of particles that are too small to see. But they still take up space." At the back is a brief glossary of "mysterious words," directions for experiments related to the topic, and a bulleted list of facts needed for solving the mystery of the fog zombie. This series of graphic novels, which covers other topics such as rocks, light, and adaptations, would be a welcome addition to any elementary science class, inducting students into the wonder of understanding everyday natural phenomena. Reviewer: Maggie Chase

Library Journal

There’s a rumor at Camp Dakota about the fog zombie since when the thick fog comes from off the lake, people hear noises like footsteps and moaning. But there’s a scientific explanation, too, campers figure out when a hip counselor drops clues they can solve. Back matter includes experiments, definitions, and science facts. There are quite a few more books in the series. Tweens up.

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Kirkus Reviews

Following cryptic clues left by a counselor, a quartet of young campers track down the source of mysterious noises in this science-laden series kickoff. The instruction begins before the story does, with a disquisition on the nature and states of matter, and continues after the denouement with a pair of experiments and a page of explanations. In between, 9-year-old twins Angie and Alex settle in at Camp Dakota, where they're treated to successive scientific demonstrations. These include: air pressure in action, with an overturned glass in a bowl of water; comparative density, with eggs in fresh and salt water; and heat-related expansion and contraction with a suspended weight. They're also treated to eerie nighttime moans ascribed to a local zombie that turn out to have a natural cause. Helmer places a multicultural cast with oversized, rolling-flashlight eyes in neatly drawn sequential panels--between which Beauregard occasionally shoehorns further science facts--and tries to crank up the suspense with lots of atmospheric fog and night scenes. The fictional plot is really just a vehicle, and if the science is largely extraneous and sometimes simplistic (gravity doesn't just pull objects "toward Earth's surface"), at least there's plenty of it. The load-out continues in #2, The Nighttime Cabin Thief: A Mystery About Light, and two more Summer Camp Science Mysteries. Alas, nary a zombie in sight--but budding "braaaiiinnns" may be tempted to repeat some of the experiments for themselves. (further experiments, glossary, scientific principles) (Graphic fiction/instructional blend. 8-10)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170077410
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/01/2017
Series:	Summer Camp Science Mysteries , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Related Subjects

• Kids
• Nature - Kids
• Freshwater & Marine Ecology - Kids

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