An enjoyable middle-grade read which will encourage young readers to think about science as something fun and adventurous. Throughout the book, the young protagonist is faced with mathematical enigmas and puzzles sparked by the disappearance of her school teacher. The text is clear and easily accessible and has lively dialogues. I feel there is space for future character development in potential sequels. This is probably what was lacking here - and it is the reason for my 3-star review rating -, as readers are thrown very rapidly into the mystery rather than having a bit of time to get to know the characters. This is particularly the case with the teacher who disappears before we are able to get attached to her (and therefore feel worried about her fate).

When you’re in middle school, every day seems to hold a new (and often not-so-wonderful) adventure. But in Finney and the Secret Tunnel, the first Finney and the Mathmysterians novel by author Jamie Lane Barber, a daring middle schooler joins her math teacher on a dangerous but all-important quest.

Full review posted on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

Twelve-year-old Finney Brown is our heroine in this compelling adventure. It all begins when Finney’s sixth grade math teacher, Mrs. Swindell, goes into the classroom supply closet and doesn’t return.

When Finney follows her to see what happened, she discovers a mysterious door and a note left by the teacher asking for help. Finney convinces her friend, Erika, to go with her so they can explore further. This leads to discovering a passageway of secret tunnels and much more.

Their teacher is a member of a secret society known as the Mathmysterians. The group is in charge of guarding Albert Einstein’s hidden legacy and keeping it from an opposing group called the Order. Finney wants to help and is the perfect small size to navigate some of the narrower tunnels.

She has often struggled in school and this would be a way to have others like Mrs. Swindell see her in a different light. The third person narrations stays close to Finney the entire way.

Filled with puzzles to solve, FINNEY AND THE SECRET TUNNEL moves along at a nice pace with a “who do you trust?” vibe. There is a slight lull in the middle, but the climatic ending more than makes up for it. Math lovers will enjoy the puzzles whole others will hang on for the thrills.

I enjoyed the use of mathematics and that this was a really fun children’s novel. The characters were what I was looking for from the description. It had a great overall concept and I was glad I got to go on this journey. Jamie Lane Barber has a great writing style and I can’t wait for more.

This one grabbed me from the very first sentence: "Trouble. The word nipped at Finney, her insides smacking around like an out-of-lake fish."

Finney and the Secret Tunnel is a rollicking, adventurous and delightful story. The language in this book is playful and entertaining. Many middle-grade writers make the mistake of using a very dull and basic vocabulary, which is somewhat insulting to the intended audience. Barber's writing is both fun and sophisticated, with some great descriptions and similes.

The story unfolds at a cracking pace, keeping you flipping through pages to eagerly discover what lies in store for Finney and her friends. There's a few fun visual elements and puzzles to solve throughout, and it sets up the rest of the series very nicely.

I mostly checked this one out to see if it'd be something I could read to my daughter, but I had an absolutely grand time reading it and will definitely check out whatever Barber writes next.

Finney and the Secret Tunnel was an exciting read. Perfect for 6th graders, it has elements of middle school math and explains it well. It would be a great book for any student struggling in the subject, as it revolves around it.

The characters, along with the central themes of the book, provide a soft and cosy feeling. Finney and her friend, Erika, showed us elements of bravery and camaraderie. The Mathmysterians provided a sense of belonging and comfort, a safe space for Finney and Erika. The characters showed growth and acceptance, some aspects needed for the development of the youth.

Even though Barber did a great job with the characters, I felt that the book's pace could have been faster, like that which most middle-grade books show. It delved into the main topics in the later parts of the book, which caused me to feel slightly bored and inattentive while reading. There was also quite a large gap between the exciting parts of the book, which also contributed to the dull feeling.

Though there were parts where I felt like it could go faster, I found the storyline to be impressive and unique. I haven’t found many books where math is put on a pedestal, and this was a nice change of pace. It is also very helpful to many middle schoolers, as it may help them develop an interest in STEM topics and influence them in a good way.

In total, I appreciated the chance to read the book and think it is a wonderful way to get middle schoolers interested in topics they weren’t previously interested in. Thank you Netgalley, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles, and Jamie Lane Barber for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a great example of how an enjoyable story can also be educational for young readers - by enabling them to learn without too much conscious effort.

Finney is a maths geek who nevertheless manages to get into trouble with alarming frequency. When she catches her 6th grade teacher Mrs Swindell disappearing into a supply closet one day, Finney cannot resist following her, to find out what is going on.

As it happens, there is considerably more going on in the secret tunnels under her school in Virginia than Finney ever imagined! Soon, she has been inducted into the Mathmysterians, an undercover society charged with protecting one of the world's greatest secrets.

And Finney, accompanied by her friend Erika, takes on the task of solving maths based puzzles in order to fullfil the responsibilities and protect the secrets that the Mathmysterians are tasked with.

Finney is a likeable and relatable MC, not least because she is also dealing with the real life challenges of her parents' divorce, and dealing with a new stepfather. This will be a good choice for children in the target age group, particularly those with struggling with any middle school maths requirement. It gets 3.5 stars.

A fun and educational mystery novel for middle-graders! Finney and The Secret Tunnel follows a young girl on an adventure through underground tunnels to help the Mathmysterians protect a secret treasure.

When Finney’s teacher disappears in the classroom storage closet, Finney stumbles into a whole new world underneath her school, situated in Virginia. She is entrusted by her teacher to assist her colleagues with preventing a group called The Order from stealing the treasure hidden there. By using her knowledge of history and mathematics, Finney digs deep inside to find the courage and strength to keep the secret hidden. With a reputation for getting into trouble, Finney struggles to be accepted for who she is. Her induction into the society of Mathmysterians provides an opportunity for Finney to make good choices and show she can be responsible and dependable. The main character is relatable and a good role model for children on their way to becoming young adults.

Readers will enjoy solving the puzzle alongside Finney as she races through the streets and tunnels of Virginia to help her teacher. Author Jamie Lane Barber builds suspense as the danger intensifies, and will keep you turning the pages to discover who can be trusted in this quest. An educational and entertaining story kids will love!

Finney, a 6th grader, watches her math/science teacher, Ms. Swindell, go into the supply closet in her classroom and never come out. Out of curiosity and concern, Finney goes in after her, leading her to a world of secret societies, puzzles, and a discovery of the importance of math while she saves the world. With her best friend, Erika, by her side, Finney channels her female heroes as she does things she never expected to do in school. This book reminded me of the best of Indiana Jones and the National Treasure movies, as well as the TV series, The Librarians.

Finney is a realistic protagonist. The author balances Finney's bravery with self-doubt. Finney's parents' divorce and her new stepfather add needed realism, keeping the plot from becoming too fantastical. I would recommend the book to upper-elementary students who may or may not like math class. Many students could imagine themselves as Finney, possibly checking the supply closets in their own schools. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope there will be more featuring Finney and the Mathmysterians.

Author Jamie Lane Barber must have a direct line into the minds of sixth-graders because this book has everything young readers will love. Think "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" meets "Indiana Jones" starring nerdy, inquisitive Finney, who is always in TROUBLE, with a capital "T".

When Finney's math teacher disappears into a supply closet, Finney is determined to find her. What follows is an adrenalin-pounding adventure through secret tunnels and around mind-blowing booby traps. Soon, Finney is pulled into a race to save her teacher and protect one of the world's greatest secrets. At last, her love of numbers pays off in a big way, when she deciphers clues hidden within mathematic formula's.

The story is one of bravery and fear, trust and doubt, as Finney uses all her wits to solve the mysteries. Ultimately, she and best friend Erika accomplish something even the grown-ups aren't able to do -- proving Finney's belief that kids can be "important" people, too.

Middle-school readers will devour this book from cover-to-cover without stopping. It's THAT GOOD..

This is an action packed adventure for younger readers. I never knew so much was hidden under schools. Thank you to Level Best Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.