Benjamin and Ethan Broderick don’t fit together. Twelve-year-old Ben loves retro arcade games and puzzles, while his older brother would rather play sports and hang out with his friends. The only thing they have in common is how much they resent being forced to go on a summer road trip.
But at the quirky diner where the brothers make their very first stop, they discover a clue leading to a giant puzzle race with a million-dollar prize! Along with five other families, the Brodericks are thrust into a high-stakes competition along the famous Route 66.
Can Ben and Ethan put their heads together—and put aside their differences—to beat out the other families and solve Ms. Pennypickle’s ultimate puzzle?
Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest is a middle-grade adventure novel that combines puzzle-solving, road-trip adventure, and heartwarming family dynamics. The story is fast-paced from start to finish and features puzzles, riddles, and hidden clues/messages that even adult readers will find challenging and fun! For all you Willy Wonka fans out there, the high-stakes competition, its enigmatic mentor, and its interesting mix of contestants make it reminiscent in vibe of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—but with a format similar to The Amazing Race!
The story follows 12-year-old Benji and his 18-year-old brother Ethan, who are very different, and a rift has developed between them. Their parents coerce them into a summer road trip together to the Grand Canyon, which neither really wants. But when they stop at a pancake diner, they find a clue that thrusts them into a grand puzzle race: solve challenges laid out by Ms. Pennypickle along Route 66 for a chance to win one million dollars. Alongside five other families, they must combine wits and grit and reconcile their differences to stay ahead.
Benji is a brainy, puzzle-loving kid who is a big fan of trivia and retro games—and his fact-filled rants are hilarious and make him very likeable! Ethan is social, impulsive, and more excited about his future with friends and college than quality family time. At first, Ethan treats the trip like an obligation, and Benji often feels like he’s tagging along. But the puzzle quest competition forces them to bond and confront their frayed relationship. As they attempt to solve puzzles, decide which routes to take, and conquer obstacle courses, they recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses and join forces to try to get the upper hand. Benji learns to trust his instincts and speak up, and Ethan learns to be more humble and considerate—and their brotherly bond becomes stronger and more heartfelt. The mystery behind the identity of Ms. Pennypickle is an intriguing part of the story—and each new puzzle and hidden clue gives readers more insight into this shadowy puppet master!
The book has great pacing throughout and will keep readers engaged, laughing, and entertained! Once the race begins, the pacing accelerates, and all the interesting puzzles, historic stops on Route 66, and rivalries with the other contestants keep the stakes and momentum high! The second half has some interesting reveals, relationship building, and detours and an ending that has some unexpected twists that will equally shock and delight readers!
Overall, Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest is a clever, adventure-filled ride with a balance of puzzle solving, humor, and heartwarming family dynamics in all the best ways! It’s perfect for middle grade to adult readers who love fast-paced stories with riddles to solve, road trip adventures, rich character development, and feel-good middle grade books!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest is a fun, immersive listen narrated by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, who’s renowned for his narration of middle grade audiobooks.
Sanderlin gives a strong performance of both brothers and makes them very distinct and equally interesting. To portray Ben, the younger puzzle-loving sibling, Sanderlin uses an energetic, animated, and curious voice, perfectly capturing Ben’s personality and excitement over the puzzles. In contrast, Sanderlin portrays Ethan with a more grounded, sarcastic voice with an undertone of mild annoyance and reluctance, capturing his frustrations of being forced to spend time with his brother and his selfishness.
There are a lot of secondary characters in this story, from the sisters who bind with the brothers to a bullying brother team to a clever father-son duo, and Sanderlin brings each of them to life with distinct voices, convincing personalities, and unique emotional intensities to make them all feel real and help the story come alive! Ms. Pennypickle’s character is a real highlight of the story, and Sanderlin’s portrayal of her is spot-on—mysterious, eccentric, and fully animated—giving the character a cinematic, larger-than-life persona!
This is a fast-paced story, and Sanderlin paces the narration accordingly—when puzzles or riddles are solved or explained, Sanderlin slows the pacing for listeners to fully grasp and appreciate the clever solutions, making the listening experience very immersive! The chapters are also fairly short (many are under six minutes), and Sanderlin starts each new chapter with a fresh level of excitement, which keeps the excitement flowing and makes the audiobook literally fly by!
Overall, Mark Sanderlin’s dynamic and engaging performance greatly enhances the story. With his expert pacing and entertaining character portrayals, he makes the puzzle hunt and the family growth equally enjoyable! This is a must-listen for anyone who enjoys middle grade adventure, sibling dynamics, humor, puzzle-solving plots, and single narrator performances that are high on energy and entertainment value! If you haven’t listened to Mark Sanderlin’s narration before, this audiobook is a perfect example of his engaging voice, impressive acting skills, and wonderful pacing, and you’ll definitely want to check out his backlist of diverse titles, including a huge number of middle grade books from top authors!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest is a fun, immersive listen narrated by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, who’s renowned for his narration of middle grade audiobooks.
Sanderlin gives a strong performance of both brothers and makes them very distinct and equally interesting. To portray Ben, the younger puzzle-loving sibling, Sanderlin uses an energetic, animated, and curious voice, perfectly capturing Ben’s personality and excitement over the puzzles. In contrast, Sanderlin portrays Ethan with a more grounded, sarcastic voice with an undertone of mild annoyance and reluctance, capturing his frustrations of being forced to spend time with his brother and his selfishness.
There are a lot of secondary characters in this story, from the sisters who bind with the brothers to a bullying brother team to a clever father-son duo, and Sanderlin brings each of them to life with distinct voices, convincing personalities, and unique emotional intensities to make them all feel real and help the story come alive! Ms. Pennypickle’s character is a real highlight of the story, and Sanderlin’s portrayal of her is spot-on—mysterious, eccentric, and fully animated—giving the character a cinematic, larger-than-life persona!
This is a fast-paced story, and Sanderlin paces the narration accordingly—when puzzles or riddles are solved or explained, Sanderlin slows the pacing for listeners to fully grasp and appreciate the clever solutions, making the listening experience very immersive! The chapters are also fairly short (many are under six minutes), and Sanderlin starts each new chapter with a fresh level of excitement, which keeps the excitement flowing and makes the audiobook literally fly by!
Overall, Mark Sanderlin’s dynamic and engaging performance greatly enhances the story. With his expert pacing and entertaining character portrayals, he makes the puzzle hunt and the family growth equally enjoyable! This is a must-listen for anyone who enjoys middle grade adventure, sibling dynamics, humor, puzzle-solving plots, and single narrator performances that are high on energy and entertainment value! If you haven’t listened to Mark Sanderlin’s narration before, this audiobook is a perfect example of his engaging voice, impressive acting skills, and wonderful pacing, and you’ll definitely want to check out his backlist of diverse titles, including a huge number of middle grade books from top authors!
The audiobook of Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest is a fun, immersive listen narrated by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, who’s renowned for his narration of middle grade audiobooks.
Sanderlin gives a strong performance of both brothers and makes them very distinct and equally interesting. To portray Ben, the younger puzzle-loving sibling, Sanderlin uses an energetic, animated, and curious voice, perfectly capturing Ben’s personality and excitement over the puzzles. In contrast, Sanderlin portrays Ethan with a more grounded, sarcastic voice with an undertone of mild annoyance and reluctance, capturing his frustrations of being forced to spend time with his brother and his selfishness.
There are a lot of secondary characters in this story, from the sisters who bind with the brothers to a bullying brother team to a clever father-son duo, and Sanderlin brings each of them to life with distinct voices, convincing personalities, and unique emotional intensities to make them all feel real and help the story come alive! Ms. Pennypickle’s character is a real highlight of the story, and Sanderlin’s portrayal of her is spot-on—mysterious, eccentric, and fully animated—giving the character a cinematic, larger-than-life persona!
This is a fast-paced story, and Sanderlin paces the narration accordingly—when puzzles or riddles are solved or explained, Sanderlin slows the pacing for listeners to fully grasp and appreciate the clever solutions, making the listening experience very immersive! The chapters are also fairly short (many are under six minutes), and Sanderlin starts each new chapter with a fresh level of excitement, which keeps the excitement flowing and makes the audiobook literally fly by!
Overall, Mark Sanderlin’s dynamic and engaging performance greatly enhances the story. With his expert pacing and entertaining character portrayals, he makes the puzzle hunt and the family growth equally enjoyable! This is a must-listen for anyone who enjoys middle grade adventure, sibling dynamics, humor, puzzle-solving plots, and single narrator performances that are high on energy and entertainment value! If you haven’t listened to Mark Sanderlin’s narration before, this audiobook is a perfect example of his engaging voice, impressive acting skills, and wonderful pacing, and you’ll definitely want to check out his backlist of diverse titles, including a huge number of middle grade books from top authors!
