The Lost Property Office

With his father missing and feared dead, 13-year-old Jack Buckles and his family have traveled to London in search of answers. He finds them with Gwen Kincaid, a 12-year-old clerk at the Lost Property Office, part of “a secret society of detectives that has served the Crown for centuries.” Jack discovers that his father is a member of this Ministry of Trackers, and Jack has tracker abilities, too: he is “hyper-observant” and synesthetic, and his brain can pull memories from minerals. To save his father from an evil Frenchman, Jack and Gwen must find a mysterious jewel called the Ember. Their quest takes them to famous sites throughout London, which is one of few highlights in an otherwise convoluted story that, while creative in concept, suffers from overwriting. Adult author Hannibal (the Nick Baron series) belabors the mystery component of this first book in the Section 13 series; wordy descriptions of the scenes where Jack “sparks” on memories from minerals and Gwen’s repeated ignoring and belittling of Jack’s questions both cause the story to drag. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Nov.)