Before Jake’s grandfather died, he was on the trail of a centuries-old mystery. And he has entrusted that mystery to Jake, leaving behind a set of hidden codes, riddles, maps, and other clues that lead Jake and his friends on a scavenger hunt into the heart of Colorado’s wild and rugged Rocky Mountain National Park.

Through twists and turns, the mystery unfolds while Jake, Amber, and Wes learn about survival skills, natural history, integrity, character, and friendship.

While camping in Rocky Mountain National Park, they discover they are not the only ones on this quest. An elusive shadow group is close on their heels.

Illustrated by the author, this page-turning adventure is designed to capture the imagination of even the most reluctant of young readers. Parents looking for a delightful read-aloud adventure will find it hard to put down. (Word of Caution: readers frequently note that this is a “Please read just one more chapter” book).

If your family loves the enchanted lands of our national parks, this series will take you to hidden places and into breathtaking landscapes. If you enjoy movies like National Treasure and Uncharted or mystery adventures like the Hardy Boys and Gary Paulsen’s survival story, Hatchet, you’ll love this first installment of the National Park Mystery Series.

Aaron Johnson grew up on a farm in Ohio where he'd jump the fence to hike into the swamps, gullies, ravines, and gorges in a place they called The Deep Fields. He wrote his first book in second grade, and continued to write as a teenager.

Then he became a high school and middle school teacher, and went on to work for twenty years in education. He's so grateful to bring his many passions together in this new life-chapter as an author: the outdoors, writing, the national parks, illustration, and his interest in fields of history, conservation, and the natural sciences. And he gets to squeeze my terrible dad- jokes into my stories.

Their family lives in Colorado where Aaron spent over six months exploring and leading backpacking trips into Rocky Mountain National Park. That's why the adventure begins in RMNP, in the heart of a place that he thinks of as home.

Aaron hopes your family not only enjoys these stories, but also develops a deeper affection for our national parks and the other wild places near you.

Learn more about her books when you visit her website at https://nationalparkmysteryseries.com

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