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Legend of the Star Runner: A Solve-Them-Yourself Mysteries Adventure (Timmi Tobbson Chapter Book for Kids 8-12) (Solve-Them-Yourself Mysteries for Kids 8-12) Kindle Edition
J. I. Wagner (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level3 - 7
- Publication dateMay 22, 2018
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From the Publisher

For explorers and sleuths young and old
Unravel mysteries by finding visual clues concealed within beautiful illustrations. Uncover the 'Legend of the Star Runner'.

Where was the ancient key hidden?
A mysterious riddle describes a secret hiding place in Granpa's attic.
(This is a sample from the book. All pictures are cropped. Solving the puzzle requires reading the story.)

Who had been observing the hotel?
Marvin noticed someone must have been observing the hotel for at least one hour. Who did he mean and why?
(This is a sample from the book. All pictures are cropped. Solving the puzzle requires reading the story.)

Which pushbutton opens the secret door?
Pressing the wrong button triggers a trap.
(This is a sample from the book. All pictures are cropped. Solving the puzzle requires reading the story.)

How could she tell it was a forgery?
Comparing the photos taken of an old oil painting, Lilli noticed something strange.
(This is a sample from the book. All pictures are cropped. Solving the puzzle requires reading the story.)





Find the homepage of Timmi Tobbson and get the 'Easter-Egg-Companion', 'The Lost Chapter' as well as the 'Numbers Cheatbook' as PDF-Files to download.
Editorial Reviews
Review
- "A splendid homage to adventure"
- "A visual feast"
- "Large-hearted"
A spirited trio of kid sleuths undertake a classic treasure hunt in J. I. Wagner's Legend of the Star Runner. Taking its inspiration from video games and cloak-and-dagger mysteries, this story for middle-grade readers is a visual feast.
Lilli's grandfather is facing eviction. With the prospect of a pirate's treasure guiding them, she and her best friends, Marvin andTimmi, set out to find the loot to rescue him from his debts. A large-hearted, naïve, and wildly improbable plot delights as the fearless team - led by a treasurehunter - lands in a series of underground worlds.
Several twists and turns hinge on pure luck, timing, and uncanny perceptions. A reliance on video-game staples, including hidden passageways, trapdoors, puzzles, maps, and multiple-choice paths, sometimes threatens to turn the book into a high-concept maze. Still, what the story misses in the depth of its background, the illustrations make up for; they are smart compositions using chromatic palettes and feature clues. From a cluttered kitchen to the check-in desk at the Savoy to a wall of keys at an archive, scenes set a distinct mood for the story.
The tone is wisely calibrated; it's neither overly terrifying nor overly lighthearted. The perils the group encounter pose enough danger to build suspense yet leave room for escape. There's seldom doubt that the kids will prevail, considering their Holmesian knack for observation; the book's pleasure rests in their citywide ranging that peels back history to reveal the secrets of a legendary pirate embedded in their midst.
A list of fun facts lists the book's film influences, which include Pirates of the Caribbean, and a section of hints offers insights written in reverse. With the exuberance of a caper, determined protagonists, and a message steeped in family legacy, this first in a planned series is a splendid homage to adventure.
Reviewed by Karen Rigby
May/June 2018
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The author of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the author for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
From the Author
spot an email address in one of the illustrations? Try sending a message
and see what happens... but there is more to it than pure entertainment.
A Story for the Heart - A Challenge to the Mind
This is a story about friendship first and foremost. A story for the heart.
And about the drive to explore, to inquire and to second-guess. All three
main characters require perseverance and courage to succeed, and
derive the necessary strength from their friendship.
Gets Kids' Eyes Off Screens
This book is designed to also engage today's young video gamers and
water their taste for books. One of the main reasons for the appeal of
video games is a frequent feeling of accomplishment. This book is
designed to achieve the same. The 31 concise chapters, each ending with
a puzzle to be solved, provide an equally rewarding experience. The
high-quality visuals are another reason video gaming kids will feel right
at home.
Will Girls Like the Book Too?
My wife and I are proud parents of our super-cute (no bias here)
daughter Emmelie. It was important to me to create a character with
Lilli, who is ready to take the lead and make things happen. Who doesn't
care about what society expects but about fulfilling her own dreams and
ambitions.
So yes, I created this story with girls in mind. Hopefully, my daughter
(and you too) will love it the way I do.
Have fun! From the Inside FlapEdit
From the Back Cover
Suited for explorers and sleuths young and old. Children under 8 years may need assistance in solving some of the puzzles.
About the Author
He holds a Masters degree from Oxford University where he loved being part of the Christ Church College community.
From the Inside Flap
Product details
- ASIN : B07D1R18VQ
- Publisher : freshabooks; 2nd edition (May 22, 2018)
- Publication date : May 22, 2018
- Language : English
- File size : 17301 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 186 pages
- Lending : Enabled
- Best Sellers Rank: #271,403 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #280 in Children's Mystery & Detective Adventure
- #2,924 in Children's Mystery, Detective, & Spy
- #10,105 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

J. I. Wagner lives with his beloved wife, their new-born super-cute daughter, two impressively big orange cats and one equally impressive mortgage right at the edge of a forest near Frankfurt, Germany.
He holds a Masters degree from Oxford University where he loved being part of the Christ Church College community.
Customer reviews
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2019
Top reviews from the United States
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1. Some of the illustrations are so dark, it was hard to see possible clues.
2. There’s an extremely random moment when an adult character shouts “Jesus!” in anger. There isn’t any other adult language in the book (at least not that I can remember), and this totally comes out of left field. Regardless of anyone’s religious beliefs, this is a REALLY strong word for a children’s book, and admittedly, it had me on edge for the rest of the story, worried that there might be another instance of language that I might not catch in time and inadvertently say to my 7 year old. Thankfully, there wasn’t, but geez. Tip: next time, don’t put random language in a kid’s book.
Now I also bought this book for my nephew, who is in 6th grade and has dyslexia / dysgraphia. This is the first book he begs to read another chapter of.
The puzzles are unlike those of any other book. Your kid becomes a detective and needs to combine the information given in the story with what can be inferred from the chapter’s illustration. In the back of the book you can find hints, offering some help if you get stuck. To sum it up:
- Engaging story about helping Lilli’s grandpa (a treasure hunt NOT motivated by greed)
- Very different main characters to identify with (e.g. ranging from very sensitive to very outgoing)
- Short chapters (three pages) making it accessible to kids lacking reading experience
- A full page color illustration at the end of each chapter
- A puzzle to solve at the end of each chapter (e.g. How could we tell a painting had been stolen?)
- Hints at the end of the book (can be read by looking at the writing in a mirror)
- Bonus: Hidden numbers in each illustration work as a passcode to enter a secret area on the website of the book
Honestly, I thought this might be a bit much for my 6-YO, but he was very engaged and very good at picking out hidden clues in the illustrations. Only on some of the harder ones did I need to provide some additional clues for him. And only on the hardest puzzles did I need to refer to the clues at the end of the book (designed to be read in a mirror).
We both ended up having great fun with this, and can't wait till the next installment. If I have one reservation, it's that the re-reading potential is lower due to having solved the puzzles already.
Top reviews from other countries

Chapters were a great length for post bed reading, and I was often persuaded to read 'just one more'! The puzzles were rarely too difficult for her, though often I did have to give her a few pointers. The clues at the back, written upside down and mirrored, were also great fun to check - she loved using her little pocket mirror to check them even if she knew the answer!
A great read and we'd undoubtedly love a sequel, or a whole new story in this style.


The author has also reached out. There is a tricky code to unlock, in which you type into a website. We received email communication from Jens, who has now sent on a signed personal message sticker to insert into my son's book.
A lovely touch, which just shows how much these books mean to the author!
Thanks 👍


Now we are reading the Legacy of the Inventor. So far it is a great book.