What secrets will Zack and his siblings discover in and around the cryptic Tower?When 11-year-old Zack Einstein and his family move to Vista Point, Zack still blames himself for the accidental death of his younger sister the previous year. He's paralyzed by grief until he follows a mysterious girl into the abandoned nine-sided Tower. What he discovers sets Zack off on a summer filled with secret messages, a hidden cave, and a touch of the supernatural, But can Zack put the pieces of the mystery together before his family's dream of opening a bed-and-breakfast is dashed by a cantankerous old man? The fascinating cipher that ties it all together is the highlight of this wholesome, gentle story set in 2002. There's little doubt this novel was inspired by classic sibling adventure stories. Indeed, Zack's favorite series, the fictional Falcons and Bandits, reads like an homage to Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons. Zack's emotional journey is compelling, yet his siblings' one-dimensionality keeps this work from ascending to the heights of more character-driven titles. The happy ending is sweet-some may find it cloyingly so-offering closure for Zack, his family, and even the story's villain-turned-friend. The Einsteins are Jewish and White; other major characters are assumed White. Occasional spot illustrations add visual interest.An inspirational throwback for families seeking tales with a classic feel. (Fiction. 8-12)

Eleven-year-old Zack Einstein blames himself for the sudden death of his younger sister, Susan. After her passing, Zack and his family—including siblings Ruth, 13; Miriam, 15; and Ethan, 16—pursue a fresh start in Vista Point, Ore. Their parents plan to renovate a three-story Victorian-style mansion into a bed-and-breakfast, but the siblings would rather explore their new backyard’s sprawling landscape. Near the property stands a strictly off-limits abandoned tower where the Einsteins meet mysterious nine-year-old neighbor Ann. Together, the group explores the tower, decoding its cryptic carvings and attempting to communicate with an unknown party by using a flashlight to send messages in Morse code. Amid cheerful adventure, the siblings finally begin healing (“For the first time in months, Zack felt a little less unhappy”). Antonsson’s detailed and finely lined art, which includes a map and spot illustrations, provides intimate looks into pivotal scenes. Though the rest of the Einsteins don’t feel as richly characterized as protagonist Zack, Guterson (the Winterhouse trilogy) sensitively explores Zack’s journey toward self-forgiveness in this contemplative adventure featuring a captivating northwestern U.S. setting, a splash of the paranormal, and a tidy ending. The Einsteins are Jewish and white; supporting characters cue as white. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)