The Adventures of Abraham West and the Golden Circle

by C. Martin Barr

Abraham West is an awkward kid just trying to survive middle school. He also just might be the last living descendant of one of history's greatest men and the target of an ancient conspiracy. Kids (and adults who love kids books) won't be able to put down this fast-paced, hysterical middle-grade/teen novel where laughs, twists and turns are around every corner. When his mother receives a mysterious job offer, they move from New Jersey to Washington, DC where, through the efforts of a secret benefactor, Abe is enrolled in the most elite private school in town. It's hard to see how this poor kid is ever going to survive surrounded by the sons and daughters of Washington's most prominent politicians, CEO's and celebrities. For starters, he'll need some help. While everyone else at the school seems to be out to get him, Abe is befriended by a pretty girl named Laura who, although he doesn't know it, just happens to be the daughter of the most important man in town. And although Abe and Laura aren't wizards, the kids of ancient gods, or vampires, they are clever kids. Very clever kids. In fact, Abe knows a lot of stuff that most other people don't, especially when it comes to science. And sometimes, if you know enough, it's almost as good as magic. The real fun begins when messages that seem to be coming from a long-dead president start Abe and Laura on an adventure to discover the truth about an ancient conspiratorial group, the Golden Circle (a real Civil War secret society) bent on revenge against the descendants of President Lincoln. The two friends must unravel a mystery that leads them to secret rooms in the bowels of the White House, through some of Washington's most famous landmarks, into smelly garbage cans and eventually lands them sprawling across the White House lawn. There are shady characters, secret societies and ancient conspiracies, lots of real history, accurate science, plots against the president as well as firewriting, bookweaving, freezing locks, and eggs that can stand on their ends. And if that isn't enough, there is the story of the unlikely friendship between two kids who live in completely different worlds that grows as they try to unravel the mystery of what happened to Abe's missing father.