From the acclaimed author of SLAY and The Cost of Knowing comes an action-driven, high-octane novel about a group of working-class teens in Seattle who join a dangerous scavenger hunt with a prize that can save their families and community.
Influence is power. Power creates change. And change is exactly what Team Jericho needs.
Jax, Yas, Spider, and Han are the four cornerstones of Team Jericho, the best scavenger hunting team in all of Seattle. Each has their own specialty: Jax, the puzzler; Yas, the parkourist; Spider, the hacker; and Han, the cartographer. But now with an oil refinery being built right in their backyard, each also has their own problems. Their families are at risk of losing their jobs, their communities, and their homes.
So when The Order, a mysterious vigilante organization, hijacks the scavenger hunting forum and concocts a puzzle of its own, promising a reward of influence, Team Jericho sees it as the chance of a lifetime. If they win this game, they could change their families’ fates and save the city they love so much. But with an opposing team hot on their heels, it’s going to take more than street smarts to outwit their rivals.
I’ve read and enjoyed two previous books by this author, so it was a no-brainer to request her newest release from NetGalley.
Team Jericho has been together for several years as a scavenger hunting team. They’re very good at what they do, and each member brings a specific skill to the table. Being a fan of puzzles, I really enjoyed that aspect of the story and watching the characters work together to figure them out. The characters are very distinct and diverse (this is only the second book I’ve read with a nonverbal character), which makes the multiple POV chapters easy to keep up with.
Each of these characters’ families are threatened in some way by the new oil refinery, so winning this competition that promises power is important to them. The plot moves along at a brisk pace as the characters race from one clue to another – try to keep up. As with all this author’s books, several important and timely issues are tackled – gentrification and racism to name a couple in this one.
While I enjoyed the scavenger hunt and challenging clues (which would be difficult to solve unless you’re very familiar with Seattle), I wasn’t feeling the strong bond of friendship between these teens. They’ve been friends for several years and have gone through a lot, but those bonds seem flimsy at some points. The ending is exciting and chaotic, but a little over the top. Reviews seem to be split on this.
If you’re a fan of cryptology and enjoy fast-paced, quick reads (with a super cool cover), The Jump checks those boxes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Books and Such 
The scavenger hunt part sounds exciting. Too bad you have to be familiar with Seattle to decihper the clues. It’s also a shame the friendships weren’t more developed.
A good balanced review, Teri!
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Thanks, Mae! Maybe it’s because I love puzzles, but I think it would be fun for the reader to also have the chance to solve them. These were very Seattle-specific, and the only time I’ve been there is when I had an hour layover – which doesn’t help at all.
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I love books where the reader has an opportunity to figure out the puzzles. That always makes for a great experience. Too bad these were limited to a specific area. Yeah, that one hour layover doesn’t quite cut it, LOL!
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I can understand why reviews are split on The Jump from your pros and cons listed. You’re right about the cool cover.:-)
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The cover artist did a great job at depicting the characters. Although I enjoyed this one, I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite by this author.
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Sounds like a fun story, Teri. Thanks for sharing!
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I really liked the scavenger hunt aspect and how they competed against other teams, Jan. I haven’t come across anything quite like that in YA books.
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This sounds interesting specifically the scavenger hunt part. Sad the friendship bond wasn’t that strong. Great review, Teri!
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I wasn’t the only reader who commented on that, Yesha. It mentioned this group had been together for several years, but I didn’t feel those vibes. But the scavenger hunt part was my favorite.
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The plot sounds fun, especially if you know Seattle. Too bad for the lack of development re the friendships. Excellent review!
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The friendship angle surprised me because there’s such an emphasis on their bond. Still, it was a fun search through Seattle for the clues.
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Not sure if it will be my cup of tea…
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I doubt you’d enjoy this one, Sophie. One less to worry about with your TBR!
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I do like puzzles, Teri, and it’s super important that they’re cleverly done. I was a little disappointed that the friendships didn’t seem as tight as I would hope in the “buddy” book. Still, sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the review!
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From the explanations after the clues were solved, the puzzles were pretty clever. Seattle readers probably guessed them. Overall, it was a good read, Diana – just not my favorite by this author.
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That’s cool. I have family up there. I should send them the book just for the fun of it.
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