T*A*C*K Secret Service
Marvin Miller and Nancy K. Robinson; illustrated by Alan Tiegreen
📚 Genre
Children's Mystery / Puzzle Book
🏢 Publisher
Scholastic Inc.
📅 Publication Year
1982
🔢 ISBN
0-590-32404-7
About This Book
Part of the T.A.C.K. (Truth, Ability, Courage, Kindness) series, this book features a group of four children who solve mysteries using logic and deduction. Readers are invited to solve the puzzles alongside the characters. The cover depicts two children opening a trap door in an attic or rooftop setting during a lightning storm.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
96
Edition
First Scholastic Paperback Edition
Series
T.A.C.K. Series, Book 2
Target Audience
Children (Middle Grade), ages 8-12
Collector Information
Condition
Good to Very Good. The cover shows minor edge wear, some light creasing near the bottom right corner, and slight yellowing of the paper consistent with its 1980s publication date.
Estimated Value
$5.00 - $15.00
Rarity
Uncommon. While common in the 1980s, these mass-market paperbacks were often discarded or heavily worn by children; finding a clean copy requires some searching on secondary markets.
Historical Significance
Represented the 1980s trend of interactive 'solve-it-yourself' mystery books marketed primarily through Scholastic school book fairs.
Collector Notes
Collectors look for copies without 'solved' puzzles written in pen or pencil inside. Given the acidic paper used by Scholastic in this era, look for copies stored in cool, dry environments to avoid brittleness. Value is primarily nostalgic rather than high-end investment.
Similar Books
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol, The Bloodhound Gang by Sid Fleischman, Cam Jansen by David A. Adler
Notable Features
Includes 'Can You Solve It?' logic puzzles integrated into the narrative. Features black and white illustrations by Alan Tiegreen throughout.