CHASING THE FALCONERS by Gordon Korman
    Category:  Action-Adventure
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  4/1/05
    Publisher:  Scholastic
    Reviewed by:  Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Gordon Korman's ON THE RUN series starts off with a bang with CHASING THE FALCONERS, an action-
    adventure thriller with serious overtones. The opening of the story finds Aidan Falconer, fifteen, and his younger sister,
    Meg, eleven, ensconced at Sunnydale Farm, a so-called minimum-security rehabilitation alternative for delinquent
    youths. Although Aidan and Meg haven't committed any crimes, their parents, Drs. John and Louise Falconer, both
    professors and criminologists, had been found guilty of treason months before, and are now serving life sentences in
    separate prisons.

    Both doctors had been working for the CIA, under the tutelage of operative "Uncle" Frank Lindenauer, to create
    profiles to help the United States government identify and locate terrorists. Unfortunately, though, the profiles fell into
    the hands of the very terrorists the Falconer's were profiling, and the world branded them traitors. When their lawyers
    failed to produce any trace of Frank Lindenauer (the CIA, in fact, testified that there was no such agent in their
    offices), the doctors were tried, found guilty, and sent to prison. Now their children, although innocent, are paying for
    it, as well.

    When an accidental fire at Sunnydale Farm presents a means for escape, Aidan and Meg grab it. Their mission? To
    find Frank Lindenauer and prove that their parents are innocent. Their only rules are to stay together, and not get
    caught.

    As the Falconer's race towards Vermont and the summer house they once vacationed at with Lindenauer and his
    girlfriend, the two meet up with another fellow juvenile from the farm, Miguel Reyes. As the three attempt to avoid the
    police, and FBI agent Emmanuel Harris, who was responsible for bringing the case against the elder Falconers, Aidan
    and Meg learn what it means to be fugitives.

    CHASING THE FALCONERS is a quick, adrenaline-packed read that will leave you wanting to read the next book
    in the series, THE FUGITIVE FACTOR, as soon as you're done. Definitely a highly-recommended read for all lovers
    of action-adventure and mysteries!
On the Run Bk. 1:
Chasing the Falconers
by Gordon Korman