Tag: middle grade mystery

REVIEW: The Rembrandt Conspiracy by Deron Hicks

REVIEW: The Rembrandt Conspiracy by Deron Hicks

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

An iced mocha and 42 steps.

Those were the things that convinced Art that something was wrong and the National Portrait Gallery was going to be robbed. Art had grown up around and in art museums. His dad worked at the Portrait Gallery. And after a week of watching, Art knew something was up. But his hunch was going to be hard to prove.

Art remembered another robbery – one from before he was born. The Gardner Museum. The thieves had explicit inside information. Major pieces of art were stolen – and never seen again. This could be something similar. And it would be devastating – to the art world and to Art’s dad and his co-workers at the Gallery.

So Art and his best friend Camille team up to track down the would-be thieves.

Review

Another fun art-based mystery in the Lost Art Mystery series after The Van Gogh Deception.

Art is brilliant, and Camille is clever and bold, making them a good team to work together and try to thwart a heist. Their parents are appropriately involved and typical parents. There’s an interesting epilogue to this one. I am curious to see where it leads for a third book.

Once again, the use of QR codes that take readers to pictures of the art being discussed is brilliant. My QR reader didn’t care for the ARC on my tablet, but when it worked, it was great. I think this feature will be perfect in print versions of the book.

The mystery here – with ties to an actual real-life heist – was twisty and engaging. Mystery fans and art lovers should be sure to check this series out.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

REVIEW: Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Truly Lovejoy was devastated by her family’s move to Pumpkin Falls, NH. It’s January, so the weather is awful. It’s so cold, a waterfall is freezing, and it snows all the time. They were supposed to be living in their very own house in Texas, down the road from Truly’s cousin/best friend after years of military housing. After her father’s accident, days before he was supposed to come home and retire, though, everything changed.

Now, Truly’s father and his sister are running the family bookstore for their parents who have joined the peace corps. That means a mid-year school change for Truly and her siblings. A new town, a new school, and tons of new people.

Truly usually tries to blend into the background. It’s been pretty easy at home since she’s the middle kid of five. It’s harder in public when she’s almost 6 feet tall and not quite 13 years old yet. Usually she can manage to fade into the woodwork anyway. But when she finds a letter with a scavenger hunt clue tucked into a rare book at the store, Truly will need the help of her new classmates to solve the mystery.

Review

I had heard great things about the Pumpkin Falls Mystery series for years, but this was my first chance to try it out. What a delight!

The mysteries are fun. The 20 year old scavenger hunt pushes Truly to get to know her new home town and her classmates. There are also some fun references to Much Ado About Nothing, one of my favorite Shakespeare plays.

The family bookstore is a great place for characters to meet, story elements to unfold, and Truly’s family to start to heal. I adored the shop and all of the activities centered there. And Truly’s family (and her friends) are a treat.

The characters are what makes this book special. From Truly’s dad who is adjusting to a disability and the change in all of his ideas of what his retirement would look like to each of Truly’s friends who are distinct and delightful, there are tons of great characters in this. But Truly is my favorite of them all. She may not tell the adults in her life everything she is thinking and feeling, but she is very clear in her own mind. I loved watching her process the changes in her family, the transition to her new school, and the mysteries she stumbles into. I can’t wait to read the other books in this series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = Loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Finally Something Mysterious by Doug Cornett

REVIEW: Finally Something Mysterious by Doug Cornett

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Duckies. A yard full of rubber duckies.

That’s what launches Paul, “Shank,” and “Peephole” on their latest mystery investigation. Someone dumped a ridiculous number of bath toys in Mr. Babbage’s yard. Who would do that? And why?

Could it be one of his competitors from the big bratwurst competition? Or maybe it’s his grouchy neighbor? Then there’s a teen from the neighborhood who’s acting strangely and sneaking out of the house.

The One and Onlys are on the case. That’s the name of their detective agency, because the three of them are only children. Or at least, they were. Now Peephole’s parents are having another baby which is really going to shake things up. As if Peephole wasn’t already afraid and paranoid all the time. Everything for the One and Onlys could be changing this summer – especially if they can crack their first case.

Review

This was so fun! I love middle grade mysteries. The silly duckies are only the starting point for a low stakes case that pushes the kids to use their skills – Peephole’s photographic memory, Shank’s confidence and daring, and Paul’s problem solving. There’s a lot going on in town with the bratwurst competition as well as a big box store coming in that could dramatically change life for Paul’s family. There’s plenty to engage readers and keep pages turning.

The clues for the mystery are all there for clever readers to notice and fit together. The wrap up of the case was terrific and satisfying.

I would love to see more mysteries for the One and Onlys to solve. Their relationship with local law enforcement was great – I’d love to see where that could go in the future.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥= Great! Might re-read

BONUS REVIEW: Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

BONUS REVIEW: Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Myrtle Hardcastle is the daughter of the local prosecutor, and a scientist, her late mother. So she comes by her intellect and her curiosity honestly. So can anyone be surprised when she uses the telescope to look in on the neighbors or when she reads about poisons?

When Myrtle notices a change in the daily patterns of her neighbors at Redgraves, she looks into things on her own and then notifies the police. They discover that the lady of the house, Miss Wodehouse, has passed away.

Everyone says it was her heart, but Myrtle is convinced it was murder. Myrtle and her governess, Miss Judson, do some of their own investigating at Redgraves, talking to the presumed heirs as well and hunting for clues. In fact, Myrtle eventually convinces the powers that be that it was, in fact, murder. Now, all she has to do is find the killer.

Review

This was excellent! I loved the characters in this. Myrtle is a delight – brilliant and confident. And the cast around her is equally fantastic. I would snap up book 2 – How to Get Away With Myrtle – which also released this week. This was terrific!

The characters are what would keep me coming back to this series. I’m already excited about their next adventure. But the mystery in this is also excellent. There are several suspects and some nice surprises. Mystery fans are going to love this! Crimes include a suspicious death/murder, fraud, and kidnapping.

Do not miss this new mystery series for older middle grade readers (ages 10+) or the amazing Myrtle Hardcastle. I’d hand this to kids who enjoy mysteries like City Spies, FRAMED, Aggie Morton, The Westing Game, Capture the Flag, The Parker Inheritance, or Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor. (You can read about other middle grade mysteries here.) I think they will fall in love with Myrtle.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½=I loved it! Would re-read!

BONUS REVIEW: City Spies by James Ponti

BONUS REVIEW: City Spies by James Ponti

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When Sara Martinez is arrested, she knows it’s a big deal. She was caught hacking. She did it to expose her foster parents for the abusive charlatans they are. But of course nothing happened to them, and Sara was arrested.

But then the British guy shows up. Pretends to be her lawyer. Masterfully works the court case to Sara’s favor, getting her sentenced to a fictional facility until she turns 18.

All so Sara can become a spy for MI6.

MI6 has a team of young spies ready to go on a super secret, super vital mission. But their hacker up and quit the program. If Sara can cut it, she’ll be their new hacker.

They’ve never seen a computer whiz like her!

Review

This was an absolute treat! I loved Sara from the start. She’s crazy smart, fierce, and loyal. My favorite sort of protagonist. The other kids on the team are fascinating as well – talented and quirky with interesting back stories. Even some of the adults get backstories in this book!

The mission and mystery are top notch. No surprise, really. I expected that after the delightful FRAMED series by this author. (I totally need to read those again!) There were several fantastic twists along the way. And some unresolved threads will pull readers into the next book, which is City Spies: Golden Gate, scheduled to release next spring. I already have it in my shopping cart!

Readers who love mysteries, kid spies or found family stories should NOT miss this one!!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

REVIEW: From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

On Zoe’s birthday, she picks up the mail at home and finds a letter from her birth father, Marcus. Zoe’s never met him because Marcus is in prison. She’s never heard from him before either, although his letter makes it sound like he’s sent others. Zoe tries to talk to her mom about Marcus, but her mom says he is bad news. Zoe decides to write him back anyway. And she doesn’t tell her mom or step-dad about the letter.

Zoe is home for the summer so she can pick up the mail before anyone sees it. Her best friends are gone for the summer, and she’s fighting with her neighbor, Trevor, so she has a lot of time on her hands.

As Zoe learns more about Marcus, she sees what they have in common – a passion for cooking, a love of music. And she finally gets brave enough to ask why he’s in prison. Marcus says he was convicted of murder, but he’s innocent. So Zoe decides she’s going to look into Marcus’ case and try to help him.

Review

This was SO great! I adored Zoe! It’s the nature of the story that Zoe has to keep some secrets and lie at times to stay in communication with Marcus. And I so badly wanted her to have that relationship with him. There are so many other examples of her good character – she’s a hard worker, she forgives her neighbor for the things that hurt her feelings – that I could let the lying not bother me for the sake of the story. I knew it would all come out in the end.

The author does a great job of rounding out Zoe’s story with the baking and cooking pieces (A recipe for her cupcakes would have been a fun addition to the book) as well as her friendship with Trevor. Those non-Marcus threads never distracted from the primary story, they only enhanced it.

The big conflict at the end, when Zoe’s secrets were exposed, felt realistic. And the resolution to Marcus’s situation was so satisfying! There were some details in the story about The Innocence Project, their mission, and statistics about wrongful conviction. There were also references to the biases and discrimination against Blacks in general and against Black men and boys when it comes to the law. It’s a timely story. I thought there might be an author’s note in the back with more information or resources, but the content of the story stands on its own.

I loved this story. Hand this to any and every middle grade reader. Zoe is a delight. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Amelia Six by Kristin L. Gray

REVIEW: The Amelia Six by Kristin L. Gray

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Millie, Thea, Cassie, Nathalie, Robin, and Wren are the Amelia Six – six girls who won the chance to spend the night at Amelia Earhart’s Birthplace Museum in Atchison, Kansas. It was supposed to be an evening of food and fun with a scavenger hunt and a tour of the house, full of Amelia Earhart memorabilia. The prize attraction is a pair of Amelia’s goggles – a pair that is about to go the Smithsonian. But over the course of the evening, the goggles go missing.

The kids and the adults in charge of the museum are trapped in the house due to a snowstorm. There’s no cell reception. And everyone is suspicious of everyone else. The goggles are worth a lot of money to a thief.

But the Amelia Six are determined to find the goggles, get to the truth, and preserve Amelia’s memory. But what can six pre-teens do?

Review

This was a fun mystery with some unexpected twists. Millie was the point of view character, but the ensemble of girls was great. They worked well together once the investigation kicked in, and each brought something different to the sleuthing.

There’s a lot of great Amelia Earhart information both in the book and in the back matter. The setting for the story and the group that plans the event for the girls in the book are both real. Amelia Earhart fans will get a kick out of all the little nuggets of information.

Mystery fans, Earhart fans, and fans of books with great ensembles of characters should be sure to check this one out. It is a lot of fun with plenty of page-turning suspense.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Great Pet Heist by Emily Ecton

REVIEW: The Great Pet Heist by Emily Ecton

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The pets enjoyed their life with “Mrs. Food.” It was Butterbean the dog, Walt the Cat, Oliver the bird, and the two rats, Marco and Polo.

The animals’ routine is upended when Mrs. Food slips on a mess Butterbean left on the floor. Paramedics come and take Mrs. Food away. The animals start to panic about who will take care of them. Then a girl named Madison arrives with the building manager to be their pet sitter.

The girl means they will get fed and Butterbean will get walked. But at some point the animals will either need to get jobs or find some money to buy food and supplies.

When all of the animals pool their personal treasures, they don’t have much to work with. But Butterbean does have a coin she found in the elevator. If the animals can find the human who dropped the gold coin, maybe they can find more of them. That would keep them all in kibble and litter and newspaper until Mrs. Food comes back home.

Review

This was a hoot! The different animal characters have fantastic voices. I adored them. The premise is wacky, and it helps to have it anchored by these great personalities.

The heist is pretty intricate. The author does a great job of keeping the story within the realms of pet fantasy stories (not reality, but in keeping with some of the basic ideas for the genre) with what fantasy pets are “capable” of.

There’s a bonus mystery to this of a secret that Madison the pet sitter is keeping. It dovetails perfectly into the story and adds a layer of satisfaction to the ending of the book.

This was fantastically fun to read! It’s funny and engaging. There are no slow spots. I hope there will be more books with these characters in the future. Do NOT miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington

REVIEW: The Elephant’s Girl by Celesta Rimington

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House Children’s in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Lexington was around 5 an EF5 tornado blew her into the Lexington, Nebraska zoo. An elephant named Nyah protected Lex from the storm. Her family never came to claim her leaving everyone to assume they had been killed in the devastating storm. Lex had no memory of her name or her life before the tornado. So one of the zoo employees took her in and became her guardian, raising her at the zoo. He named her Lexington after the town and the zoo.

Lex loves her life at the zoo. Roger takes great care of her. Her best friend, Fisher, lives there, too, as his dad is the zookeeper. Lex even does school at the zoo with Fisher’s mom. And best of all, Nyah is at the zoo.

Lex’s connection with Nyah is special. She communicates with Lex through a deep rumble and in images directly in Lex’s mind when she gets close enough. They had this connection that night of the storm, and it’s still there now, seven years later.

And Nyah’s message for Lex this time is urgent. The images she sees send Lex into the woods outside the zoo where she meets a ghost on a quest to find lost treasure.

Review

This unusual book – a contemporary story which takes place at a zoo but also has a ghost and elephant telepathy – was an unexpected delight!

As I first dug into the story, I read it with an eyebrow raised. Magical elephants? A ghost? It’s an odd story at first and those magical pieces were not what I was expecting.

But Lex is an endearing character. I loved her. My heart broke for her in her loss and in the harassment from other kids that sends her running for the zoo more than once. I was intrigued by the quest the ghost sends Lex on. The pacing of the treasure hunt was great.

By the end, I couldn’t read fast enough to see how the mystery would wrap up and what would happen with Lex. And I think the ending is perfect. This is intriguing, entertaining, and heart-warming – and so satisfying!

Give this to fans of elephants/elephant stories. I think readers who adored The One and Only Ivan might enjoy this. This would also be good for readers who enjoy magical elements in their books. This would make for a great book club book or a family/classroom read aloud.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor by Ally Carter

REVIEW: Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor by Ally Carter

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

April has lived in foster care since her mother left her with a note and a key April’s always worn around her neck but never understood. That key was the launching point for April’s adventure.

While on a museum visit, April recognizes that her key matches a Winterborne family heirloom – a jewel-covered box. She sneaks into the museum only to discover the key won’t turn. Then, she accidentally sets the museum on fire.

When April wakes up in the hospital, she finds her life has changed. Ms. Nelson represents the Winterborne Family Foundation, and they offer to take April in. She and four other kids are cared for at the huge and mysterious Winterborne mansion.

April is eager to see if her key will lead her to any answers about her mother, so she explores the mansion. As she slowly gets to know the other kids, she also discovers some mysterious goings on at the mansion. How far will a mysterious figure go to make sure no one believes what April says she has seen and to keep their own secrets?

Review

This was fantastic!! I only planned to get a few chapters in when I stared this. Next thing I knew, I was at the end. I could not put this down! The kids, the mysteries – all of it was perfect!

I am a sucker for a book with a great ensemble, and this has one. Each one of the kids has a story I would eagerly read. And even though I fell in love with each one just on the little I discovered in this book, it’s clear there is so much more to learn about each of them.

The mysteries are exceptional. Tons of twists and turns, including some at the very end. And even more unanswered questions to be addressed in future books.

And I hope there will be TONS of future books! This is the sort of book I would hand to every kid I know. This is for older middle grade readers (10+) and teens, I imagine due to the action and some violence involved in the mystery. I have yet to read an Ally Carter novel I didn’t love. But this is now one of my all time favorites. Fans of her previous books should run right out and get this one. You will not be disappointed.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥