Fall may be in the air...in some places, though it's still upper 90's and hotter down here... but there's something else I'm catching a whiff of too. A MYSTERY!
Today's book of choice is the second installment in a Children's Fiction series that definitely works as a standalone as well, so no worries if you haven't already indulged in the first; you can catch this one and know there's still another out there for your reading pleasure! Ladies and gents, let's get this show on the road as we dive between the pages of...
by
Katryn Bury
9780358701521
Clarion Books
About the book...
After breaking school rules the last time she solved a mystery, Drew Leclair has a new mission: get good grades, stay under the radar, and do not get suspended.
But when Drew finds out that there’s a thief breaking into the P.E. lockers and leaving behind cryptic ransom notes, it’s hard to resist cracking a new case. Especially when one of the victims is her best friend Shrey’s crush, and he’s practically begging her to get involved.
Can Drew catch the thief red-handed while staying out of trouble? And what does it mean when everyone around Drew is obsessing over crushes and the upcoming Wonderland dance, and Drew would rather work on her latest crime board?
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Part mystery, part examination of friendship, part coming of age, this story packs a much bigger punch than it might first appear!
This was my first encounter with Drew and friends, but I never felt like an outsider looking in. There was obviously some history between them I wasn't there to witness, but it was revealed in its own time, much like the person behind the thefts (hello mystery!). You were invited along for the ride, deciphering clues along the way, so you could draw your own conclusions, and the finale that was extra sparkly (😂) was the perfect choice to walk that line between "helping out the little guy" and not breaking school rules. WAY TO GO DREW AND CREW!
There was certainly more than the mystery going on here though, and that's something that will definitely broaden its appeal even more. Drew’s parents are separated, heading for divorce, so she's got the surprise arrival of a mom she hasn't quite reconciled her emotions with as of yet. We have the friend group dynamic that was thrown off kilter by an ill timed kiss (last adventure) still being sorted out amongst them, with the introduction of new love interests to manage. Drew is still working out her own feelings about feelings and whom she may have them for (or not!), but I love that the story and her friends/ family were open to more than simply an AA and BB type answer (a win for representation!). They love her for herself, and being true to herself is what brings them happiness.
So you see, a great add for the start of the school year for so many reasons, but also a great read any time for just a many! Start with this story if it appeals, or seek out the first and go in order, either way YOU WIN!
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About the author...
Katryn Bury works with middle grade readers as a youth library technician. A lifelong true crime nerd, she has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminology. Her short and serialized fiction can be found in Suspense Magazine and The Sleuth. She lives in Oakland, California, with her family and a vast collection of Nancy Drew mysteries.
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Special thanks to Wunderkind PR and Harper Collins Publishers for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer or stop by your local brick and mortar store today!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
