A precocious boy enters the race of his life in this work that doesn’t live up to its promise.
Nine days at sea, 16 contestants, and one killer.
Welcome to the Murder Mystery Race, in which the person who unmasks the killer wins $1 million and the chance to compete in the following year’s challenge. It’s 2054, and the Knife Thrower has been terrorizing a small New Jersey town with a vicious murder spree. Ten-year-old Andrew Mikaelson has been selected as one of this year’s contestants. They must try to uncover the identity of the Knife Thrower, who will be one of their fellow passengers on the cruise out of Palm Beach. All the contestants are kids under age 18 who qualified through solving a series of puzzles. Andrew, the youngest, is a calculating fifth grader who has theories about who the killer is, but he is initially treated dismissively by the older teens. Andrew leaves the safety of home for a cruise filled with both fun and deadly games as he and his new friends piece together clues. The concept is original, and the tween author, who possesses an advanced vocabulary, shows potential. However, the story needs better pacing and editing. It has a very slow buildup, as the initial chapters set up the world and introduce the characters, and the stilted writing is unfortunately heavy on unnecessary exposition, but it hits its stride when the cruise starts. Characters seem to be White.
A precocious boy enters the race of his life in this work that doesn’t live up to its promise. (Thriller. 12-16)Pub Date: July 25, 2023
ISBN: 9781637588260
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Permuted Press
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2023
An atmospheric and entertaining thriller perfect for snowy night chills.
A group of teens stranded in a snowstorm discovers a murderer in their midst.
While traveling on the highway to a state theater competition, Nell and her friends Min, Raven, Adam, and Jermaine are caught in a dangerous blizzard. Their teacher, Mrs. McElroy, who is driving the minivan, decides to stop for the night at the run-down and shady-looking Travel Inn and Out. The motel is labyrinthine and spooky, with dingy corridors and walls adorned with moldering kitsch. Nell and the gang meet another group of kids who are also stranded by the storm, making fast friends. A game of Two Truths and a Lie starts out flirty and fun but devolves into something more sinister when one slip of paper reads “I like to watch people die,” and “I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve killed.” The snow falls and the winds howl, and soon power and cell service are lost, cutting off the motel patrons from the outside world. As the first victim is discovered and the body count begins to grow, the terror becomes palpable. Everyone at the motel seems to have an insidious secret: Will Nell be able to uncover the killer before they strike again? An homage to Agatha Christie, Henry’s locked-room mystery is tautly plotted, with quick-moving nail-biting chapters, relatable characters, and a deftly wrought setting that paradoxically manages to feel both claustrophobic and sprawling. Nell is White; there is diversity among the secondary characters.
An atmospheric and entertaining thriller perfect for snowy night chills. (Mystery. 12-16)Pub Date: May 24, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-32333-8
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
An action-packed, magic-filled exploration of natural resource abuse.
A coven of problem-solving witches takes on a mission that tests their friendship and bonds.
Witches Anadil, Hester, and Dot are summoned to Red Isle when the animals of the Dark Lands are found starving after sludge kills all the vegetation. Mother Sorastra, the leader of the Dark Lands, confronts Prince Lexius of the neighboring Light Lands, arguing that he’s abusing nature’s gift of raaka, a resource used to power clever inventions. But Prince Lexius blames Mother Sorastra for breaking a truce and causing the pollution. The conflict escalates when citizens of the Light Lands are murdered, and their facial features are erased. Pale, white-haired Anadil, brown-skinned, black-haired Hester, and Dot, who has brown skin and Afro-textured hair, arrive in time to stop the outbreak of war and attempt to solve the mystery of the face-stealing killer. When a coven of witches impersonating the trio appears, Anadil, Hester, and Dot must overcome their bickering and work through hurt feelings in order to band together and bring peace and balance to Red Isle. This graphic novel features cleverly realized characters: Anadil with her team of magical rats, Hester with her pet demon, and Dot with her ability to summon confectionary are memorable leads. The relationship between Anadil and Hester adds a hint of romance to the story, and the environmental themes add real-world relevance. Vivid illustrations with saturated colors create a fantastical backdrop for the fast-paced storyline.
An action-packed, magic-filled exploration of natural resource abuse. (Graphic fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780062979681
Page Count: 272
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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