A taut mystery fueled by its well-drawn characters’ self-reflection and emotional depth.
In Rudolph’s middle-grade novel, an aspiring crime-solver searches for the missing soccer player she idolizes.
The news of Katey Korey’s inexplicable disappearance shocks 12-year-old Texan Cassaty Greene. She’s “obsessed” with the local high school junior, who’s a star on the soccer field. Cassaty doesn’t believe the rumor that Katey has run off to Dallas, where she once lived, since the state playoffs are in less than a week. So, she vows to find her (Cassaty hopes one day to be a detective—or possibly a district attorney, like her father). She quickly teams up with a few fellow sixth graders, including her best friend, Maisy Cooke. They use their classmate connections to dig up information; Simran Patel’s older sister is Katey’s friend, and Cisco Garcia is pals with Katey’s younger brother. Meanwhile, at home, Cassaty’s mom endures a bout of depression—her grief always intensifies around the anniversary of the death of Cassaty’s twin brother, Paul, who died mere months after they were born. Cassaty, sadly, has long blamed herself for Paul’s death. Rudolph excels at developing a vibrant cast, from the seemingly abrasive Cisco, who eases his way onto the sleuthing team, to Cassaty’s Aunt Melodie, an investigative reporter who lives in South Korea. The story also provides an authentic depiction of grief. The members of the Greene family mourn Paul in different ways; his loss is so painful that, even after more than a decade, they’re reluctant to talk about it. Cassaty’s investigation leavens the sorrow-laden narrative. It’s fun watching her team grow, especially as she tries to stay tight-lipped about her missing-persons case. The kids smartly overcome obstacles, like managing to peruse social media despite some parents’ “strict ‘no social’ policy until high school.” While most readers will unravel the mystery well before Cassaty does, the author delivers a poignant final act that more than satisfies.
A taut mystery fueled by its well-drawn characters’ self-reflection and emotional depth.Pub Date: June 9, 2026
ISBN: 9798896363767
Page Count: 256
Publisher: SparkPress
Review Posted Online: Feb. 13, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A heartily satisfying string of entertaining near-catastrophes, replete with narrow squeaks and spectral howls.
Three young ghost trappers take on deadly wraiths and solve an old murder case in the bargain to kick off Stroud’s new post-Bartimaeus series.
Narrator Lucy Carlyle hopes to put her unusual sensitivity to supernatural sounds to good use by joining Lockwood & Co.—one of several firms that have risen to cope with the serious ghost Problem that has afflicted England in recent years. As its third member, she teams with glib, ambitious Anthony Lockwood and slovenly-but-capable scholar George Cubbins to entrap malign spirits for hire. The work is fraught with peril, not only because a ghost’s merest touch is generally fatal, but also, as it turns out, as none of the three is particularly good at careful planning and preparation. All are, however, resourceful and quick on their feet, which stands them in good stead when they inadvertently set fire to a house while discovering a murder victim’s desiccated corpse. It comes in handy again when they later rashly agree to clear Combe Carey Hall, renowned for centuries of sudden deaths and regarded as one of England’s most haunted manors. Despite being well-stocked with scream-worthy ghastlies, this lively opener makes a light alternative for readers who find the likes of Joseph Delaney’s Last Apprentice series too grim and creepy for comfort.
A heartily satisfying string of entertaining near-catastrophes, replete with narrow squeaks and spectral howls. (Ghost adventure. 11-13)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4231-6491-3
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 28, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2013
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BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
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Readers may find they never want to leave Tupelo Landing.
What do you get when you combine Because of Winn-Dixie’s heart with the mystery and action of Holes? You get an engaging, spirit-lifting and unforgettable debut for young readers.
Turnage introduces readers to the homey yet exotic world of Tupelo Landing, N.C., well-populated with one-of-a-kind characters. A stranger with justice on his mind has just arrived in town, and Hurricane Amy is on its way. Rising sixth-grader Mo LoBeau leads the cast through a series of clues as the whole town tries to figure out who among them might be a murderer. The novel’s opening lines reveal the unflappable Mo LoBeau as a latter-day Philip Marlowe: “Trouble cruised into Tupelo Landing at exactly seven minutes past noon on Wednesday, the third of June, flashing a gold badge and driving a Chevy Impala the color of dirt.” This is the first of many genius turns of phrases. Pairing the heartbreaking sadness of children who don’t get their fair share from parents with the hilarity of small-town life, Turnage achieves a wickedly awesome tale of an 11-year-old girl with more spirit and gumption than folks twice her age. Mo LoBeau is destined to become a standout character in children’s fiction.
Readers may find they never want to leave Tupelo Landing. (Mystery. 10-14)Pub Date: May 10, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3670-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
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