SLIDE

Fourteen-year-old Rennie accompanies his grandmother on a ski trip and uncovers a murder plot.

When Rennie’s strict father announces that he has asked Rennie’s grandmother to babysit while he is out of town, the white boy is ecstatic. His military father has always been exacting, but after Rennie’s mother died, everything got turned up a notch. Spending time on the slopes with his adventurous grandmother ends up being just what Rennie needs to start healing from the feelings of guilt and grief that have haunted him ever since his mother’s death. Things look even better when he meets Annie, a beautiful Indian-American resort employee. Unfortunately, Annie is four years older and Harvard bound. She also is dating Derek, a handsome and arrogant white man. But when Annie’s uncle arrives from India, claiming that she needs to return with him, Annie suspects he has his sights set on her trust fund. Rennie learns that Uncle Raj will do anything to put his hands on the money. This is more a story of unrequited love and adventure than a mystery. However, that does not diminish its power. Rennie’s struggles with his father and his grief over the loss of his mother will resonate with many readers.

Light on mystery but strong on adventure and heart.