About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is starting to question rules and navigate the complicated gray areas between right and wrong. It is perfect for the preteen who enjoys wordplay and clever subversions of authority but is also thinking deeply about what it means to be a loyal friend. This noir mystery is set in a city where sugar is strictly forbidden and candy is traded like contraband. Through the eyes of Nelle Faulkner, a hardboiled kid private eye, children explore themes of justice and integrity in an unfair system. While the world is absurdist and funny, it mirrors real-world power dynamics and the courage required to stand up for one's beliefs. It is highly appropriate for ages 9 to 12, offering a sophisticated vocabulary and a fast-paced plot that respects the reader's intelligence.
