About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle-schooler is beginning to grapple with the idea that the world is not always fair and that adults can be wrong about people's character. It is an ideal choice for a child who feels a strong sense of protective loyalty toward their friends and is ready for a mystery that involves higher stakes than a typical schoolyard puzzle. The story follows fourteen-year-old Cici as she spends her summer investigating a cold case murder to clear the name of a local boy everyone has written off as a criminal. While the book centers on a murder investigation, it is handled with the classic suspense of a 90s thriller rather than graphic detail. It explores themes of justice, integrity, and the courage required to stand up against a community's bias. This is a great bridge for readers moving from junior sleuth stories to more mature, realistic fiction. It provides a safe space to discuss how reputations are formed and the importance of looking past labels.
