A fun, breezy, and enthusiastically punctuated camp mystery for readers who devour horse stories.
When the beloved horse belonging to a “former frenemy” disappears, can first-time camper Willa solve the mystery?
Having moved frequently for her mother’s military career, 14-year-old aspiring #HorseGirl Willa only started taking riding lessons a year ago. When she gets a scholarship to the Colorado English-riding horse camp all her stable besties attend, it’s an “OMGEEEEE” and “!!!!!!!!” moment. She’s surprised, though, that wealthy Amara gets to break camp rules and bring her own horse. Apparently, Amara’s parents’ donation has bought her that privilege—and Amara taunts Willa with the revelation that they’ve even funded Willa’s attendance, which Willa thought was awarded for merit. When Amara’s horse goes missing, Willa, feeling guilty for possibly leaving a gate open, determines to find Silver Streak herself. But even after she figures out it was a horsenapping, Willa keeps investigating. She’ll prove she belongs at Juniper Ranch! Enthusiastic, dramatic, and awkward, Willa peppers her narrative with exuberant punctuation, hilarious parenthetical asides, handwritten notes, and more. Horse lovers will appreciate the equine activities and details (including plentiful informative footnotes), mystery fans will enjoy the solid plot and fast pace, and those who like realistic fiction will love the friend drama and Willa’s crush on fellow camper Pasquale. Though the main characters have some depth, white-presenting Willa reads younger than 14, and the secondary characters are thinly sketched. The happy ending is more aspirational than realistic but still satisfying.
A fun, breezy, and enthusiastically punctuated camp mystery for readers who devour horse stories. (Mystery. 9-13)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9780593754009
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
A snappy mystery that’s full of heart.
A group of bright friends tackles the puzzle of their lives.
Elmwood, New Hampshire, 11-year-old Gina Sparks is small in stature but big on reporting ongoing dramas for the local newspaper with support from her journalist mom. When an unbelievable scoop comes her way, Gina must rely on her tightknit crew of sixth grade best friends whose initials happen to spell GEEK, a label they choose to proudly reclaim. She and science-minded prankster Elena Hernández, theater kid Edgar Feingarten, and driven math genius Kevin Robinson decide to get to the bottom of things when they learn that the Van Houten Toy & Game Company heir made elaborate plans to leave everything to the town of Elmwood before her death—but only if a member of the community could solve an intricate multistep puzzle. Gina hopes that deciphering the clues and finding the missing fortune will be just the thing to revitalize the down-on-its-luck town and bring the Elmwood Tribune back into the black, saving her mom’s job and Gina’s passion project. The GEEKs work together, using their individual talents and deductive reasoning skills to unravel the mystery. Infused with media literacy pointers, such as the difference between fact and opinion and reminders to avoid bias when reporting, the story encourages readers to think critically. Gina and Edgar read as White; Elena is cued as Latinx, and Kevin is implied Black.
A snappy mystery that’s full of heart. (Mystery. 9-13)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-37793-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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