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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
I was definitely feeling a lot of nostalgia since the character is around the same age I was when I started reading Nancy Drew books. She's even named after Nancy Drew!
It was a good mystery with heartwarming moments between friends and family, but it also wasn't afraid to get into some deep lessons. I'm so excited for the next book!
It was a good mystery with heartwarming moments between friends and family, but it also wasn't afraid to get into some deep lessons. I'm so excited for the next book!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A belated review, but I LOVED this book. Drew’s voice was funny & relatable, unique & quirky. Within the pages of this mystery there was also fresh & fantastic representation, perfect & poignant for a younger audience, but equally enjoyable to readers of all ages.
Definitely looking forward to the continuation of this series, as well as any future works from this author.
Definitely looking forward to the continuation of this series, as well as any future works from this author.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A really fun and quick read. The characters are very diverse in all the ways people can be. The story has a lot of layers in a really beautiful representation of how life at that age can be. Drew is trying to cope with family problems, her first romantic problems, and solve mysteries all at once. Really loved it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was such a great middle grade mystery book. I love how it reminded me of Nancy Drew books that I used to read when I was younger! Such a fun book and the mystery was really intriguing. Love how this book also focused on family and friendships. This is a middle grade that I believe everyone can enjoy no matter how old you are.
As soon as I started following Lainoff, author of One for All, on twitter she introduced me to a lot of books with disabled leads. Some of them didn't really sound like my thing, but some of them almost seemed written for me. This book quite clearly was a book in the latter category. We have a mystery, we have a 12-year old girl obsessed with Nancy Drew determined to solve it and our leading girl also has Asthma, which I'm also very familiar with. I was therefore quite excited about this book!
This book might be the perfect middle grade. There is an amazing adventure that will keep kids, and adults, on the edge of their seat. Drew takes her job very seriously. She makes lists with suspects, she makes complete character profiles to see who's modus operandi this instagram account could be and she's even willing to cross a few lines here and there to eventually bring the culprit to justice. Especially before her father or friends get hurt.
Because, even though the case is the most exciting part about the story, the author made sure that the case actually serves Drew's personal journey. At the beginning of the book her mother leaves Drew and her father and Drew only has one best friend. Slowly she's learning how complicated love can be, how amazing it is to have friends and that there are always things more important than trying to stay objective when solving a case.
And there's a lot of growing to do for Drew. Which isn't weird, since Drew is only twelve years old and still struggling with slowly growing older and the world around her changing. Drew is in every possible way a typical twelve year old, albeit with a few not so typical hobbies. Sometimes she's unreasonable, sometimes she messes up, sometimes she has to hit the wall to understand that what she does is wrong, but she's always learning from these experiences.
Ow, and about her Asthma? That's just there. It's not a plot point, it's not a big deal, it's just sometimes troubling her. The author wrote it exactly as it should be!
This book might be the perfect middle grade. There is an amazing adventure that will keep kids, and adults, on the edge of their seat. Drew takes her job very seriously. She makes lists with suspects, she makes complete character profiles to see who's modus operandi this instagram account could be and she's even willing to cross a few lines here and there to eventually bring the culprit to justice. Especially before her father or friends get hurt.
Because, even though the case is the most exciting part about the story, the author made sure that the case actually serves Drew's personal journey. At the beginning of the book her mother leaves Drew and her father and Drew only has one best friend. Slowly she's learning how complicated love can be, how amazing it is to have friends and that there are always things more important than trying to stay objective when solving a case.
And there's a lot of growing to do for Drew. Which isn't weird, since Drew is only twelve years old and still struggling with slowly growing older and the world around her changing. Drew is in every possible way a typical twelve year old, albeit with a few not so typical hobbies. Sometimes she's unreasonable, sometimes she messes up, sometimes she has to hit the wall to understand that what she does is wrong, but she's always learning from these experiences.
Ow, and about her Asthma? That's just there. It's not a plot point, it's not a big deal, it's just sometimes troubling her. The author wrote it exactly as it should be!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This middle grade mystery was an utter delight from start to finish! Mysteries for tweens and teens are relatively rare, so the fact that this one is so well crafted with a quirky and sweet main character so easy to root for is a real treat.
Drew is a complex, lovable character. She is 12 and is a big nerd, particularly for true crime. A cross between Harriet the Spy and Nancy Drew (for whom Drew is named!) but also very much her own person, she loves a good mystery to solve, a creepy true crime documentary, a buttery croissant, and a video game hangout with her best (and so far only) friend Shrey.
The plot follows Drew as she chases down a cyberbully while trying to hide the fact that her mom has run off with her school’s guidance counsellor. Ugh, her mom is the worst!! But, not like in a cartoon villain kind of way; she's just realistically self-involved enough to be incapable of putting her kid first or acting like an actual parent. In contrast, Drew's relationship with her dad is wonderful. Drew also slowly makes a new friend over the course of the book and deals with some awkward unrequited romantic feelings from Shrey. These kids are better at talking out their emotions than many grownups I know!
Bury’s smart investigation of the complexities of queerness and sexual/romantic orientation and its dedication to not tying everything up in a neat bow (Drew is only 12!) are a gift. I also loved the disability representation (Drew has asthma and IBS). This book has such a compassionate take on these tweens and their relationships, while also crafting a propulsive mystery plot. (Haha, I didn't guess the culprit and the targeted audience for this book is tweens).
Highly recommended!
Drew is a complex, lovable character. She is 12 and is a big nerd, particularly for true crime. A cross between Harriet the Spy and Nancy Drew (for whom Drew is named!) but also very much her own person, she loves a good mystery to solve, a creepy true crime documentary, a buttery croissant, and a video game hangout with her best (and so far only) friend Shrey.
The plot follows Drew as she chases down a cyberbully while trying to hide the fact that her mom has run off with her school’s guidance counsellor. Ugh, her mom is the worst!! But, not like in a cartoon villain kind of way; she's just realistically self-involved enough to be incapable of putting her kid first or acting like an actual parent. In contrast, Drew's relationship with her dad is wonderful. Drew also slowly makes a new friend over the course of the book and deals with some awkward unrequited romantic feelings from Shrey. These kids are better at talking out their emotions than many grownups I know!
Bury’s smart investigation of the complexities of queerness and sexual/romantic orientation and its dedication to not tying everything up in a neat bow (Drew is only 12!) are a gift. I also loved the disability representation (Drew has asthma and IBS). This book has such a compassionate take on these tweens and their relationships, while also crafting a propulsive mystery plot. (Haha, I didn't guess the culprit and the targeted audience for this book is tweens).
Highly recommended!