About the Book
-
Author:
- Mary Downing Hahn
- Genres:
- Contemporary
- Middle Grade
- Suspense
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
- Straight
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Chilly Tree
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Talky Talk: Hahntastic
Bonus Factor: Malls
Relationship Status: Til the End
Cover Story: Chilly Tree
The cover depicts the treehouse that Abbi and Skylar spied in over the summer, and the bikes they used to get there. The sun is setting, putting the tree in shadow and creating a creepy vibe.
The Deal:
Abbi and neighbor Skylar are best friends. During the summer between ages twelve and thirteen, the two girls ride their bikes to the outskirts of town and discover an abandoned treehouse. From their new vantage point, they can see a mysterious couple meet during the day. Abbi and Skylar conjecture about who they are: Spies? People carrying on an affair? When a local woman goes missing, the duo realize they are witnesses to what was possibly the woman’s last hours alive.
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Abbi is going through what all twelve-year-olds do: Having a crush on an older boy. Worrying about losing her best friend because they’re growing up at different rates. Feeling awkward around her strict mother, while not wanting to lose her mother’s love. What she doesn’t expect is to be a witness to a crime. Abbi could use a big sister to help her navigate this tricky time in her life, and I’d be happy to do it!
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Abbi has a crush on Rob, Skylar’s older brother, but nothing comes of it. It’s an at-arms-length sort of crush that she barely is able to admit to herself, let alone do something about. (We’ve all been there, Abbi!)
Talky Talk: Hahntastic
I’m going to out myself as an old person, but I’ve been reading Mary Downing Hahn’s books since I was a kid myself. My favorites were Daphne’s Book and Stepping on the Cracks. Hahn has a certain way of writing that is relatable to kids while not dating herself as an older person. Her voice is just so good at capturing middle grade. She even throws in some vocabulary words to help heighten your education! Excellent.
Bonus Factor: Malls
Lest you think this entire book is a murder mystery/thriller, there are some lighthearted moments, too, that take place at the mall. The Gap is still cool, I guess, but the food court reigns supreme after all these years.
Relationship Status: Til the End
Book, you succeeded in chilling me just enough that I was glad that the bad guy was apprehended quickly. I know middle-grade readers will devour you.
Literary Matchmaking
The Mall by Megan McCafferty also has a lot of stops at the mall!
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green is also about teens trying to discover what happened to a missing person.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a similar feeling mystery, though not middle grade.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from HarperCollins Children’s Books. I received neither money nor kittens in exchange for this review. What We Saw is available now.
