Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

Pages: 216

Intended Audience: Tweens

Genre: Mystery

Notes for Parents: Some mild violence and a few mature scenes.

The Back Cover

When Enola Holmes, sister to the detective Sherlock Holmes, discovers her mother has disappeared, she quickly sets off to find her in London—but nothing can prepare her for what awaits. For when she arrives, she finds herself involved in the kidnapping of a young marquess, and must flee murderous villains and elude her shrewd older brothers—all while trying to piece together clues to her mother’s disappearance. Amid all the chaos, can Enola find the marquess and her mother?

What you should know:

There are six books in the series, and the first has been made into a Netflix film, with a second film in the works.

The Review

Fourteen-year-old Enola is a plucky and intelligent girl who sets off on her own to solve the mystery of her missing mother. She’s determined and resourceful as she braves the streets of 19^th century London. The story is easy-to-read and moves at a good pace. The plot and subplots are simple and interesting, and the characters are well-drawn and likeable. Some words and terms used are rather archaic, or uniquely British, and may be a bit of a challenge for some readers. Regardless, the story is relatable and fun.

Recommendation ☺☺☺ (3.5/5)

It’s a lovely middle-school novel with an intelligent and tenacious protagonist. Compared to the Netflix film, it’s a much tamer, less complex story. Recommended…but the film was much more exciting.

Springer, Nancy. Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess. New York: Puffin Books, 2006.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Pages: 368

Intended Audience: Mature Teens

Genre: Speculative – Contemporary Dystopian

Notes for Parents: Contains violence, mature scenes.

 

The Back Cover

On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to deliver some bad news; They’re going to die in less than twenty-four hours. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news is there’s an app for that. It’s called Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo meet up for one final epic adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.

 

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

It was the winner of the Lincoln Award (Illinois Teen Readers’ Choice Award) in 2020, and was a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction in 2017.

 

What’s good?

In this alternate world, two boys meet to spend their last day alive together. Mateo and Rufus are beautifully constructed characters who couldn’t be more different but find common ground as they traverse the city and try new things. We’re given just enough world-building to understand the solemnity of their predicament, but not so much that we’re bogged down with trying to understand the mechanics. The emotional ending packs a punch.

Best Part: The interwoven stories of the minor characters they meet along the way. (There’s a bonus chart at the end that shows how everyone is connected.)

 

What isn’t good?

While the story is consistently poignant, it’s not always exciting. There’s action, but not a lot of it, and there’s tension, but we already know what it’s leading up to.

Worst part: Nothing was terrible.

 

Recommendation ☺☺☺ (3.5/5)

They Both Die in the End was worth the read. The premise was thought-provoking, and the characters, both main and supporting, were note-worthy. It’s not exactly a page-turner, but it’s a very unique story told adeptly in the span of the day. Recommended.

 Silvera, Adam. They Both Die at the End. New York: HarperTeen, 2017.

Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick

Pages: 265

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Contemporary

Notes for Parents: Contains some mature scenes.

 

The Back Cover

“Alex Peter Gregory, you are a moron!” Laurie slammed her palms down on my desk and stomped her foot. I get a lot of that.

One car crash.

One measly little car crash. And suddenly, I’m some kind of convicted felon.

My parents are getting divorced, my dad is shacking up with my third-grade teacher, I might be in love with a girl who could kill me with one finger, and now I’m sentenced to baby-sit some insane old guy.

What else could possibly go wrong?

 

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This book was a South Carolina Young Adult Book Award nominee (2009), Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2008), Iowa Teen Award Nominee (2011), Missouri Gateway Readers Award Nominee (2009), and a Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2011)

 

What’s good?

Alex is assigned to be a companion to an elderly gentleman at a local nursing home as punishment for killing a garden gnome while drinking and driving. The premise is serious, but the story is a lot of fun. The simple plot is punched up by Sol’s stinging wit and Alex’s funny narration. With Jewish terminology, musical references, and a blossoming friendship, this is a comical yet sentimental story about a dying man who teaches a teen how to live.

Best Part: The chapter called “Coda.”

 

What isn’t good?

The romance, while sweet, was totally predictable. And there was no action. Nevertheless, the strong characters and engaging narration prevailed.

Worst part: There was nothing terrible.

 

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺(4/5)

I can see this story as a movie. The visual setting and comical dialogue would translate well onto the screen. Definitely recommended.

Sonnenblick, Jordan. Notes from the Midnight Driver. New York: Scholastic, 2006.

Save the Date by Morgan Matson

Pages: 417 + bonus material
Intended Audience: Teens
Genre: Contemporary
Notes for Parents: Contains brief coarse language, and some mature scenes.
 
The Back Cover
Charlie’s sister is getting married.
Everyone is coming home – all her older siblings. It’ll be just like it used to be. One last weekend together before her parents sell the house.
Charlie doesn’t want to think about college next year, or things changing – she just wants to make this a perfect weekend. What could go wrong?
Well.
First the wedding planner quits. Then the house alarm won’t stop going off. Charlie’s biggest crush shows up unannounced. There’s a missing tuxedo, an unexpected dog, and a neighbor bent on destruction. Not to mention the event planner’s assistant, who is surprisingly, distractingly . . . cute. And that’s before things get really crazy.
In all the chaos, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future.
 
What the cover doesn’t tell you:
This was a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction in 2018.
 
What’s good?
This is a story about a family trying to connect with each other. Charlie is the youngest, and she’s having trouble coping with all of the changes happening within her family, so she’s hoping her sister’s wedding brings everyone together. The characters are well-done and the premise feels fresh. Throw in a prodigal son, unexpected guest, a feuding neighbor, a neglected friend, a cute wedding planner, a divorce, a malfunctioning smoke alarm, and a dog, and you’ve got a fun story about a charming family.
Best Part: Grant Central Station and Waffles the dog
 
What isn’t good?
This novel was a lot longer than it had to be. The wordiness made it slow at times. Luckily the quality of characters kept me reading. The ending was predictable, but still worth it.
Worst part: The “love triangle.” We all know who she should be with.
 
Recommendation ☺☺☺☺(4/5)
This was a fun book, and it would make a great tv movie!

Matson, Morgan. Save the Date. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018.

Secrets of a Fangirl by Erin Dionne

Pages: 261
Intended Audience: Tweens and up
Genre: Contemporary
Notes for Parents: Contains a bit of mature content, nothing concerning.
 
The Back Cover
Sarah Anne loves lacrosse, and the MK Nightshade series that everyone was obsessed over in grade school. The problem is that she's still obsessed, which is way too nerdy for a popular kid like her. So she hides her geekiness with a set of rules meant to keep her geek and jock selves separate.
Except when she's offered a spot in a Nightshade fandom contest, where the winner gets to see the new movie premiere in LA. No one seems to think Sarah Anne can win, since she's up against a pair of guys in high school--but the more she's called a fake fan, the more determined she is to wipe the floor with her competition. As long as none of her friends or anyone at school knows what she's doing.
Can she keep her geek identity a secret, win the contest, and manage to keep her friends even though she's been living a lie? Sarah Anne is going to have to make some choices about what's truly important to her and which rules she's going to break to stay true to herself.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:
This is geared to middle school ages, but it’s fun for all.
 
What’s good?
Not only does Sarah feel she has to hide her geekiness from friends, she doesn’t feel respected by the fandom world because she’s a girl. She’s a relatable character who tries to balance her jock popularity with her love of the fantasy world. This is a quick and easy read that’s both fun and satisfying.
Best Part: Sarah Anne (aka SAM)
 
What isn’t good?
It’s a tired plot – girl hides her true self from her friends to avoid judgement. We know that never works.
Worst part: Nothing was terrible.
 
Recommendation ☺☺☺(3.5/5)
Despite being predictable and having an overused storyline, it was will a sweet story with fun characters. Recommended.
Dionne, Erin. Secrets of a Fangirl. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2019.