Absolutely Truly (Pumpkin Falls Mystery #1)

Gr 4-6--Fans of the author's "Mother-Daughter Book Club" books (S. & S.) will rejoice for a new series with a similarly cozy New England setting, great characters, and literary references to beloved classics. Shortly after winter break, Truly Lovejoy finds herself at yet another school, in another state. The middle child of five, things haven't been the same in her family since "Black Monday" when her usually good-humored father was injured during his last tour in Afghanistan, losing an arm. Having to adjust to what this means for her father's career, the family finds themselves in his hometown--Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire--so that he and Truly's aunt can take over the family bookstore. The mystery begins when Truly finds a note tucked inside a signed, first edition copy of Charlotte's Web, which sends the protagonist and her new friends on a treasure hunt through town. Though this story really pushes the "middle school private eye" trope, the mystery is not the driving force; other plot lines carry the story. Readers will relish meeting the town's diverse community of characters, exploring Truly's now tenuous relationship with her father who is struggling with PTSD, and the plight to save the bookstore from imminent ruin. The book is laden with bookish references, such as Jane Yolen's Owl Moon, that will delight young bibliophiles as they curl up and enjoy the quaint town of Pumpkin Falls.--Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Library, OR

Six months ago, 12-year-old Truly Lovejoy's life was perfect: her military family had finally settled down in Texas, and she was beginning to make friends. That was before Truly's army pilot father lost an arm in Afghanistan and decided to move the family to his hometown to take over his parents' failing bookstore. This first installment of Frederick's Pumpkin Falls Mystery series, starring an endearing middle schooler who bemoans both her name and her towering height, focuses on themes of adjustment, small-town life, and teamwork. Stuck in a "population you've-got-to-be-kidding-me Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire" during "the coldest winter on record," Truly is distracted from her disappointment when she discovers a letter tucked inside one of the bookshop's rarest books. Soon she's on a treasure hunt, trying to find clues to a 20-year-old puzzle involving two young lovers. There are conflicts with bullies along the way, but Truly also makes an assortment of friends and acquaintances, including some eccentric citizens. Well- developed characters, a cozy community, and an intriguing mystery will warm hearts and pique readers' curiosity. Ages 8-12. Agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary. (Nov.)