The World-Famous Nine

A whodunit that doesn’t live up to its intriguing premise.

Deep in the heart of the Russian city of Novatrosk lies Number Nine Plaza, a shopping destination brimming with a plethora of things to see and do. For the first time in years, 11-year-old Zander Olinga--who lives in Pittsburgh and whose father is from Cameroon--travels to Russia to spend the summer with his grandmother, the current owner of the Nine. He quickly befriends white-cued Natasha Novikov, also 11, who works for his grandmother, and the pair bonds immediately over their shared love of sports and mutual appreciation for each other's curious differences (Zander is afraid of heights and Natasha can juggle marbles). All is not perfect in the magical building, however; strange occurrences, old legends, and the arrival of a possibly demonic entity named Darkbloom put the Nine's reputation--and very existence--at risk. Juxtaposing Zander's sophisticated voice with Natasha's effervescent--and occasionally reckless--ways, Guterson (Winterhouse) dives headlong into adventure, employing flights of fancy and imagination and humorous situations to instantly charm readers. A large, multiethnic cast of secondary adult characters balances the tweens' youthful exuberance with caring, patient instruction, while Kister (Baby Unicorns) brings the grandiose setting to life, imbuing it with a wonder reminiscent of department stores of yesteryear. Ages 9-12. Agent: Rena Rossner, Deborah Harris Literary. (Jan.)

Gr 4-6--Zander Olinga is off to spend the next five weeks of summer at his grandmother's world-famous department store, The Number Nine Plaza, while his parents are on a research trip in Kamchatka, Russia. Within hours of Zander's arrival, The Nine is abuzz with news about strange and dangerous things happening. The electricity is on the fritz, and an employee is attacked. Zander's grandmother, Zina, tells him the story about a magical mandala that was gifted to the first Winebee matriarch by Nepali monks. However, the mandala was stolen 90 years ago and hidden in The Nine. Zina suspects the mandala is being hunted by Darkbloom, an evil spirit who wishes harm on The Nine. Zander, with the help of a new friend, Natasha Novikov, goes on a search for the mandala using clues left by his great-granduncle, Vladimir. The Nine is a fantastical place full of shops and activities that will surely tickle readers' imaginations. However, Zander's exploration of the plaza often competes with the mystery of the missing mandala. VERDICT A promising novel with attention-grabbing elements and a high-stakes hunt for a magical object, that unfortunately gets lost in heavily detailed descriptions, a large cast of side characters, and an inconsistent time line.--Maria Martin