Behind the Screen

February 1, 2018

Gr 7 Up-This action-packed new series tells the stand-alone stories of teens living in the fictional Mason Falls who solve various mysteries. In The House, Grace and a group of friends are determined to prove that a local house is not haunted, despite rumors that a ghost from the 1920s named Cordelia Rose haunts it. When a mysterious boy goes missing, Nick and Ava have a foreboding feeling and decide to help find him in Tracks. In The Turnaround, Justin decides to investigate the new baseball coach when the team begins to play suspiciously well and he suspects cheating. Hannah gets Behind the Screen when her older sister begins texting with a guy who does not seem to be who he says he is. Each story takes a realistic perspective and deals with real-life issues such as online scams and fighting with parents. VERDICT These books, written at a fourth grade reading level, are fast-paced with clear-cut resolutions to each case that will resonate with mystery and suspense fans.

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

When Hannah's sister starts texting with a stranger and sneaking around, it is up to Hannah to find out if the guy is for real or just catfishing in this hi-lo mystery.Just months from graduating high school and with a scholarship to her dream college, Alexis should be thrilled, but Hannah cannot help but think something dangerous is going on with her older sister. Deciding that Alexis' safety is more important than respecting her privacy, Hannah enlists Jacob, a tech-savvy friend, to help her investigate, but the deeper they dig, the more convoluted the scheme seems to be. This modern mystery will capture the imaginations of readers as they try to stay one step ahead of the teen sleuths, and the messages about internet safety and the dangers of cyberstalkers are timely. The other titles in this series for reluctant teen readers are similar in construction. In The Turnaround by R.T. Martin (Take to the Skies, 2018, etc.), a normally poor-performing high school baseball team is mysteriously in contention for the state championships, making two teens suspect foul play. In The House by Raelyn Drake (Realm of Mystics, 2017, etc.), a prank turns terrifying for three teens bullied into spending time in a haunted mansion. In Tracks by Vanessa Acton (Vortex, 2017, etc.), a student disappears, prompting two teens to investigate. Racial diversity is lacking across the board, but the decision to include platonic male-female friendships is refreshing.High concept, easy-to-read mysteries that will keep the pages turning. (Mystery.12-18)

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