Finding the Forger

April 1, 2005
Gr 6 Up -For the second time, sophomore Bianca Balducci is helping her private-eye sister solve a mystery, this one involving forgeries at the local museum. Bianca becomes involved after her friend Sarah's security-guard boyfriend is implicated in the crimes. However, the mystery takes a backseat to the drama and angst of teenage relationships. Bianca is an extremely likable character: smart, funny, and able to find humor in the worst situations. The author does a great job of capturing her voice, conveying all of Bianca's insecurities and doubts as well as her triumphs. Although the second in a series, the novel can stand alone, but readers will undoubtedly want to check out "Uncovering Sadie's Secrets" (Bancroft, 2003) to fill in the gaps. An entertaining read." -Michele Capozzella, Chappaqua Public Library, NY"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2005
Gr. 6-9. Teen sleuth Bianca Balducci, last seen in " Uncovering Sadie's Secret" (2003), finds a mystery again, right in her Baltimore backyard. This time it's an art forgery, and the clues point to her friend Sarah's potential beau. The mystery, however, is something of an afterthought, as Bianca wades through the slough of teen angst. Her boyfriend is distant, a British lad is making eyes at her, her friends are feuding, and her sister, a PI on the forgery case, isn't letting Bianca get as involved as the teen would like. What's fun about this is Bianca's first-person voice--droll, yet totally teen. Bianca is a kid who seems very real. One quibble: Bianca keeps referring to the mystery in the earlier book, but never really explains what transpired. A quick recap would have done the trick. Otherwise, this is a good alternative to Nancy Drew.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)