The Friendship Riddle

March 30, 2015
Sixth-grader Ruth, who teachers describe as “a bit in her own world,” lives in the small seaside town of Promise, Maine, with her Mom and Mum; her former best friend Charlotte—adopted from China by her fathers—is now aligned with the popular girls. During a relentlessly snowy winter, Ruth is focused on a “secret clue” she found in a library book (Could it be the start of a “saga-worthy” quest like her favorite fantasy novel heroine is always embarking upon?) and on the upcoming spelling-bee championships. But her heart is on her lost friendship with Charlotte and her uncertainty about investing in new friends. Blakemore (The Spycatchers of Maple Hill) has created a cast of distinctive and believable sixth-graders; the new relationships develop more satisfactorily than the plot, which lacks momentum. Once Ruth invites her friends to help with the clues, the search does take on the nature of a quest, which wraps up cleverly, if a little too neatly. This sprawling novel’s chief strength is its portrayals of middle school dynamics, seen through the eyes of unconventional Ruth, and of contemporary family life. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Harvey Klinger.

March 1, 2015
In a small Maine town, struggling with how-or whether-to have friends, a girl follows a trail of cryptic paper clues. Ruth used to have a best friend, but now that they're in sixth grade, Charlotte's joined the popular crowd instead. No matter: Ruth prefers being a lone wolf. When an old envelope containing a riddle falls out of a library book, she imagines undertaking a quest similar to those in her favorite fantasy novels. One clue leads to another, but they're confusing; Ruth needs help. Everything feels awkward. Whether to join the spelling bee, whether to tell her doctor Mom to stop forcing playdates and her business-traveling Mum how much she misses her, and whether to offer Charlotte illicit help on a quiz after Charlotte's home burns down, leaving her and her dads homeless-all options feel mournful and fraught. Blakemore peppers her navigating-social-awkwardness arc with myriad topics-puberty, geography, literature, science (whales produce ear wax; snow quiets the air)-all more compelling than the quest riddles and frequent, intrusive insertions about Ruth's current fantasy read. Ruth never grasps her own role in Charlotte's departure from their friendship, while a new friend who owes apologies never gives them; still, Ruth ends her quest with satisfying new connections. Not so much for puzzlers as for patient observers of social growth who enjoy varied intellectual and philosophical tidbits. (Fiction. 9-12)

April 1, 2015

Gr 4-8-Ruth Mudd-O'Flaherty has two mothers and Charlotte has two dads. This similarity brought their families together and Ruth and Charlotte have been best friends ever since. But middle school has created some challenges in their relationship. Charlotte is now more interested in being friends with cool Melinda, the mean girl, than Ruth. Feeling alone, Ruth finds comfort in her local library where she volunteers. She discovers hidden notes with intriguing riddles and begins her quest to find the answer to these mysterious clues. She soon realizes that she can't do this alone and will need the help of others. She must consider opening her mind and heart to some of the clever characters who surround her. The novel spotlights numerous middle school worries including bras, boy-girl parties, and getting your period for the first time. Ruth is a smart, spunky character whose quest for friendship feels authentic. VERDICT A must-have selection for middle school mystery lovers.-Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego

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