Arts and Thefts

November 15, 2017
Chasing a saboteur at the art show is a bit outside of "retrieval specialist" Jeremy Wilderson's wheelhouse.Jeremy's glad to be free for the summer, but being out of school doesn't liberate him from the unwanted attentions of self-appointed school detective (and neighbor) Becca Mills, aka "the snitch," who thinks he's a thief rather than someone who returns items to their rightful owners. His best friends, Case and Hack, still don't know that Jeremy secretly teamed up with Becca during the last school year to catch a real thief (Under Locker and Key, 2017), and he wants to keep it that way. Case, a talented forger and aspiring artist, is a contender for a sweet prize at the Scottsville Youth Art Show and Competition, but when someone starts throwing paint on the best pieces in the show before the judges can see them, Jeremy's desperate to save his friend. Then the unthinkable happens: Becca grudgingly asks for Jeremy's help in catching the saboteur. Jeremy knows 1) he has to be there to mitigate the damage Becca's questionable skills as a detective can do; and 2) they made a good team before...this might be his only chance to help Case. Hymas' second twisty caper is fun if a bit too long; since it mostly takes place over the course of one afternoon, did it really need 300-plus pages? Readers will enjoy spending time with the realistic characters, who seem mostly to be white.The whiz-bang close will satisfy, but a bigger mystery and a startling discovery presage a third adventure. (Mystery. 8-12)

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January 1, 2018

Gr 4-7-It's the summer before seventh grade, and the retrieval (not theft) business is a little slow until one of Jeremy Wilderson's best friends, Case, shows up out of breath and with bad news. Amateur P.I. Becca Mills is at it again, accusing Jeremy and his friends of stealing an artist's paintbrushes. So when it appears someone's set on sabotaging the annual Scottsville Youth Art Show and Competition, possibly with the stolen art supplies, Jeremy must yet again partner with Becca, this time to set the record straight and protect Case's contest entry in the process. But can Becca and Jeremy ferret out the saboteur-without being spotted by Jeremy's friends-before their tentative alliance falls apart? Fans of the first installment in this series will enjoy the return of the author's witty dialog and quirky characters. While the tension between Becca and Jeremy occasionally borders on the absurd, readers' patience with those moments will be rewarded when the partnership works perfectly. And with some surprising twists and turns, the mystery of whodunit will keep kids guessing until the very end. VERDICT An engaging mystery that proves Hymas's debut was only the beginning. A recommended purchase, especially for libraries that already have Under Locker and Key in their collections.-Kaitlin Frick, New York Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
Grades 4-7 Jeremy is not a thiefhe is a retrieval specialist who assists fellow students in getting stolen items back. Standing in his way is school private eye Becca, who views Jeremy as a criminal. When Jeremy's best friend, Case, is accused by Becca of stealing from a fellow artist, they stumble upon a much deeper mystery. Someone is planning to sabotage the Scottsville Youth Art Show and Competition! Reluctantly, the two nemeses agree to work together for the sake of art, even if they each have different suspects in mind. Since there are some spoilers about the series opener, Under Lock and Key (2017), Hymas' second installment is best read after the first. Some readers may tire of the repetition of clues and suspicions, but most will be able to overlook that quibble and enjoy the fast-paced mystery, red herrings, and bickering between young rivals. The ending introduces a possible angle for a third book: a mysterious source who seems to know everything about everyone at Scottsville Middle School.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)