A Study in Secrets

Gr 4-7–Twelve-year-old Asian American Megumi “Meg” Mizuno hasn’t been the same since her mother died and her father started traveling more for work. After getting expelled from school for cutting class and low grades, her dad secures her a spot at a prestigious boarding school: Leland Chase, aka Last Chance Academy. Life at Leland Chase is regimented and pretty dull until one night when mysterious envelopes appear under students’ doors, inviting them to participate in a scavenger hunt. Thanks to her mom, Meg is used to scavenger hunts and solving riddles, and she is determined to win this game and claim the grand prize. Meg quickly learns that she’ll need to rely on her classmates to help her—but can she trust them? Featuring a diverse cast of characters led by Meg, this book is a must-read for fans of puzzle-solving mysteries. While the scavenger hunt is the main plot point, a story of friendship and trust between Meg and her classmates also takes focus. Florence handles the topic of grief well and in an age-appropriate manner. Realistic and relatable characters bring readers into Meg’s story, while an intriguing, fast-paced plot and short chapters make it easy to say, “one more chapter.” This series debut ends on a cliffhanger but won’t leave readers disappointed as the first part of the mystery is wrapped up.