Sweet 16 to Life

Gr 8–10—Chanti Evans is on a case again in this delightful teen detective novel. The urban setting and multicultural cast of characters will appeal to a wide audience, as will the mix of mystery, danger, friendship, romance, and family drama. Daughter of an undercover vice cop, the 15-year-old has a way of finding trouble in her rough Denver neighborhood-this time when her next-door neighbor MJ's house catches fire and Chanti spots a suspicious young man in a hoodie. She's determined to help MJ, a former gang member, especially after MJ is arrested for possession of drugs and weapons. Meanwhile, Chanti-a scholarship student at a snooty private school-must deal with her overprotective mother and the truth about the father she's never met. On top of all this, she's still not over her ex. Luckily, Chanti is resourceful, working her neighborhood contacts, her mother's access to law-enforcement information, and her own street smarts to figure out what's really going on. The middle of the story is slow at times, but when Chanti decodes a set of clues in the form of DVD covers, the pace speeds up and suddenly her life is in danger. This is a suspenseful story with a clever, funny teen at its center and just enough grit to make it realistic. While this book could stand alone, readers may want to start at the beginning of the series. A tantalizing cliff-hanger of an ending hints at the next installment.—Miranda Doyle, Lake Oswego School District, OR