Review by Booklist Review
Andy is sorry. Sorry that his aunt has to put up with him all summer. Sorry that his dad is in jail and too embarrassed to talk to him about it. Sorry that Mr. Gilbert's barn burned down, even though he didn't do it. Everyone's all too willing to believe that Andy, the town's only Black kid, is responsible, though. Now, as punishment, he has to spend the summer helping Mr. Gilbert restore an old home that's linked to a decades-old mystery. The former owner of the home was the Red Nave, a master magician who vanished after a murder occurred at his show. Mr. Gilbert has long been obsessed with the tale, so Andy strikes a bargain with the old man: if he can discover the Red Nave's identity and the truth about that night, Andy can stop working on the house. Andy is eager to get his summer back, but he's also interested in potentially proving the Red Nave's innocence--and, by extension, Andy's and his father's. Debut author Ransaw has built a mystery that is as satisfying to adults as it will be to middleschool readers. Her message of self-advocacy is particularly empowering, and readers will feel gratified by Andy's emergence as a stronger, more confident kid. A worthwhile read for any mystery fan or anyone in need of a little magic.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Twelve-year-old Andreus "Andy" Carter isn't thrilled to be spending the summer in fictional Bryville, Ohio, with his aunt Nonie. The only Black kid in town, he endures frequent racism, experiences that worsen feelings of loneliness stemming from his incarcerated father's postponed parole hearing. Then Andy is apprehended for the purported arson of curmudgeonly neighbor Mr. Gilbert's barn. Rather than have Andy sentenced to juvenile detention, elderly Mr. Gilbert offers an alternative consequence: helping the barn owner restore his dilapidated home, which local kids call the "murder house." Andy learns that the house was owned by infamous magician the Red Nave, who disappeared in 1954 after he was implicated in the murder of a prominent Bryville resident. The tween decides to strike a new deal: if he can close the Red Nave's unsolved case, Mr. Gilbert will release Andy from his renovation duties. Intertwining plotlines regarding the mystery of the Red Nave and Andy's struggles navigating prejudice shed light on how preconceived assumptions can strain friendships and communities. Andy's journal entries, presented as letters addressed to his father, appear throughout Ransaw's thoughtful debut about second chances. Ages 8--12. (June)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--6--Ransaw's debut will have readers reevaluating biases and eager to uncover clues to a small-town mystery. Twelve-year-old Andy is living with his aunt while his dad waits for his parole hearing. As the only Black kid in town, Andy experiences microaggressions and feels like he doesn't fit in, especially after the townsfolk accuse him of arson. Now his summer will be spent working for grumpy Mr. Gilbert on a dilapidated mansion that once belonged to the Red Knave, a mysterious magician who vanished after being suspected of murder in 1954. Having firsthand experience of being falsely accused of a crime, Andy is determined to prove that the Red Knave is innocent even if everyone else in town believes otherwise. While uncovering hidden rooms and piecing together clues, Andy also begins to process his feelings over his own situation and that of his dad. The conflict between Andy and the local boys in town feels authentic. Readers will be able to relate to Andy's frustrations over feeling unheard and misunderstood by the adults around him. VERDICT A fast-paced, multilayered mystery that will encourage readers to question preconceived notions and search for the truth in their own lives.--Susan Elbag
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Following his father's arrest, 12-year-old Andy Carter finds himself stuck in small-town Nyle Park, Ohio. Andy's mom left a while ago, so he's staying with Aunt Nonie while Dad awaits his hearing. After a firecracker gets out of control, accidentally burning down an old barn, Andy faces punishment: helping the barn's owner, Mr. Gilbert, restore a run-down property he owns in lieu of being sent to juvenile court. While working with grumpy Mr. Gilbert, Andy finds himself becoming intrigued by the story of the house's previous owner, the mysterious masked performer known as the Red Nave, who captivated people's imaginations with his amazing magic shows before vanishing. His sudden disappearance, which Mr. Gilbert is obsessed with, occurred after Red Nave supposedly murdered someone. Andy strikes a deal with Mr. Gilbert: If he can discover the magician's secret identity and determine whether he was responsible for the death, his punishment will be over. But Andy quickly learns that solving a decades-old mystery won't be easy. His father's arrest, which Andy feels was unjust, has weakened his trust in the justice system, and, unlike in the city where he lived with Dad, he's aware that people treat him differently as one of the few Black people in Nyle Park. Ransaw's fast-paced debut offers an introspective look at dealing with racism and ambiguous grief through the eyes of a preteen. Through an intriguing mystery, the story explores biases and preconceptions. A fast-paced, adventurous journey in search of the truth. (author's note)(Mystery. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
