Lexi and her brother Kevin are spending a few weeks with their aunt in Manhattan while their dad and new stepmom enjoy their honeymoon. Right off the train in Grand Central Station Lexi overhears snippets of a conversation that she soon realizes are clues to the disappearance of Cleopatra's jewels that were to be on exhibit at a New York museum. Along with new friendemy Kim Ling Levine, a girl Lexi's age that lives in their Aunt Roz's building who just wants to be an investigative journalist, Lexi and Kevin set out to find the jewels and claim the reward money.
The three kids travel around New York City with Kim as their guide. She is a Chinese Jewish American girl and I loved her as she made me laugh out loud with her Yiddish sayings (many of which I grew up with). New York highlights include the theatre and Central Park as well as Grand Central Station. Lexi and Kevin have such a wonderful sibling relationship and they help each other heal from the death of their mother. Although gone about 2 years, their mother's influence is prevalent throughout the story and we know she is watching over her children.
The mystery aspects of the story twist and turn and yet Bonk lets us really learn about Lexi. The writing is well paced and exciting although as a mother my heart breaks for the Lexi and Kevin. Recommended for readers in grades 4 and up and for fans of mysteries, adventures, and stories that take place in New York City.
Read as an ebook arc courtesy of Bloomsbury Children's Books via Netgalley.
2 comments:
Thanks for the nice review, Mrs. Katz!
You are very welcome. I do intend to purchase this book for my school library in the fall:)
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