Wendelin Van Draanen

Sammy Keyes finds herself on the case again, when she has to find a missing Pomeranian. Seems the pup is quite valuable and the owner is a real pain. Also Sammy was responsible for the dog during its riding on a float in the Christmas parade, but the dog escaped!

As Sammy investigates, she finds the dog’s owner is quite a despicable person, and isn’t like by many who know her. Could this be a kidnapping and that is why Sammy can’t find the pup?

Sammy also finds herself with a “runaway elf” on her hands, named Elyssa. A little girl in need of a friend and also has some serious questions on her mind.

A theme that runs through this book is “loss. Different characters have loved ones they have lost through death or otherwise, and find they’ve yet to deal with it.

This is a fun read from a series. Sammy is pretty smart and not afraid to go after a solution when there is a mystery or problem to solve.… (more)

Wren gets taken in the middle of the night to a juvenile boot camp in the desert. When she's grabbed she's angry, drunk, and her parents are kind of at the end of their ropes. Over the eight weeks she's in the program, she transforms physically and emotionally.
Her change begins to transform her relationship with herself and the relationship with the rest of her family.
There is action in the outdoor survival things she learns. But a lot of the change is intra and interpersonal.
Compelling.… (more)