Sneaks - by Amy Tern (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A missing child and an apartment that should be empty spur two tweens to solve an increasingly tangled neighborhood mystery in this page-turning middle grade debut.

This hijinks-heavy mystery written in dual POV reads like Only Murders in the Building for tweens. Perfect for wannabe sleuths and nosy neighbors!

Valory has developed an unfortunate reputation as a thief--primarily because she steals things--though she has resolved to change her ways.

Rook is a total asparagus-eater (a.k.a. a good kid), but he likes to spy on his neighbors. Nobody's perfect, right?

The twelve-year-olds form an unlikely alliance when they encounter suspicious behavior in an "empty" apartment across the alley from Rook's house. While agoraphobia keeps home-schooled Rook trapped on his property, confident and street-smart Valory can roam the scene undetected. Their opposite personalities might, in fact, be key to their success.

But their amateur detective mission morphs into something more sinister when they realize the apartment next door could be connected to a recent kidnapping. When the sleuths realize they're also being watched, the pressure is on to unmask the villain. . . before she snatches them, too.

Review Quotes

With chapters alternating between Valory's and Rook's perspectives, debut author Tern offers readers a cracking adventure that also gently examines what it takes to be brave. . . . Beautifully realized: charming, fun, and poignant.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Tern expertly unravels her well-paced and often funny narrative with a sure hand; chapters alternate between the protagonists' distinct third-person perspectives. The mystery is compelling for sure, but it's the nuanced characterizations that give the story its heart.
--The Horn Book (starred review)

Depictions of Valory's emotional growth and Rook's anxiety feel organic and sensitively wrought across alternating third-person perspectives that follow the pair. Valory's wit and charisma inject levity into a hijinks-fueled romp.
--Publishers Weekly

This fast-paced story blends suspense, social commentary, and youthful determination into a compelling mystery. . . . This quick, engaging read will appeal to those who enjoy suspense with heart and social relevance. A worthwhile addition to mystery book collections.
--School Library Journal

A marvelous mystery boasting high stakes, humor, and an understanding heart.
--Booklist

Sneaks is a fun and compelling mystery about living with a label you don't want, learning how to be brave, and what it means to love. The way these different themes came together in the end was magnificent!
--Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, New York Times bestselling author of the Book Scavenger series and Sisterhood of Sleuths

A fun whodunit that no young reader will be able to put down. You can't help rooting for Valory, despite her imperfections, and the intriguing friendship between her and Rook sparkles with charm. A sweet--but deliciously engaging--must-read mystery.
--Claire Swinarski, author of Edgar Award Nominee What Happened to Rachel Riley?

About the Author

Amy Tern is a freelance editor who worked for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars while writing short stories and nonfiction in her spare time. Sneaks is her debut novel. She lives in Virginia with her husband, two book-loving sons, and a petulant gecko.