MMGM Fiction Feature - The Maypop Kidnapping

~ MIDDLE GRADE FICTION
FEATURE ~

'The Maypop Kidnapping'
{Queenie Boyd Mysteries Book #1}
by Author C. M. Surrisi

 

LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS

GOODREADS BOOK BLURB:
C.M. Surrisi's debut middle-grade mystery, The Maypop Kidnapping is set in a small coastal Maine village filled with eccentric locals. When 13-year-old Quinnie's beloved teacher goes missing, Quinnie leads a relentless, sometimes misguided search – against her mother's orders.
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BOOK BLURB FROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

When Ms. Stillford does not show up on the first day of school, 13-year-old Quinnie Boyd is convinced her beloved tutor has been kidnapped.

Quinnie, clever and endowed with a vivid imagination, is initially unable to convince her mother, the sheriff of the small coastal village of Maiden Rock, Maine (as well as its postmistress and real estate agent; it’s that small a town), to mount a search. Missing her best friend, Zoe, who is in Scotland for the year, but aided by her maybe-crush, Ben, and by the new girl, skinny-jeans–clad Mariella from New York City, Quinnie mucks through the marsh, sneaks into houses, spies on visiting tattooed rockers, and jumps to conclusions—with the best intentions but often humorous results. Much of the book’s humor derives from the quirky, colorful Maiden Rockers, particularly the two elderly nuns who drive too fast, can’t figure out recycling, live in the convent with hordes of cats, and have a puzzling need for bat guano. Quinnie is a memorable protagonist with an engaging voice, confused about her feelings for Ben and her anger at the mother she loves even as she barrels full tilt and against her mother’s instructions into her amateur sleuthing.
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MY REVIEW:
This is a fun, fast-paced contemporary upper middle-grade mystery set in a beachside town in Maine. The characters are well-developed and believable. Some of them are quirky, and that's exactly what keeps the mystery progressing.

As I was writing this review, I realized this book reminds me of one of my favorite madcap musicals, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', starring my best-loved female actresses, Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore. Both stories have a lot of action, fun characters, and a bit of mystery. Both stories are entertaining and memorable.

When I visited the author's website {https://cmsurrisi.com/}, I discovered there are two more books in this series. 'Vampires on the Run' was released in 2017; and the release of Book 3, 'A Side of Sabotage', is coming up later this year. I look forward to reading more books by this clever author.
 

The author's website has a Discussion Guide, Bookmark, and Sample Chapter for 'The Maypop Kidnapping' available for download.

They {whoever 'they' is} always say, 'Don't judge a book by its cover'. In this case, the cover art is beautiful on top of the story being top-quality!

{Note: I borrowed this book from the New Book shelf in the children's section of the local public library.}

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR FROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
C. M. Surrisi has a BFA, a JD, and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Along with her husband, and two dogs she lives in Asheville, NC. She is represented by Wernick and Pratt Literary Agency. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, SCBWI, and the Author’s Guild.

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CURRENT GIVEAWAY:  US Only--Signed print copy of Author Shawn Pollock's debut historical World War II novel, 'The Road to Freedom'. Click over to my 'Current Giveaways' Page to read the instructions and to enter for a chance to win!

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COMING UP ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':

-- Wednesday, February 28th: Blogging For Books Review of a picture book by Author Matthew Paul Turner and Illustrator David Catrow, 'When God Made Light'.

-- Friday, March 2nd: Book spotlight featuring debut Cedar Fort author Chelsea Curran's LDS romance, 'Unseen Road to Love'. 

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