Mystery on Magnolia Circle (Paperback)
Rear Window meets Nancy Drew in this middle-grade novel by Kate Klise about a girl who believes she has witnessed a crime
What happens when two best friends take on the world’s worst summer?
On the first day of vacation, ten-year-old Ivy Crowden falls down the stairs and breaks her leg. Stuck in a plaster cast, she’s certain her summer is doomed. Not even Teddy, her neighbor and best friend, can cheer her up because he’s dealing with his own pain: the loss of a beloved dog.
But when Ivy witnesses a possible burglary from her living room window, her summer takes a sudden turn from meh to mysterious. Who are the criminals? Might a classmate be involved? And . . . uh-oh. A second mystery is nipping at Ivy’s heels. Cue the best friends, the best dog, and the best chance that summer can be saved!
Celia Krampien is the author and illustrator of Sunny. She has illustrated several books for children including Secret, Secret Agent Guy, written by Kira Bigwood, and Mystery on Magnolia Circle, written by Kate Klise. When she’s not creating, she loves long walks with her beagle and cuddling her trouble-making cat. She lives in Ontario, Canada.
Stay: A Girl, A Dog, A Bucket List:
2018 ALSC/ALA Notable Children's Book
An Iowa Public Radio Best Book of 2017
"Evocative acrylics amplify the matter-of-fact narrative, showing Astrid growing taller and more active as Eli slows down. ...The Klises close with an image of girl and dog watching the sunset over the water, a moment that—like the book as a whole—is both emotionally restrained and full of feeling."--Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Quirky and delightful on its surface, this poignant picture book opens the door to deeper considerations of eventual loss. A tender tension between the author’s ebullient text and her illustrator sister’s touching acrylic paintings—particularly the exquisite portrayals of the two protagonists—delicately suggests the inevitable without any overt occurrence."--The Horn Book, starred review
"The full-page, warm, pastel-colored illustrations perfectly match the text and make the book all the more wonderful. This is a story about making the best of and appreciating the (brief) time we have with our loved ones—in this case our pets, though the title easily applies to grandparents and other aging loved ones."--School Library Journal