Andi Unexpected by Amanda Flower

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating!

Description

Twelve-year-old Andora 'Andi' Boggs and her fourteen-year-old sister Bethany move to rural Ohio to live with their eccentric twenty-something aunt after the sudden death of their parents. While dealing with her grief, Andi discovers proof of another Andora Boggs in the family tree whose existence was hidden in a Depression-era trunk in the attic. With help from her new friend and neighbor, Colin Carter, Andi is determined to find out who this first Andora was and what happened to her.

Recommended age group: 9-12

Purchase at the following locations:

http://www.amazon.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
http://www.christianbook.com
http://www.deepershopping.com

Biography

Amanda Flower, an Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she'd found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Her debut mystery, Maid of Murder, was a 2010 Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel and the first in a series featuring amateur sleuth India Hayes. In July 2012, Amanda will debuting her second mystery series, the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series, which is set in Ohio's Amish country. In addition to being a mystery author, Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland. Visit her online at www.amandaflower.com.

My Review ~

Andi Boggs and her sister lost both parents in a plane crash, so the girls were moved to Killdeer, Ohio to live with their Aunt Amelie in the home that had been in their family for generations. Amelie's neighbor had a peculiar reaction upon discovering Andi's formal name is Andora, but she quickly covered up her reaction with an explanation about something she had eaten. Her grandson Colin is Andi's age, and the two curious youngsters discover they have a lot in common. Aunt Amelie had suggested that Andi could have the attic as her bedroom if she cleaned it out and prepared the contents for an upcoming garage sale. Colin agreed to help and they began the dusty chore, discovering a hidden door to a crawl space where a small trunk had been stored. Upon cleaning off the majority of grime Colin discovered a nameplate with "Andora" engraved on it. Upon questioning her Aunt Amelie about the trunk and its contents, Amelie explained that it appeared to be vintage to approximately World War II. With a mystery to solve Andi and Colin begin the quest to discover the identity of the original Andora and where she might be now. Colin provides a notebook and pencil and on the first page wrote "The Case of The First Andora." Underneath he added "Boggs and Carter Investigations." 

The debut of a middle school level mystery series, this book screamed shades of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys! In-depth and steeped in originality this story kept me engrossed to the very end. Amanda Flower is a very adept artist in creating characters and settings with all of the detail and suspense of an adult focused mystery. Included in this story are all the elements of a future success mystery series for present and future middle school children. There is no predicting what follows in this fast-paced full-length novel. I think I'll leave Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys packed away. This "grandmother" enjoyed the action and adventure in this charming modern-day investigative chronicle for middle grade children. I'll be watching for more of Andi Boggs and her future activities! My grandchildren will be receiving copies of this series.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Zonderkidz in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.