As a digital subscriber, you’ll receive unlimited access to Horn Book web exclusives and extensive archives, as well as access to our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database.
To access other site content, visit The Horn Book homepage.
To continue you need an active subscription to hbook.com.
Subscribe now to gain immediate access to everything hbook.com has to offer, as well as our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database, which contains tens of thousands of short, critical reviews of books published in the United States for young people.
Thank you for registering. To have the latest stories delivered to your inbox, select as many free newsletters as you like below.
No thanks. Return to article
232 pp.
| Darby Creek
| March, 2014
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4677-2609-2$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4677-2619-1$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4677-2620-7
(4)
YA
Mike & Riel series.
Orphaned by his mother's and uncle's murders, Mike McGill ends up in the care of ex-cop-turned-history-teacher Mr. Riel. Each book in the series focuses on the pair solving a violent crime that usually involves Mike indirectly. The formulaic stories are slow at times, but there's enough suspense to satisfy crime-fiction fans. Review covers these Miek & Riel titles: Dead and Gone, Dead Silence, Hit and Run, Seeing and Believing, and Truth and Lies.
232 pp.
| Darby Creek
| March, 2014
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4677-2608-5$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4677-2617-7$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4677-2618-4
(4)
YA
Mike & Riel series.
Orphaned by his mother's and uncle's murders, Mike McGill ends up in the care of ex-cop-turned-history-teacher Mr. Riel. Each book in the series focuses on the pair solving a violent crime that usually involves Mike indirectly. The formulaic stories are slow at times, but there's enough suspense to satisfy crime-fiction fans. Review covers these Miek & Riel titles: Dead and Gone, Dead Silence, Hit and Run, Seeing and Believing, and Truth and Lies.
215 pp.
| Darby Creek
| March, 2014
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4677-2607-8$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4677-2615-3$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4677-2616-0
(4)
YA
Mike & Riel series.
Orphaned by his mother's and uncle's murders, Mike McGill ends up in the care of ex-cop-turned-history-teacher Mr. Riel. Each book in the series focuses on the pair solving a violent crime that usually involves Mike indirectly. The formulaic stories are slow at times, but there's enough suspense to satisfy crime-fiction fans. Review covers these Miek & Riel titles: Dead and Gone, Dead Silence, Hit and Run, Seeing and Believing, and Truth and Lies.
207 pp.
| Darby Creek
| March, 2014
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4677-2606-1$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4677-2613-9$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4677-2614-6
(4)
YA
Mike & Riel series.
Orphaned by his mother's and uncle's murders, Mike McGill ends up in the care of ex-cop-turned-history-teacher Mr. Riel. Each book in the series focuses on the pair solving a violent crime that usually involves Mike indirectly. The formulaic stories are slow at times, but there's enough suspense to satisfy crime-fiction fans. Review covers these Miek & Riel titles: Dead and Gone, Dead Silence, Hit and Run, Seeing and Believing, and Truth and Lies.
232 pp.
| Darby Creek
| March, 2014
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4677-2605-4$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4677-2611-5$8.95
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4677-2612-2
(4)
YA
Mike & Riel series.
Orphaned by his mother's and uncle's murders, Mike McGill ends up in the care of ex-cop-turned-history-teacher Mr. Riel. Each book in the series focuses on the pair solving a violent crime that usually involves Mike indirectly. The formulaic stories are slow at times, but there's enough suspense to satisfy crime-fiction fans. Review covers these Miek & Riel titles: Dead and Gone, Dead Silence, Hit and Run, Seeing and Believing, and Truth and Lies.
213 pp.
| Darby Creek
| March, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8317-8$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4677-0701-5$8.95
(4)
YA
Robyn Hunter Mysteries series.
These two titles in this Canadian series further develop secondary characters. In Heart, Robyn's best friend Billy is accused of murdering a popular hockey player in a jealous rage. In Deep, Robyn and Nick infiltrate a home for juvenile criminals where all is not as it seems. The plots are contrived, but characters are thoughtfully portrayed. Review covers these Robyn Hunter Mysteries titles: Change of Heart and In Too Deep.
218 pp.
| Darby Creek
| March, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8318-5$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4677-0702-2$8.95
(4)
YA
Robyn Hunter Mysteries series.
These two titles in this Canadian series further develop secondary characters. In Heart, Robyn's best friend Billy is accused of murdering a popular hockey player in a jealous rage. In Deep, Robyn and Nick infiltrate a home for juvenile criminals where all is not as it seems. The plots are contrived, but characters are thoughtfully portrayed. Review covers these Robyn Hunter Mysteries titles: Change of Heart and In Too Deep.
226 pp.
| Darby Creek
| April, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8311-6$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7613-8529-5$8.95
(4)
YA
Robyn Hunter Mysteries series.
The first two titles in this series introduce readers to teen mystery-solver Robyn. In Chance, Robyn begins a surprising relationship with bad-boy Nick and his even scarier dog. In Run, she helps look for a missing classmate only to find she may have made the situation worse. Both story lines are contrived, but the characters are interesting and generally believable. Review covers these Robyn Hunter Mysteries titles: Last Chance and You Can Run.
210 pp.
| Darby Creek
| April, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8312-3$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7613-8530-1$8.95
(4)
YA
Robyn Hunter Mysteries series.
The first two titles in this series introduce readers to teen mystery-solver Robyn. In Chance, Robyn begins a surprising relationship with bad-boy Nick and his even scarier dog. In Run, she helps look for a missing classmate only to find she may have made the situation worse. Both story lines are contrived, but the characters are interesting and generally believable. Review covers these Robyn Hunter Mysteries titles: Last Chance and You Can Run.
(4)
YA
Orca Soundings series.
Riding his bike, Kenzie hits a pedestrian, seriously injuring her. When it turns out that the victim is Kenzie's ex-girlfriend, everyone starts questioning whether the incident was really an accident--including Kenzie himself, who launches his own investigation when the cops jump to conclusions. Although character development is minimal, quick pacing and numerous plot turns will hold reluctant readers' interest.
226 pp.
| Darby Creek
| September, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8315-4$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7613-9397-9$8.95
(4)
YA
Robyn Hunter Mysteries series.
Teen mystery-solver Robyn investigates secrets surrounding a homeless man's death (Cold). In Shadow Robyn's teacher believes she's being stalked by an old boyfriend, but danger is closer than she thinks. Meanwhile, bad-boy Nick has disappeared, and Robyn develops a new relationship with Ben. The plots are contrived, but these fourth and fifth books further develop Robyn's character. Review covers these Robyn Hunter Mysteries: Shadow of Doubt and Out of the Cold.
223 pp.
| Darby Creek
| September, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-8314-7$27.93
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7613-9396-2$8.95
(4)
YA
Robyn Hunter Mysteries series.
Teen mystery-solver Robyn investigates secrets surrounding a homeless man's death (Cold). In Shadow Robyn's teacher believes she's being stalked by an old boyfriend, but danger is closer than she thinks. Meanwhile, bad-boy Nick has disappeared, and Robyn develops a new relationship with Ben. The plots are contrived, but these fourth and fifth books further develop Robyn's character. Review covers these Robyn Hunter Mysteries: Shadow of Doubt and Out of the Cold.
(4)
YA
Orca Currents series.
Three shifting narrators--Daniel, Rosie, and "The Masked Man"--take readers through events surrounding the robbery of a convenience store. None of the characters proves to be particularly likable or has much to redeem him or herself in the end. However, the short chapters are appropriately tense and suspenseful, and the novel does provide some unexpected twists.
95 pp.
| Orca
| April, 2009
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-55143-991-4$16.95
|
PaperISBN 978-1-55143-989-1$9.95
(3)
YA
Orca Soundings series.
The notorious Jojo is released from prison and returns home. He's trying to get on with his life, but no one can believe he's changed. Ardell, whose brother is in a coma because of Jojo, hopes to drive him out of the neighborhood and ultimately takes justice into his own hands. This well-paced, provocative story effectively questions right and wrong.
(3)
YA
Orca Soundings series.
Ethan is finally getting his life together with the help of caring foster parents and a photography program for at-risk kids. He unwittingly becomes involved in a series of mysterious and dangerous encounters with someone who is after his camera--but why? The quick-moving plot and gritty details will appeal to reluctant teen readers.
(4)
4-6
Orca Currents series.
Frustrated with home and school life, Kaz impulsively steals an old woman's purse. The purse holds a little money and an old watch, the unfolding history of which makes Kaz realize the scope of his actions. The plot relies too much on coincidence to be convincing, but the book makes a strong point about the unintended consequences of a single thoughtless act.
(3)
4-6
Orca Currents series.
Cleaning graffiti in a wealthy neighborhood starts out as a boring summer job until Colin notices a pattern to the tagging. The clues start adding up, and Colin uncovers the culprit behind a string of robberies. Though the characters get involved in some bad situations, they are good kids at heart. Realistic situations and contemporary content will appeal to reluctant readers.
(4)
YA
Orca Soundings series.
When David's stepfather, an avid poker player, is murdered, Detective Antonelli thinks David was involved. Twelve short chapters shift between past and present as David describes the events leading up to his stepfather's death. The characters are rather flat, but the mystery zooms along quickly enough to hook the reluctant reader crowd.