All the Pretty Things by Emily Arsenault
Published by Delacorte on March 17, 2020
ISBN: 1984897055
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
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Summer for Ivy is spent working for her father at his amusement park.  From the start the theme of this book is mystery and loss, all of it associated with the park.  Her folks have divorced, her brother is staying at college for the summer, a work associate is found dead and now her best friend is hospitalized.  Not a classic who “done it” but a clever presentation that blends mystery with long standing relationships.  At times Ivy seems to wane, her character flows from clear to confused.   By far the most interesting character is her father who only seems to care about Fabuland and carries secrets of his own. Grade eight readers and up who enjoy mysteries may well find this book satisfying.   There are secrets however which could have been treated with more insight and compassion.  A missed opportunity that would have been useful on library shelves and in school social worker or guidance offices.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME