Crashing in Love by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Published by Candlewick Press on October 12, 2021
ISBN: 1536211532
Pages: 272
Genres: Mystery, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Middle grade readers will enjoy this sweet and fast-moving mystery written by a Maine author.   Jacobson locates her almost thirteen-year-old protagonist in a small ME coastal town.  Peyton is prepared for a perfect summer which soon unravels when her BBF deserts her ruining all their joint plans.  The mystery surrounds a hit and run accident which leaves a twelve-year-old boy in a coma.  Having found Gray on the street our heroine decides to make his recovery her mission.   The book is full of compassion and empathy for the victim as well as other cast of characters. This well written story reads beautifully centering on a middle grader with romance on her mind and a deep need to please.

Add this to middle grade media centers as well as too public libraries.  Gift this coming-of-age mystery to 10 -12-year-old students.  Readers who enjoy making list may find themselves within these pages.

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