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A review by leandrathetbrzero
The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
An abandoned fun house filled with puzzles and wrong turns, three supportive friends on a mission, and a promised treasure at the finish line!
Actual Rating: 2.75 stars
Pub Date: 2 April 2024
Reading Format: audio (post-publication date)
SYNOPSIS: Sarah Greene is a twelve-year-old math whiz with the weight of the world on her shoulders. After her father's diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, the Greenes' financial situation worsens to the point where their house faces foreclosure. The only solace Sarah has comes from the Deltas, her friend group with West and Hannah. The three friends love escape rooms, the more challenging the better. And when Hannah shares the local legend of Hans, Stefan and Karl Stein who created the ultimate funhouse, an estate now abandoned and rumored to hide a treasure within its sixteen rooms, the Deltas decide to risk everything to save Sarah's family.
While the premise for this middle grade novel intrigued me, as did the author's name attached to this mystery, I was disappointed with the minimal character development and inconsistent emotional tone throughout the story. It is typical to expect an unsaid history when following a friend group well-established prior to the opening pages, but the number of inside jokes and backstories that cropped up later for convenience of dialogue or bouts of humor between dangerous moments seemed to jar the narrative flow. There are many important themes, and I applaud Currie's inclusion of them: chronic illness, financial stress, supportive friendships, and problem-solving after moments of failure. And it's true that Currie covers serious topics that certainly deserve a voice in middle grade and juvenile narratives, but the moments of despair, fear, and self-doubt would then oddly be paired with a light-hearted joke by West, Hannah, or Sarah. I also found the numerous times where Hannah was to blame for a mishap or added third-act conflict to be too convenient. Unfortunately this likely won't be a middle grade that will immediately come to mind when I am asked for recommendations. If I ever do find myself recommending this, it would be for younger juvenile readers as opposed to an upper middle grade audience.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!
Actual Rating: 2.75 stars
Pub Date: 2 April 2024
Reading Format: audio (post-publication date)
SYNOPSIS: Sarah Greene is a twelve-year-old math whiz with the weight of the world on her shoulders. After her father's diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, the Greenes' financial situation worsens to the point where their house faces foreclosure. The only solace Sarah has comes from the Deltas, her friend group with West and Hannah. The three friends love escape rooms, the more challenging the better. And when Hannah shares the local legend of Hans, Stefan and Karl Stein who created the ultimate funhouse, an estate now abandoned and rumored to hide a treasure within its sixteen rooms, the Deltas decide to risk everything to save Sarah's family.
While the premise for this middle grade novel intrigued me, as did the author's name attached to this mystery, I was disappointed with the minimal character development and inconsistent emotional tone throughout the story. It is typical to expect an unsaid history when following a friend group well-established prior to the opening pages, but the number of inside jokes and backstories that cropped up later for convenience of dialogue or bouts of humor between dangerous moments seemed to jar the narrative flow. There are many important themes, and I applaud Currie's inclusion of them: chronic illness, financial stress, supportive friendships, and problem-solving after moments of failure. And it's true that Currie covers serious topics that certainly deserve a voice in middle grade and juvenile narratives, but the moments of despair, fear, and self-doubt would then oddly be paired with a light-hearted joke by West, Hannah, or Sarah. I also found the numerous times where Hannah was to blame for a mishap or added third-act conflict to be too convenient. Unfortunately this likely won't be a middle grade that will immediately come to mind when I am asked for recommendations. If I ever do find myself recommending this, it would be for younger juvenile readers as opposed to an upper middle grade audience.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!