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Young and Yang #1
The Wig in the Window
Sophie Young and Grace Yang: best friends, seventh graders, spies.
Equipped with walkie-talkies, binoculars, and candy, the girls sneak out for one of their midnight spy missions expecting a simple stakeout. But what starts as a silly game turns very real when they peek in on Luna Vista's notoriously bizarre middle-school counselor, Dr. Charlotte Agford (aka Dr. Awkward).
Is there more to Dr. Agford than her tacky clothes and sugary falsetto voice? Sophie and Grace are convinced something sinister lurks below the surface . . . and they just might be right. Soon they're racing to outsmart the suspicious counselor—all while cracking secret codes, dodging a mysterious blue car, and keeping tabs on strangers with unibrows and Texas twangs.
But the strain of the investigation pushes the girls further apart. Even if Sophie and Grace uncover the truth about Agford in time, will their friendship survive?
Equipped with walkie-talkies, binoculars, and candy, the girls sneak out for one of their midnight spy missions expecting a simple stakeout. But what starts as a silly game turns very real when they peek in on Luna Vista's notoriously bizarre middle-school counselor, Dr. Charlotte Agford (aka Dr. Awkward).
Is there more to Dr. Agford than her tacky clothes and sugary falsetto voice? Sophie and Grace are convinced something sinister lurks below the surface . . . and they just might be right. Soon they're racing to outsmart the suspicious counselor—all while cracking secret codes, dodging a mysterious blue car, and keeping tabs on strangers with unibrows and Texas twangs.
But the strain of the investigation pushes the girls further apart. Even if Sophie and Grace uncover the truth about Agford in time, will their friendship survive?
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First published June 18, 2013
41 people are currently reading
3197 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Kittscher
2 books104 followersKristen Kittscher is the 2014 James Thurber House Children's Writer-in-Residence and debut author of THE WIG IN THE WINDOW (Harper Children's 2013) and THE TIARA ON THE TERRACE (Harper Children's, 1/5/2016). Officially a native of Pittsburgh, Kristen grew up in over thirteen cities -- including San Francisco, Reno, London, and Dallas. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in Comparative Literature and worked as a story editor in Hollywood before becoming a teacher. A contributor to the Los Angeles Review of Books and The Rumpus, Kristen is a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and festivals and is active in promoting community literacy initiatives in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, Kai.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
November 26, 2012
This books is fantastic. I was expecting something light-hearted and funny, a whimsical adventure about two young female sleuths who get in over their heads... what I got was all of that, plus so much more.
There is *depth* to this book. Not hit-you-on-the-head-with-Big-Issues kind of depth (although I like those books, too), but subtle depth in every character and situation. Stereotypes are routinely addressed and smashed, and readers will be introduced to the idea of cultural appropriation, perhaps for the first time. Perception is a big theme, and we're constantly re-assessing what we know about the characters and story based on changing information -- something most of us in the real world don't do nearly enough. This theme is so perfectly suited for a mystery plot, where new information is routinely uncovered, making the plot a natural vehicle for self-reflection and growth.
But there are great fight scenes, too, and a ton of unexpected plot twists and reversals. The stakes escalate quickly and ramp up to a thrilling end sequence. Sophie, our main hero, begins the book as a bit of a follower, always taking the lead from her best friend Grace. But their friendship becomes more complicated when Sophie meets a new friend, the amazing Trista, and begins to eventually develop a strength all her own.
This is an empowering, enlightening book in so many ways -- but it's also just plain FUN and laugh-out-loud funny, too. I can't recommend it highly enough. I'll be putting this on my shelf next to Ellen Raskin's THE WESTING GAME.
There is *depth* to this book. Not hit-you-on-the-head-with-Big-Issues kind of depth (although I like those books, too), but subtle depth in every character and situation. Stereotypes are routinely addressed and smashed, and readers will be introduced to the idea of cultural appropriation, perhaps for the first time. Perception is a big theme, and we're constantly re-assessing what we know about the characters and story based on changing information -- something most of us in the real world don't do nearly enough. This theme is so perfectly suited for a mystery plot, where new information is routinely uncovered, making the plot a natural vehicle for self-reflection and growth.
But there are great fight scenes, too, and a ton of unexpected plot twists and reversals. The stakes escalate quickly and ramp up to a thrilling end sequence. Sophie, our main hero, begins the book as a bit of a follower, always taking the lead from her best friend Grace. But their friendship becomes more complicated when Sophie meets a new friend, the amazing Trista, and begins to eventually develop a strength all her own.
This is an empowering, enlightening book in so many ways -- but it's also just plain FUN and laugh-out-loud funny, too. I can't recommend it highly enough. I'll be putting this on my shelf next to Ellen Raskin's THE WESTING GAME.
February 19, 2014
Story was interesting enough and the mystery was good, too, but my main problem was with some of the characters.
I absolutely dislike it when two characters, friends, go on an adventure but it is usually the idea of only one of them and it is usually the other that gets in trouble. Meanwhile, the idea gal keeps getting these stupid ideas for her gullible friend to do.
This was the case here. Grace had all the great ideas of spying, breaking and entering, stealing, etc because SHE was interested in working for the FBI when she grew up and decided the their shifty neighbor wasn't who she said she was. Unfortunately Sophie was the one performing all these illegal acts and getting caught, plus she was the one who had to face the shifty neighbor in school every day.
Then on another occasion, Grace persuades Sophie to go through the neighbor's house while neighbor was out, then goes to a birthday party to one of her friends house leaving, once again, Sophie to do all the dangerous stuff.
I liked the character of Trista and had hoped that Sophie and her would become best friends, replacing the selfish Grace, but alas, that was not to be.
Some might enjoy this story and I admit it kept me reading, but I think if there are future adventures for these two young girls, I will pass.
I absolutely dislike it when two characters, friends, go on an adventure but it is usually the idea of only one of them and it is usually the other that gets in trouble. Meanwhile, the idea gal keeps getting these stupid ideas for her gullible friend to do.
This was the case here. Grace had all the great ideas of spying, breaking and entering, stealing, etc because SHE was interested in working for the FBI when she grew up and decided the their shifty neighbor wasn't who she said she was. Unfortunately Sophie was the one performing all these illegal acts and getting caught, plus she was the one who had to face the shifty neighbor in school every day.
Then on another occasion, Grace persuades Sophie to go through the neighbor's house while neighbor was out, then goes to a birthday party to one of her friends house leaving, once again, Sophie to do all the dangerous stuff.
I liked the character of Trista and had hoped that Sophie and her would become best friends, replacing the selfish Grace, but alas, that was not to be.
Some might enjoy this story and I admit it kept me reading, but I think if there are future adventures for these two young girls, I will pass.
February 6, 2013
In THE WIG IN THE WINDOW, best friends and spy partners Sophie Young and
Grace Yang face all the struggles of middle school's changing friendships
AND the dangers of a real life-or-death mystery. This book is funny,
realistic, and suspenseful -- a pitch-perfect mystery for the tween set.
Grace Yang face all the struggles of middle school's changing friendships
AND the dangers of a real life-or-death mystery. This book is funny,
realistic, and suspenseful -- a pitch-perfect mystery for the tween set.
November 22, 2019
Best friends Sophie Young and Grace Yang, would-be spies and FBI investigators, become involved in a mystery surrounding Sophie's middle-school guidance counselor in this debut children's novel from Kristen Kittscher. Dr. Agford - AKA Dr. Awkward - had always seemed rather creepy to Sophie, but when she sees her guidance counselor committing what she think is a murder, and reports her to the police, the fallout reveals just how menacing Agford can be. Although she was only canning beets, Dr. Agford's reaction to being spied upon arouses more suspicion in Sophie and Grace, who continue to investigate despite adult pressure to desist. Eventually they discover that Agford is a fugitive, one on the run after involvement in a terrible tragedy that cost eight high school students their lives.
I enjoyed The Wig In the Window, finding it an entertaining and (for the most part) lighthearted adventure-mystery, featuring two engaging young heroines. I was struck, during the course of my reading, by the fact that the mystery involves murder (or at the very least, manslaughter), as I feel that until recently children's mysteries have generally featured less fearsome crimes. Is it now more acceptable to feature murder in children's mysteries? I'm not sure, but this is the first example I can remember reading at the middle-grade level. I was also struck by the way Kittscher explored the cultural differences in Sophie and Grace's friendship. Grace is Chinese-American, but it is Sophie who is very interested in Chinese culture, being an admirer of Sun Tzu's writing, and a devotee of Feng Shui. This leads to tension at one point, when Grace expresses resentment during an argument, implying that Sophie is some kind of poseur, and unfairly judges her (Grace) as insufficiently Chinese for her own lack of interest in traditional Chinese culture. This was all very interesting, and quite current, with its examination of the idea of cultural appropriation. That said, it seems clear that there is also some insecurity on Grace's part - I vividly recall a similar experience I had with a friend whose parents were Russian immigrants, and who made a fuss over me when they learned I was reading Solzhenitsyn - rather than it being just a question of Sophie judging her. Sophie, for her part, has her own insecurities, worrying that Grace, who has always taken the lead in their friendship, doesn't truly value her, and is perhaps too sophisticated and fashionable for her. This last is something I suspect will be more fully explored in the sequel, The Tiara on the Terrace .
However that may be, I appreciated the author's storytelling here, and her exploration of some of the many issues that young friends in contemporary America might confront. I appreciated the fact that her some of her secondary characters, particularly the indomitable Trista Bottoms, added so much to the story. I have already started the sequel, which is a high recommendation from me!
I enjoyed The Wig In the Window, finding it an entertaining and (for the most part) lighthearted adventure-mystery, featuring two engaging young heroines. I was struck, during the course of my reading, by the fact that the mystery involves murder (or at the very least, manslaughter), as I feel that until recently children's mysteries have generally featured less fearsome crimes. Is it now more acceptable to feature murder in children's mysteries? I'm not sure, but this is the first example I can remember reading at the middle-grade level. I was also struck by the way Kittscher explored the cultural differences in Sophie and Grace's friendship. Grace is Chinese-American, but it is Sophie who is very interested in Chinese culture, being an admirer of Sun Tzu's writing, and a devotee of Feng Shui. This leads to tension at one point, when Grace expresses resentment during an argument, implying that Sophie is some kind of poseur, and unfairly judges her (Grace) as insufficiently Chinese for her own lack of interest in traditional Chinese culture. This was all very interesting, and quite current, with its examination of the idea of cultural appropriation. That said, it seems clear that there is also some insecurity on Grace's part - I vividly recall a similar experience I had with a friend whose parents were Russian immigrants, and who made a fuss over me when they learned I was reading Solzhenitsyn - rather than it being just a question of Sophie judging her. Sophie, for her part, has her own insecurities, worrying that Grace, who has always taken the lead in their friendship, doesn't truly value her, and is perhaps too sophisticated and fashionable for her. This last is something I suspect will be more fully explored in the sequel, The Tiara on the Terrace .
However that may be, I appreciated the author's storytelling here, and her exploration of some of the many issues that young friends in contemporary America might confront. I appreciated the fact that her some of her secondary characters, particularly the indomitable Trista Bottoms, added so much to the story. I have already started the sequel, which is a high recommendation from me!
December 20, 2012
A fantastic book with beautiful writing and incredibly fun plotting – the kind of book I love as an adult, but would have killed for as a kid. Sophie and Grace are the very spirit of adventure. They are fun and brave, and smart, though not without some very human foibles. Trista is a revelation. Just a fantastic character. The book is incredibly fun, but it’s not fluff. There are some really interesting things going on at a deeper level in this book. Kittscher really taps into what it is to be a kid and to have adults dismiss your problems simply because of your age. In a sense the book is a meditation on that moment in life when a person decides to take herself seriously, to decide for herself that her problems are real, that her concerns are important, and that if no one else will give her agency, that she will take it for herself. But while it does have a certain and essential gravitas, it manages to maintain a terrific momentum, pulling the reader ever forward with great twists and delightful puzzles. It was really such a treat to read. Highly recommended!
February 28, 2016
I cannot begin to fully articulate the amount of suspension of disbelief this book requires. Just as I decided to allow something, just as I began to sort of fit its ridiculousness into the worldbuilding, bam, the author piled on something even more ridiculous.
This is even worse than absent parents: this has the parents, and hasn't the slightest clue how to properly fit them in. But this book doesn't have the slightest clue about quite a lot of things, including the fact that twelve-year-olds are usually pretty smart, so it's in keeping with all that. (Particularly when you consider there's one character who's supposed to be both book- and street-smart, and even she is incredibly stupid about the major plot device.)
Seriously: this was so stupid I'm not even bothering with the sequel. And the sequel is sitting on my desk at this very moment. I just can't bring myself to read about more ludicrous inanity.
This is even worse than absent parents: this has the parents, and hasn't the slightest clue how to properly fit them in. But this book doesn't have the slightest clue about quite a lot of things, including the fact that twelve-year-olds are usually pretty smart, so it's in keeping with all that. (Particularly when you consider there's one character who's supposed to be both book- and street-smart, and even she is incredibly stupid about the major plot device.)
Seriously: this was so stupid I'm not even bothering with the sequel. And the sequel is sitting on my desk at this very moment. I just can't bring myself to read about more ludicrous inanity.
June 18, 2013
Kristen Kittscher's debut caught my eye with that brilliantly adorable cover, one which perfectly captures the book itself, which makes it even better. Though mysteries aren't my genre of choice, I couldn't resist checking this one out, because of the Rear Window connection. Pop culture references are for the win always. The Wig in the Window is above all a story of friendship and courage, with plenty of humor and adventure to keep readers of all ages entertained.
The first thing I need to give Kittscher props for is how the mystery plays out. Reading mysteries intended for younger readers can be imminently frustrating for an adult, because the children often fail to note the most obvious of clues and the guilty party is clear from the first pages. This was not the case in The Wig in the Window. Kittscher adds evidence steadily, and keeps pulling the rug out from under Sophie's feet. Sophie does have a bit of a tendency to jump to conclusions, but she's never blindly oblivious to the facts in front of her.
In fact, Sophie and her friends don't do a lot of the inadvisable things kids in novels often do. When they think they've witnessed a murder by their next door neighbor, they contact the authorities. They try to rely on and trust adults with information, but receive contradictory information and end up having to do the best they can alone. In addition to snooping around, since they like to pretend they're in the FBI, they also do Google searches. Sophie and Grace approach the situation as logically as they can.
For me, the most meaningful aspect of The Wig in the Window is the friendship between amateur investigators Grace and Sophie. They've been friends since Sophie's family moved to the neighborhood, and go by Young (Sophie) and Yang (Grace). However, all is not perfect in their friendship, and the real mystery to solve brings all their issues to the surface. Sophie has always felt like the sidekick, following Grace's lead, which was fine until Sophie got in trouble for falsely reporting a murder and Grace didn't. Now Sophie feels abandoned, and has a chance to really come into her own, however painful that may be. They really have to learn to appreciate one another and not take their friendship for granted, which can happen in long term relationships of any sort.
At school, Sophie's other friends ditch her in the wake of the reporting-the-school-counselor-for-murder scandal. In this awkward time, she's befriended by Trista, overweight and picked on (called Boom-Boom-Bottoms by the school's resident bully, who calls Sophie Ay-nus, a play off her French class name Agnes). Trista's totally my favorite character. She's sassy, can out-insult the bullies, loves herself for who she is, and has her friends' backs. Plus, she's a really healthy eater, so Kittscher's conveying that it's not necessarily lifestyle alone that leads to weight gain.
The one thing that left me really uncomfortable was the portrayal of Charlotte Agford, the school counselor that Grace and Sophie think they see commit murder. Whether or not she's the villain, some of the descriptions for her made me really uncomfortable. She has this giant hair, which turns out to be a wig, and huge fake breasts, both of which are repeatedly used as evidence essentially that she's evil, and I'm just not really cool with that. There were a couple of other characters described in unsettling ways, but Agford is the best example. Whether someone's a good or bad person shouldn't be bound up in their appearance.
The Wig in the Window is a fun mystery, sure to delight middle grade readers. There's humor, action, friendship, and even a little bit of romance. I'm glad to have read it, but am left a bit unsure about the overall message.
The first thing I need to give Kittscher props for is how the mystery plays out. Reading mysteries intended for younger readers can be imminently frustrating for an adult, because the children often fail to note the most obvious of clues and the guilty party is clear from the first pages. This was not the case in The Wig in the Window. Kittscher adds evidence steadily, and keeps pulling the rug out from under Sophie's feet. Sophie does have a bit of a tendency to jump to conclusions, but she's never blindly oblivious to the facts in front of her.
In fact, Sophie and her friends don't do a lot of the inadvisable things kids in novels often do. When they think they've witnessed a murder by their next door neighbor, they contact the authorities. They try to rely on and trust adults with information, but receive contradictory information and end up having to do the best they can alone. In addition to snooping around, since they like to pretend they're in the FBI, they also do Google searches. Sophie and Grace approach the situation as logically as they can.
For me, the most meaningful aspect of The Wig in the Window is the friendship between amateur investigators Grace and Sophie. They've been friends since Sophie's family moved to the neighborhood, and go by Young (Sophie) and Yang (Grace). However, all is not perfect in their friendship, and the real mystery to solve brings all their issues to the surface. Sophie has always felt like the sidekick, following Grace's lead, which was fine until Sophie got in trouble for falsely reporting a murder and Grace didn't. Now Sophie feels abandoned, and has a chance to really come into her own, however painful that may be. They really have to learn to appreciate one another and not take their friendship for granted, which can happen in long term relationships of any sort.
At school, Sophie's other friends ditch her in the wake of the reporting-the-school-counselor-for-murder scandal. In this awkward time, she's befriended by Trista, overweight and picked on (called Boom-Boom-Bottoms by the school's resident bully, who calls Sophie Ay-nus, a play off her French class name Agnes). Trista's totally my favorite character. She's sassy, can out-insult the bullies, loves herself for who she is, and has her friends' backs. Plus, she's a really healthy eater, so Kittscher's conveying that it's not necessarily lifestyle alone that leads to weight gain.
The one thing that left me really uncomfortable was the portrayal of Charlotte Agford, the school counselor that Grace and Sophie think they see commit murder. Whether or not she's the villain, some of the descriptions for her made me really uncomfortable. She has this giant hair, which turns out to be a wig, and huge fake breasts, both of which are repeatedly used as evidence essentially that she's evil, and I'm just not really cool with that. There were a couple of other characters described in unsettling ways, but Agford is the best example. Whether someone's a good or bad person shouldn't be bound up in their appearance.
The Wig in the Window is a fun mystery, sure to delight middle grade readers. There's humor, action, friendship, and even a little bit of romance. I'm glad to have read it, but am left a bit unsure about the overall message.
November 11, 2013
You guys, I LOVED The Wig in the Window. I kind of guessed I would, but I was surprised at HOW MUCH I loved it. It’s definitely one of my favorite middle grades of the year.
I’ve been waiting to read something like it for a long time. The mystery kept me guessing, right up until the end, but the REAL attraction for me was the three sleuths: Sophie, Grace, and Trista! Some books in this age group don’t give kids enough credit, and it drives me crazy. But Sophie, Grace, and Trista bounce off the page in an incredibly real way.
These seventh graders are funny. They are clever. They have a great BS detector and call each other out, but they doubt themselves sometimes too. They have passions that drive them and get them into trouble, and their friendships are complicated, loving, and MESSY—those relationships grow in the book along with the characters, and reading about them gave me such a Happy Book Glow that I couldn��t read anything else for days. I just kept rereading sections from The Wig in the Window.
So, I promptly gushed about the book to Kristen and begged her for an interview, which you can find here.
I’ve been waiting to read something like it for a long time. The mystery kept me guessing, right up until the end, but the REAL attraction for me was the three sleuths: Sophie, Grace, and Trista! Some books in this age group don’t give kids enough credit, and it drives me crazy. But Sophie, Grace, and Trista bounce off the page in an incredibly real way.
These seventh graders are funny. They are clever. They have a great BS detector and call each other out, but they doubt themselves sometimes too. They have passions that drive them and get them into trouble, and their friendships are complicated, loving, and MESSY—those relationships grow in the book along with the characters, and reading about them gave me such a Happy Book Glow that I couldn��t read anything else for days. I just kept rereading sections from The Wig in the Window.
So, I promptly gushed about the book to Kristen and begged her for an interview, which you can find here.
Want to read
March 17, 2013Oh goodness....I loved this book! The girls' dialogue had me cracking up the entire time I was reading it and the situations they got themselves into as they tried to solve the mystery were fun and creative. It reminded myself of all the trouble and mischief I got into when I was in grade school! I can see this getting passed around and around the hands of mystery lovers!
March 15, 2022
Jó régi tartozásom volt már ez a Főnixes kötet: 2014-ben vettem meg, és már a 2017-es várólista csökkentős listát is megjárta, mégsem került le róla, csak idén.
Nem hinném, hogy sokat ártott neki, hogy végül ennyit várattam, mert tulajdonképpen ugyanannyira "kinőttem" már belőle a korosztályos ajánlást tekintve 2014-ben is, mint most. Mégis érdekelt, két okból: sok blogger szerette, és értékelte nagyon jónak, és Hudácskó Brigi fordította, akivel volt szerencsém találkozni is, és aki a Popkult, csajok, satöbbi podcastból lehet ismerős.
A könyv egy üde, szórakoztató és izgalmas tini-krimi, amiben Young és Yang ügynök, azaz a 12 éves Sophie és Grace adó-vevősdi játéka, titkosügynökösködése, szomszédságban való kémkedése egyszercsak komollyá válik, amikor kék szedánnal megjelenik az FBI egy embere is... Céklalé vagy vér? Elcsípett mondatok egy telefonbeszélgetésben..., egy név..., és egy paróka az ablakban. Kiindulásnak vajmi kevésnek tűnhet - és a helyi rendőrség számára kevés is marad, Sophie és Grace mégsem adják fel a nyomozást, amikor a logika azt üzeni, jó nyomon járnak.
Az iskolapszichológus, Dr. Charlotte Agford a gyanús elem az egyenletben, aki történetesen Sophie-ék szomszédja. A lányok titkos kémkedéssel próbálnak megbizonyosodni arról, hogy Agford körül valami nagyon nincs rendjén. Szegény Sophie-nak ráadásul közben még terápiára is kell járni hozzá...
A nagyhangú Trista megjelenésével kap még egy kis plusz lendületet a sztori, nagyon-nagyon szerettem a karaktert, aki megingathatatlan, és leküzdhetetlen, és mindemellett rátermett, okos, és higgadt is. A kikezdhetetlen Trista mindenre tudja a megoldást. Tristát mindenkinek! :D
Ahogy várható, egy ponton a barátság meginog Sophie és Grace között, de szerencsére visszatalálnak egymáshoz, ez talán nem egy nagy spoiler egy ilyen jellegű történetnél. Sophie az elbeszélő, így az ő gondolatait ismerjük meg jobban, részletesebben.
Elég akciódús a vége, és nekem tetszettek a fordulatok, illetve az, ahogy a lányok próbálták kibogozni a szálakat, és kikövetkeztették a dolgokat. Szerintem jól fel volt építve, volt benne logika, és valljuk be, ahol ők elbizonytalanodtak, ott - legalábbis 12 évesen biztosan - mi is elbizonytalanodtunk volna. Szövevényes volt, és nem volt lebutítva egyáltalán.
A csavarok csavarjai is kisimulnak aztán az utolsó lapokon, és kiderül az igazság - mindenkiről.
Néhány tinis dolog, meg tiniknek imponáló poén érthető módon kicsit idegesítő benne felnőtt fejjel, de ezeket próbáltam figyelmen kívül hagyni, vagy a helyén kezelni. Mondjuk az Agford melleire irányuló megjegyzéseket és fingós nagyapát tényleg inkább csak ki kellett volna vágnia a szerkesztőnek... Utóbbinak simán lehetett volna csak az a szerepe, hogy a Szun-ce idézeteket behozza a képbe.
A szerelem épp csak bekacsint, a titkos vágyódás az egyik osztálytárs után nem kap hangsúlyos szerepet, és sokkal inkább fókuszban van a kódfejtés, vagy a bizonyítékok elrejtése.
Sophie és Grace is szimpatikus főhősök voltak, lelkes és belevaló titkosügynök-palánták, jól megalkotott, színes és összetett karakterek. Elnézném animációs filmen is a történetüket szívesen.
A fordítás is szuper.
Viszont borzasztó ez a betűtípus... amikor egy-egy újságcikk került be a könyvbe "normál" betűkkel szedve, akkor ébredtem rá, mennyire zavaró is a default szedés. :(
(U.i.: hogy lehet sorkizártra tenni itt a szöveget?)
Nem hinném, hogy sokat ártott neki, hogy végül ennyit várattam, mert tulajdonképpen ugyanannyira "kinőttem" már belőle a korosztályos ajánlást tekintve 2014-ben is, mint most. Mégis érdekelt, két okból: sok blogger szerette, és értékelte nagyon jónak, és Hudácskó Brigi fordította, akivel volt szerencsém találkozni is, és aki a Popkult, csajok, satöbbi podcastból lehet ismerős.
A könyv egy üde, szórakoztató és izgalmas tini-krimi, amiben Young és Yang ügynök, azaz a 12 éves Sophie és Grace adó-vevősdi játéka, titkosügynökösködése, szomszédságban való kémkedése egyszercsak komollyá válik, amikor kék szedánnal megjelenik az FBI egy embere is... Céklalé vagy vér? Elcsípett mondatok egy telefonbeszélgetésben..., egy név..., és egy paróka az ablakban. Kiindulásnak vajmi kevésnek tűnhet - és a helyi rendőrség számára kevés is marad, Sophie és Grace mégsem adják fel a nyomozást, amikor a logika azt üzeni, jó nyomon járnak.
Az iskolapszichológus, Dr. Charlotte Agford a gyanús elem az egyenletben, aki történetesen Sophie-ék szomszédja. A lányok titkos kémkedéssel próbálnak megbizonyosodni arról, hogy Agford körül valami nagyon nincs rendjén. Szegény Sophie-nak ráadásul közben még terápiára is kell járni hozzá...
A nagyhangú Trista megjelenésével kap még egy kis plusz lendületet a sztori, nagyon-nagyon szerettem a karaktert, aki megingathatatlan, és leküzdhetetlen, és mindemellett rátermett, okos, és higgadt is. A kikezdhetetlen Trista mindenre tudja a megoldást. Tristát mindenkinek! :D
Ahogy várható, egy ponton a barátság meginog Sophie és Grace között, de szerencsére visszatalálnak egymáshoz, ez talán nem egy nagy spoiler egy ilyen jellegű történetnél. Sophie az elbeszélő, így az ő gondolatait ismerjük meg jobban, részletesebben.
Elég akciódús a vége, és nekem tetszettek a fordulatok, illetve az, ahogy a lányok próbálták kibogozni a szálakat, és kikövetkeztették a dolgokat. Szerintem jól fel volt építve, volt benne logika, és valljuk be, ahol ők elbizonytalanodtak, ott - legalábbis 12 évesen biztosan - mi is elbizonytalanodtunk volna. Szövevényes volt, és nem volt lebutítva egyáltalán.
A csavarok csavarjai is kisimulnak aztán az utolsó lapokon, és kiderül az igazság - mindenkiről.
Néhány tinis dolog, meg tiniknek imponáló poén érthető módon kicsit idegesítő benne felnőtt fejjel, de ezeket próbáltam figyelmen kívül hagyni, vagy a helyén kezelni. Mondjuk az Agford melleire irányuló megjegyzéseket és fingós nagyapát tényleg inkább csak ki kellett volna vágnia a szerkesztőnek... Utóbbinak simán lehetett volna csak az a szerepe, hogy a Szun-ce idézeteket behozza a képbe.
A szerelem épp csak bekacsint, a titkos vágyódás az egyik osztálytárs után nem kap hangsúlyos szerepet, és sokkal inkább fókuszban van a kódfejtés, vagy a bizonyítékok elrejtése.
Sophie és Grace is szimpatikus főhősök voltak, lelkes és belevaló titkosügynök-palánták, jól megalkotott, színes és összetett karakterek. Elnézném animációs filmen is a történetüket szívesen.
A fordítás is szuper.
Viszont borzasztó ez a betűtípus... amikor egy-egy újságcikk került be a könyvbe "normál" betűkkel szedve, akkor ébredtem rá, mennyire zavaró is a default szedés. :(
(U.i.: hogy lehet sorkizártra tenni itt a szöveget?)
June 13, 2015
Spoiler alert ***
I'm not surprised so many have loved this book. It's fast, it's engaging, and has a lot of want to know what's next appeal.
However, I imagine the messages for an 8-12 year old audience and find it irresponsible at best. It's harmless enough as an adult reader, but I could not in good conscience recommend it to its target audience.
There are no reliable adults in this book. Not one. And even at the very end, when the threat to the girls lives has been proven very real, instead of being upset that they were so self-absorbed and disinterested in their children to have any idea what was actually going on and/or tell their children in no uncertain terms that they - parents - exist to guide and protect their children ... Instead of anything along those lines the apologize for ever doubting them. Except they hasn't doubted the truth. They had doubted them because of a pack of lies and illegal behavior. It was well-earned doubt.
These are '80s movie parents.
I realize not every police officer is stellar. But the only named officer here refuses to help the girls when called putting their lives at risk.
A 12-year-old skips school with no academic consequence.
12-year-olds sneak out repeatedly with no negative repercussion.
They are followed on many occasions by adults in vehicles and never tell a trustworthy adult. (Are there any?)
They are told by an adult to keep secrets from their parents because adults/parents are bad at keeping secrets. And they do. In fact, they never tell anyone this adult was following them in her car, tracked them to a hang out, and asked them to contact her in the future.
They are told by another adult to arrange night time meetings of adults and NOT contact the police. And they do.
A school therapist/counselor is hired without a background check.
The crime around which the mystery revolves involves 8 teens being electrocuted in a school pool because irresponsible adults weren't doing their jobs. It happened as their parents watched unable to save them. One of the 12-year-olds is afraid of water already. She's nearly drowned in the ocean. This is 8-year-old nightmare making.
In my world, this is more horror story than mystery. Yet, it romps along with the ease of a romance novel making it for me that much more insidious.
The writing was fun. The 3 12-year-old characters engaging. But as a teacher and youth worker this book is not for me or my kids.
March 27, 2013
There's so much to love in this book! Fabulous twelve-year-old girls squaring up to danger and solving mysteries! A heroine whose fantasy is to be a professor of Asian studies at Oxford! Her best friend, who plans to join the FBI! A wonderfully smart, ruthless and snarky new friend, met by the heroine when she becomes a social outcast! And it's all really funny, too.
I think if I were more of a mystery fan myself, I would have given this book 5 stars and loved every bit of it. Because I'm not really a huge mystery fan, the mystery plot actually had even more twists and turns than I needed, as a reader; the book could have been a tiny bit shorter, with fewer surprise twists to the mystery, and I would have found it even more satisfying. But that's a really personal, subjective point, and one that most mystery fans, I think, wouldn't agree with.
Regardless, I loved Kittscher's writing, I loved the humor and the characters, and I liked the whole book a lot.
I think if I were more of a mystery fan myself, I would have given this book 5 stars and loved every bit of it. Because I'm not really a huge mystery fan, the mystery plot actually had even more twists and turns than I needed, as a reader; the book could have been a tiny bit shorter, with fewer surprise twists to the mystery, and I would have found it even more satisfying. But that's a really personal, subjective point, and one that most mystery fans, I think, wouldn't agree with.
Regardless, I loved Kittscher's writing, I loved the humor and the characters, and I liked the whole book a lot.
July 13, 2013
I might have given it four stars, except that the addition of the BEST fat character I've encountered in a middle grade novel leveled it way the hell up! nicely done! funny, fast paced, fun, with great characters and a legitimately creepy villain...fabulous job, esp for a debut author. but most of all, it wins everything for Testa, who is fat, badass, a science and engineering genius, eats healthily, and doesn't take any shit. even though the story is obvs completely different, the friendship between Sophie and Testa is almost a perfect reversal of the girls in Judy Blume's Blubber. high fives from this reader!
xx-dnf-skim-reference
April 29, 2017Overdue for Clan... one at Washoe....
Group read Children's: fiction club....
But given the 'ridiculous suspension of disbelief' and disrespect for children's intelligence and awkwardness of parental characters, according to a reviewer I trust, I'm not sure I want to hunt it down....
Group read Children's: fiction club....
But given the 'ridiculous suspension of disbelief' and disrespect for children's intelligence and awkwardness of parental characters, according to a reviewer I trust, I'm not sure I want to hunt it down....
December 10, 2013
One Sentence Review: Now that's what I call a peppy little mystery!
Read
February 29, 2020This book was well written and I really enjoyed it. It was about two girls, Sophie and Grace, who are "detectives". When they find something not so pleasant they try to investigate the situation with Dr. Charlotte Agford and try to prove what they saw. The girls become very irritated with each other and it has a plot-twist ending. Overall I thought it was a very great book.
June 5, 2017
*Review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=8269
In the tradition of Nancy Drew, and, in this case, Sun Tzu, Young and Yang are on the case! This book immediately draws you in and the action never stops. You are predicting and trying to solve the mystery right alongside Sophie and Grace throughout the whole book! Twist and turns keep you guessing and the ending is quite an adventure!
One of the things I liked the most about this book were the characters. There are 3 main girl characters (Trista is a friend of Sophie's from school) and they all three have different personalities yet are still strong. Grace is the girly girl (but isn't an airhead) who aspires to be FBI but is also completely opposite than a Chinese stereotype. Sophie embraces Grace's culture, is obsessed with feng shui, has a war story telling grandpa, and is always along for the ride. Trista never lets the bullies get her down, is BRILLIANT, and ends up being a true friend. What a great example of Girl Power! And what makes all of this even better is that these three very different girls are friends.
Underneath the mystery and amazing characters is a theme that you find often in middle grade books- identity and change. Although it isn't always evident, this book is also about determining who your true friends are, how to deal with bullies, how to deal with boys, how to deal with gossip, and many other things that middle schoolers deal with on a regular basis. Love that Kristen Kittscher was able to put all of this within a nail biting mystery.
Student Reviews:
*Wig In The Window is full of suspense, mystery, and doubt. Doubting Sophie and Grace is very common. However, as you move your feelings about their reasons and relationship, changes. This is a wonderful book for those who love to read about mystery and friendships. The deeper you get into the book, the more you get to know about the characters and your feelings toward them change. –Clara A., 7th grade 16-17
*The Wig In The Window is a mystery type of book with some humor, and for anybody who likes those two types genres, they would love the book. On a scale of 1 to 5 I would rate this book a 5. –Lucas B., 7th grade 16-17
*I loved Wig in the Window and you should read it. It is amazing. You would love this book if you like friendship. This book talks about how a mystery can bring friends close and enemies closer. 2 friends going out spying on their neighbors when something goes wrong and turns Luna Vista upside down. –Ashley F., 7th grade 16-17
*Others would like The Wig In The Window because it has suspense, action, and it makes you want to keep reading after every chapter. When Agford apologizes or does anything it makes the story suspenseful. When Grace and Sophie were being followed, and when they were fighting Bain that made the story filled with action. This to points make the book hard to put down and why others would enjoy this book. –Sarah H., 7th grade 16-17
*My review of The Wig in the Window is that the book was amazing. There were many twist and turns. This book describes many parts of middle school friendships, which is very true. [Spoiler] My favorite part of the book was when Grace and Sophie walked away from Bain, triumphant. On page 330, it states, "I turned back to Officer Grady. I folded my arms. "You're welcome." I said." This is the part where Young and Yang are successful in their mission. They go home, and everybody is thanking them and apologizing for doubting them. –Emily P., 7th grade 16-17
Student-made playlist:
Could've Been Us- Tori Kelly (fighting in the basement)
Getting Dumb- Will.I.am (Sophie walking through the school)
Sad Song- Parson James (the end when they are fighting Bain and watching her get arrested)
Sorry- Justin Bieber (when Grace apologizes and they are friends again)
Sign of The Times- Harry Styles (when Agford is crying and talking about Sophie)
You've got a friend in me-Randy Newman (Ending when Grace and Sophie walk off into the sunset)
Runnin'- Beyonce (when Sophie is going to the school)
Read with: Nancy Drew, Platypus Police Squad, Chasing Vermeer, Samantha Sutton and the Labyrinth of Lies, Capture the Flag, Shakespeare's Secret (Also, because of their part in the story: Art of War, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Call of the Wild)
Mentor text for: Prediction, Characterization, Mystery
Topics: Friendship, Bullying, Back Stabbing, Art of War, Assumptions (p. 256)
Reread 8-17-15
Review posted at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2013/...
In the tradition of Nancy Drew, and, in this case, Sun Tzu, Young and Yang are on the case! This book immediately draws you in and the action never stops. You are predicting and trying to solve the mystery right alongside Sophie and Grace throughout the whole book! Twist and turns keep you guessing and the ending is quite an adventure!
One of the things I liked the most about this book were the characters. There are 3 main girl characters (Trista is a friend of Sophie's from school) and they all three have different personalities yet are still strong. Grace is the girly girl (but isn't an airhead) who aspires to be FBI but is also completely opposite than a Chinese stereotype. Sophie embraces Grace's culture, is obsessed with feng shui, has a war story telling grandpa, and is always along for the ride. Trista never lets the bullies get her down, is BRILLIANT, and ends up being a true friend. What a great example of Girl Power! And what makes all of this even better is that these three very different girls are friends.
Underneath the mystery and amazing characters is a theme that you find often in middle grade books- identity and change. Although it isn't always evident, this book is also about determining who your true friends are, how to deal with bullies, how to deal with boys, how to deal with gossip, and many other things that middle schoolers deal with on a regular basis. Love that Kristen Kittscher was able to put all of this within a nail biting mystery.
Student Reviews:
*Wig In The Window is full of suspense, mystery, and doubt. Doubting Sophie and Grace is very common. However, as you move your feelings about their reasons and relationship, changes. This is a wonderful book for those who love to read about mystery and friendships. The deeper you get into the book, the more you get to know about the characters and your feelings toward them change. –Clara A., 7th grade 16-17
*The Wig In The Window is a mystery type of book with some humor, and for anybody who likes those two types genres, they would love the book. On a scale of 1 to 5 I would rate this book a 5. –Lucas B., 7th grade 16-17
*I loved Wig in the Window and you should read it. It is amazing. You would love this book if you like friendship. This book talks about how a mystery can bring friends close and enemies closer. 2 friends going out spying on their neighbors when something goes wrong and turns Luna Vista upside down. –Ashley F., 7th grade 16-17
*Others would like The Wig In The Window because it has suspense, action, and it makes you want to keep reading after every chapter. When Agford apologizes or does anything it makes the story suspenseful. When Grace and Sophie were being followed, and when they were fighting Bain that made the story filled with action. This to points make the book hard to put down and why others would enjoy this book. –Sarah H., 7th grade 16-17
*My review of The Wig in the Window is that the book was amazing. There were many twist and turns. This book describes many parts of middle school friendships, which is very true. [Spoiler] My favorite part of the book was when Grace and Sophie walked away from Bain, triumphant. On page 330, it states, "I turned back to Officer Grady. I folded my arms. "You're welcome." I said." This is the part where Young and Yang are successful in their mission. They go home, and everybody is thanking them and apologizing for doubting them. –Emily P., 7th grade 16-17
Student-made playlist:
Could've Been Us- Tori Kelly (fighting in the basement)
Getting Dumb- Will.I.am (Sophie walking through the school)
Sad Song- Parson James (the end when they are fighting Bain and watching her get arrested)
Sorry- Justin Bieber (when Grace apologizes and they are friends again)
Sign of The Times- Harry Styles (when Agford is crying and talking about Sophie)
You've got a friend in me-Randy Newman (Ending when Grace and Sophie walk off into the sunset)
Runnin'- Beyonce (when Sophie is going to the school)
Read with: Nancy Drew, Platypus Police Squad, Chasing Vermeer, Samantha Sutton and the Labyrinth of Lies, Capture the Flag, Shakespeare's Secret (Also, because of their part in the story: Art of War, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Call of the Wild)
Mentor text for: Prediction, Characterization, Mystery
Topics: Friendship, Bullying, Back Stabbing, Art of War, Assumptions (p. 256)
Reread 8-17-15
Review posted at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2013/...
April 20, 2018
the book was amazing. a good old mystery. if you like mystery's you should read this book if you want too
July 28, 2014
4 fudgy, frosted brownies.
Cover Love:
Yes! I love the colors and the font and the girls. I just adore this cover and know it will be eye catching to many readers in my library!
Why I Wanted to Read This:
I love tween girl mystery books so when I read the synopsis for this one I knew I had to read it.
My Thoughts:
This is not a tame little mystery story. There is a lot of danger and action and a very intriguing mystery. One thing I liked (that I think will resonate with most kids) was how easy it was for Charlotte Agford to talk her way into Sophie's life. Because she was in a position of power at Sophie's school she was able to convince Sophie's parents of what was best for Sophie. That annoyed me a little bit because as a parent I would have my own judgements about what they did or were going through and how to handle it. However, Sophie's parents are really busy so it's easy to see how they were willing to hand her punishment over to someone else. And they did hold Sophie accountable for her actions which was good.
There were a few good twists, but not ones that I were expecting, which kept me hooked in the story.
A few things I read talked about how much they loved the friendship between Sophie and Grace. And while I did like it, there were so many doubts and hurts throughout the book that I had to wonder if it would last. And Sophie was able to make a new, good friend who is worth a second look. They ended on a good note but there were times during the books that I wondered if their friendship would even survive!
The villain, Charlotte Agford, was truly awful. Just gross! I am glad the author did not make her sympathetic, it was good to have someone dislike so much.
I liked how Sophie and Grace were able to solve the mystery and follow their instincts to prove there even was a mystery. They are smart, resourceful girls. I did really like that the author did make the danger real. I think will make this mystery even more attractive to young readers. Nothing was watered down.
To Sum Up: A great middle grade book that I will be buying for my library. Many young readers will enjoy this one!
Cover Love:
Yes! I love the colors and the font and the girls. I just adore this cover and know it will be eye catching to many readers in my library!
Why I Wanted to Read This:
I love tween girl mystery books so when I read the synopsis for this one I knew I had to read it.
My Thoughts:
This is not a tame little mystery story. There is a lot of danger and action and a very intriguing mystery. One thing I liked (that I think will resonate with most kids) was how easy it was for Charlotte Agford to talk her way into Sophie's life. Because she was in a position of power at Sophie's school she was able to convince Sophie's parents of what was best for Sophie. That annoyed me a little bit because as a parent I would have my own judgements about what they did or were going through and how to handle it. However, Sophie's parents are really busy so it's easy to see how they were willing to hand her punishment over to someone else. And they did hold Sophie accountable for her actions which was good.
There were a few good twists, but not ones that I were expecting, which kept me hooked in the story.
A few things I read talked about how much they loved the friendship between Sophie and Grace. And while I did like it, there were so many doubts and hurts throughout the book that I had to wonder if it would last. And Sophie was able to make a new, good friend who is worth a second look. They ended on a good note but there were times during the books that I wondered if their friendship would even survive!
The villain, Charlotte Agford, was truly awful. Just gross! I am glad the author did not make her sympathetic, it was good to have someone dislike so much.
I liked how Sophie and Grace were able to solve the mystery and follow their instincts to prove there even was a mystery. They are smart, resourceful girls. I did really like that the author did make the danger real. I think will make this mystery even more attractive to young readers. Nothing was watered down.
To Sum Up: A great middle grade book that I will be buying for my library. Many young readers will enjoy this one!
June 25, 2013
Sophie and Grace like to play at being spies. On one of their nightly escapades they spy something sinister through a neighbor's window. They see a teacher hacking someone to bits...well they see lots of blood and her with a huge knife. Turns out that she was making pickled beets. Something is still sort of off about Dr. Agford though, and the girls are convinced that she is up to no good. They really don't have any proof though, all they have is a hunch. A hunch might prove to be good enough though.
This book is one you won't want to put down. From the very beginning things are fast-paced and exciting. There is also the "you never know" aspect that keeps things exciting. Even when the clues point one way, some clever misdirection points another way.
I liked Sophie, but I didn't care too much for Grace. Grace seemed a bit superficial and there was something a bit too eager about her that I found off-putting. She wasn't necessarily bad, but she tired me. Sophie seemed like a regular tween. A little excitable, but also level-headed in some cases. I really enjoyed Trista even though she had a big personality. She was just loud and proud and ultimately a fun, smart character. Really, Kristen Kittscher did a great job with every single character. They each had their parts to play and they all played them well.
I think this would be a great read for boys and girls. Some may be a bit off-put by the friendship issues, but it may be helpful too. Ultimately this was a really fun mystery that had me second-guessing myself on more than one occasion. Definitely check it out if you're looking for a little predicament in your reading.
First Line:
"I thought I'd mastered the art of escape."
Favorite Lines:
"'At one point she went after the school librarian. The librarian! Could there be a more noble soul?'"
This book is one you won't want to put down. From the very beginning things are fast-paced and exciting. There is also the "you never know" aspect that keeps things exciting. Even when the clues point one way, some clever misdirection points another way.
I liked Sophie, but I didn't care too much for Grace. Grace seemed a bit superficial and there was something a bit too eager about her that I found off-putting. She wasn't necessarily bad, but she tired me. Sophie seemed like a regular tween. A little excitable, but also level-headed in some cases. I really enjoyed Trista even though she had a big personality. She was just loud and proud and ultimately a fun, smart character. Really, Kristen Kittscher did a great job with every single character. They each had their parts to play and they all played them well.
I think this would be a great read for boys and girls. Some may be a bit off-put by the friendship issues, but it may be helpful too. Ultimately this was a really fun mystery that had me second-guessing myself on more than one occasion. Definitely check it out if you're looking for a little predicament in your reading.
First Line:
"I thought I'd mastered the art of escape."
Favorite Lines:
"'At one point she went after the school librarian. The librarian! Could there be a more noble soul?'"
June 25, 2014
Everyone has had a teacher they particularly disliked. But Sophie and Grave have a teacher that isn't just dislikable...she's darn right villainous.
Mid-way through this book I thought I would give it a lower rating. The beginning was fun, but awkward and meaningless at some places. Then the pace picked up, and everyone's identities were switching and it was so–AAAHHHH! I loved it! I would have given it a five at that point.
The characters were great. Charlotte Agford in all her fake-ness was a top-notch villain, and Trista was fun. But I kept getting Grace and Sophie mixed up. It's from Sophie's point of view, and when she kept talking about all of the Chinese stuff, I thought that she was the asian girl standing on the cover, and Grace was the freckled one. I kept this image far into the story, until I finally found out the truth. It took a long time to switch their appearances around; I never really did it. Grace was always the freckled girl and Sophie was asian.
Like every good book (in my opinion), this one has some great drama. That probably kept me from giving this book 3 stars. It was delectable! With all those retorts and cruel ironies. Perfect! Their friendship broke apart in the climax. But then they became friends again BEFORE they defeated the villain and stuff. I think the drama should have stretched to the end of the book when they're fighting Agford, so they'd have to shove aside their fued in order to win.
It's a stupendous book for a debut author. For her first book, she's REALLY good.
The story was fun and funny and had great drama. I would totally recommend.
Alternate rating: A
Mid-way through this book I thought I would give it a lower rating. The beginning was fun, but awkward and meaningless at some places. Then the pace picked up, and everyone's identities were switching and it was so–AAAHHHH! I loved it! I would have given it a five at that point.
The characters were great. Charlotte Agford in all her fake-ness was a top-notch villain, and Trista was fun. But I kept getting Grace and Sophie mixed up. It's from Sophie's point of view, and when she kept talking about all of the Chinese stuff, I thought that she was the asian girl standing on the cover, and Grace was the freckled one. I kept this image far into the story, until I finally found out the truth. It took a long time to switch their appearances around; I never really did it. Grace was always the freckled girl and Sophie was asian.
Like every good book (in my opinion), this one has some great drama. That probably kept me from giving this book 3 stars. It was delectable! With all those retorts and cruel ironies. Perfect! Their friendship broke apart in the climax. But then they became friends again BEFORE they defeated the villain and stuff. I think the drama should have stretched to the end of the book when they're fighting Agford, so they'd have to shove aside their fued in order to win.
It's a stupendous book for a debut author. For her first book, she's REALLY good.
The story was fun and funny and had great drama. I would totally recommend.
Alternate rating: A
February 21, 2014
When I read the blurb for THE WIG IN THE WINDOW, Kristen Kittscher’s middle-grade mystery with its premise: two seventh-graders, midnight steak outs, spying, suspicious neighbors, walkie-talkies, secret codes, and mistaken identities, all rolled into a humorous and creepy mystery, I had to read this.
I loved this book! The humor of the mc, Sophie Young, together with her best friend, Grace Yang, as they turn into self-appointed agents, Young and Yang— slayed me.
The girls become tangled up in a caper after spying on their creepy neighbor, who is also, Sophie’s middle school guidance counselor, “Dr. Awkward.”
But is what Sophie and Grace saw true, or a case of the girls over active imaginations? The school counselor sure gives Sophie reason to believe it.
The pressure of the situation wears on the girls and tests their friendship. Assumptions are tested. But the girls never let the case go—and for good reason, because there are a couple plot twists before it’s all over. The plotting, and the details woven into this mystery are so well done, I’m still thinking about them. I also love how Sophie uses quotes from military general, Sun Tzu, as her philosophy throughout. She’s a smart cookie, that one, and I loved her. I enjoyed many of the characters, especially Sophie’s grandpa, who adds kindle to her imaginative fire.
This is a book I wish I had in middle school. I would have acted out the scenes with my friends, over and over. This book is so much fun, intriguing, surprising, and the friendship, heartfelt, I’m adding it to my top MG picks for this year.
~ karen
I loved this book! The humor of the mc, Sophie Young, together with her best friend, Grace Yang, as they turn into self-appointed agents, Young and Yang— slayed me.
The girls become tangled up in a caper after spying on their creepy neighbor, who is also, Sophie’s middle school guidance counselor, “Dr. Awkward.”
But is what Sophie and Grace saw true, or a case of the girls over active imaginations? The school counselor sure gives Sophie reason to believe it.
The pressure of the situation wears on the girls and tests their friendship. Assumptions are tested. But the girls never let the case go—and for good reason, because there are a couple plot twists before it’s all over. The plotting, and the details woven into this mystery are so well done, I’m still thinking about them. I also love how Sophie uses quotes from military general, Sun Tzu, as her philosophy throughout. She’s a smart cookie, that one, and I loved her. I enjoyed many of the characters, especially Sophie’s grandpa, who adds kindle to her imaginative fire.
This is a book I wish I had in middle school. I would have acted out the scenes with my friends, over and over. This book is so much fun, intriguing, surprising, and the friendship, heartfelt, I’m adding it to my top MG picks for this year.
~ karen
June 11, 2013
Grace and Sophie- two peas in a pod.
Best friends till the end.
And now, partners in crime!
One night during their sleuthing, things get real! And Sophie and Grace stumble upon a mystery that could put them both in danger. Something is off about Dr. Agford, the school counselor. And it's up for Sophie and Grace to figure it out.
Can they solve the mystery before they lose the most important things of all- their friendship and possibly their lives?
Wow.
So I should probably start off with the fact that I know the author. We're friends. And now, after reading The Wig In The Window, I'm a fan. A huge fan.
Grace and Sophie come alive on the pages. Their mannerisms and easy going dialogue flow naturally and showcase the best and sometimes, worst parts of each other. I love Grace's sharpness and fearlessness and Sophie's vulnerability and self doubt. They are a perfect pair, balancing each other out in the best ways possible.
The mystery is a fun ride with a lot of twists and turns. Seriously, I was reading and thought a couple of times I knew what was going on, only to be surprised!
And while the mystery is intriguing, and moves along quickly, that's not the real reason I love this book.
It's the heart.
It's Sophie's heart, Grace's heart. Their friendship and devotion to one another. All friendships are tested and Kittscher does a great job of writing authentic challenges that any friendship will encounter, and hopefully overcome.
Overall, a fun and exciting mystery filled with surprises, friendship and...wigs!
I'm excited to read the sequel!
Best friends till the end.
And now, partners in crime!
One night during their sleuthing, things get real! And Sophie and Grace stumble upon a mystery that could put them both in danger. Something is off about Dr. Agford, the school counselor. And it's up for Sophie and Grace to figure it out.
Can they solve the mystery before they lose the most important things of all- their friendship and possibly their lives?
Wow.
So I should probably start off with the fact that I know the author. We're friends. And now, after reading The Wig In The Window, I'm a fan. A huge fan.
Grace and Sophie come alive on the pages. Their mannerisms and easy going dialogue flow naturally and showcase the best and sometimes, worst parts of each other. I love Grace's sharpness and fearlessness and Sophie's vulnerability and self doubt. They are a perfect pair, balancing each other out in the best ways possible.
The mystery is a fun ride with a lot of twists and turns. Seriously, I was reading and thought a couple of times I knew what was going on, only to be surprised!
And while the mystery is intriguing, and moves along quickly, that's not the real reason I love this book.
It's the heart.
It's Sophie's heart, Grace's heart. Their friendship and devotion to one another. All friendships are tested and Kittscher does a great job of writing authentic challenges that any friendship will encounter, and hopefully overcome.
Overall, a fun and exciting mystery filled with surprises, friendship and...wigs!
I'm excited to read the sequel!
September 28, 2013
The Wig in the Window was a book I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this summer. But instead of being delighted by this middle grade mystery, featuring two best friends whose relationship is changing, I found myself disturbed, confused, and ultimately disappointed. My biggest problem: a deluge of appearance slurs, which left me more than a little uncomfortable. (I mean, I know that teen girls are image-conscious and judgmental, but shouldn’t a book for this age group do more to lift them out of this kind of thinking and behavior than this one did?) Additionally, I felt like this book wasn’t sure what it wanted to be: realistic fiction, dealing with tween relationships, or outlandish farce. Sadly, The Wig in the Window was not the delight that I’d so hoped it would be. (Though yes, I still love the cover.)
July 20, 2013
If you want a mystery for kids, this is it! Perfect for grades 4 and up, both boys and girls. Kittscher does a wonderful job twisting and turning the mystery and suspense through the entire story. It's a fun and lively book and one that I will be sharing with my students. Grace and Sophie are best friends, and spies. Their normal quiet neighborhood is turned into a den for suspects as they go out searching for criminals. Their "normal" nightly routine of spying on their neighbors turns scarily interesting when they spy Sophie's guidance counselor, Dr. A, raising a cleaver, yelling into a phone about ripping someone's throat out, and covered in red liquid. Scared, they call they cops and the story goes from there. Don't want to reveal too much, but perception and inferring are running rampant in this great middle grade read! Don't miss out!
November 25, 2013
Best friends Sophie Young and Grace Yang have been regularly sneaking out of their houses in the dark of night on spy missions. One night on the prowl with not much happening, the girls decide to investigate the yard of Sophie's school counselor. Through a window, they witness Dr. Agford chopping something very bloody with a cleaver. Although it turns out that she was only cutting up beets for a batch of her special pickled vegetables, Sophie and Grace still suspect that she is hiding something. As the girls hone in on the truth, Sophie and Grace find themselves in situations both middle-school-esq, as well as FBI-esq, with both equally straining on their relationship. WIG is an exciting mystery and a very real take on friendship. As they grow and change, Sophie and Grace find a way to stick together--undoubtedly this was my favorite part!
June 19, 2013
This first in a new Middle Grade mystery series introduces us to two seventh graders who have decided they want to work for the FBI. They are practicing by spying on their neighbors, but the game turns serious when they see a neighbor committing a crime. Things may not be what they seem. Or they might be in some serious danger.
The book pulled me in with great main characters and a plot that gets very suspenseful as the book progresses. The target audience will definitely love it, and any adult who enjoys a good mystery should pick it up, too.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The book pulled me in with great main characters and a plot that gets very suspenseful as the book progresses. The target audience will definitely love it, and any adult who enjoys a good mystery should pick it up, too.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 25, 2014
What an awesomely entertaining mystery this is! The characters are wonderfully portrayed, especially the three brave, quirky, adventurous preteen girls who use their wits to solve the mystery. The story becomes more complex and suspenseful as it progresses, then builds to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion.
The Wig in the Window is a well-plotted, beautifully written tale, with great dialogue, and it's also very funny. Recommended for middle-graders, of course, but also for grown-ups who love a good mystery and aren't afraid to read kids' books.
The Wig in the Window is a well-plotted, beautifully written tale, with great dialogue, and it's also very funny. Recommended for middle-graders, of course, but also for grown-ups who love a good mystery and aren't afraid to read kids' books.
February 2, 2016
One of my fav things to do as a young teen was go out at night--with my friends, of course, and often just playing kick the can. But those after-dark adventures were delicious because they felt scary but weren't really.
What Sophie and Grace discover is that safe can turn scary in half a heartbeat, and peeking and peering can lead to serious trouble, even in a sleepy little town and on your own street! Find the full review (plus the cat's two cents) on my blog, and let me know what you think!
What Sophie and Grace discover is that safe can turn scary in half a heartbeat, and peeking and peering can lead to serious trouble, even in a sleepy little town and on your own street! Find the full review (plus the cat's two cents) on my blog, and let me know what you think!
July 25, 2015
Wig in the Window hit with a Modern Nancy Drew feeling. I loved the suspense of the girls going out and being spies and being GOOD AT IT. There were so many moments where I found myself feeling the same way I do as I watch my beloved horror movies... "Don't trust that person!" "what are you thinking??" "No, Girls!!" I loved it. The characters made me feel right at home since I too, used to be a teenage girl. I loved all of them, well, almost all of them. :)
This is a great pick for middle grades readers who love mystery.
This is a great pick for middle grades readers who love mystery.
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