Snoopers & Sneakers

by Cristina Rouvalis, Lydia Wayman

Jane is a wiz at facts and numbers, but she’s clueless when it comes to other kids. Her autism and all-consuming love of cats make her a target for bullies. She’s nothing like Ashley. Ashley is bubbly and excitable and has always been best friends with the queen bee of Monroe Elementary. When Ashley refuses to lie to keep her best friend out of serious trouble, she loses her seat at the popular table--and her whole identity along with it.

The one thing Jane and Ashley have in common is the best teacher in the world, Miss DiMicco. When Miss DiMicco is arrested after being accused of stealing at a school fundraiser, and a miserable sub takes her place, the girls form an unlikely alliance to clear their teacher’s name. As they butt heads over cats, makeup, and the rules of sixth grade, the girls fight to get their teacher back and to keep their friendship from falling apart.

242 pages, Paperback

Published January 21, 2025

Reviews

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely funny and heartwarming read about an unlikely friendship as two very different middle school girls join forces to clear their beloved teacher’s name, after the teacher is accused of a crime. Chapters alternate between the girls’ perspectives, with voice, heart, and their determination to solve the mystery, while navigating the perils of sixth grade. A delightful read for both kids and adults who love MG! Highly recommended!

[JF · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. So much in fact that I stayed up way too late reading to see what would happen. Fun story that at same time teaches a lot about friendship and gives a sense of what it's like to be autistic.

[Elizabeth May · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer, librarian and mother of a middle schooler, I can say this book was delightful, authentic and well-written! I recommended it for our monthly Tween Book Club at the library where I work, and as an addition to our collection. I was lucky enough to host the book club discussion and see firsthand how the kids interacted with the book. They really connected with the characters and the mystery, and a girl who attended who had an autistic sibling said the portrayal of Jane was spot-on. The other participants--some of whom didn't really understand what it meant to be autistic-- came away with a fresh understanding. We all enjoyed the mystery, Pittsburgh references (since we live near the city), relatable middle school dynamics, and cat-loving main characters. The book moved along a perfect pace (helped by the format of alternating chapters from both Ashley and Jane's points of view) -- and I didn't even guess whodunit until the very end! A++++!

[Clare D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for many reasons! I will be giving this to my 4th grade niece and think it will make a great gift for myster and cat lovers grades 3-8. As a library paraprofessional who is also half time Special Ed it's perfect for a classroom read aloud and as an addition to a grade school, middle school library or public library! Having a tight budget I love a cover that will appeal to the students and is more timeless and this fits the bill. It is a wonderful way to teach students about autism, empathy and friendship! I know our students will love the cats and I have the perfect idea for creating a display with our cat encyclopedias and a cat tree. It's because of the Miss DiMiccos and authors like this who make the world a better place for everyone! I am hoping for a second installment as mysteries are also very popular with our students and this was a wonderful read! Favorite quote from the book by the autistic character,"The more social rules I learned, the more it seemed like nobody else in the world followed them."

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly connected with the perfect blend of Jane and Ashley in this heartwarming story, their diverse personalities and individual strengths were incredibly relatable.

What truly impressed me was the author's thoughtful attention to detail. I could practically paint a picture of that sweet town in my mind, and even more importantly, I was able to feel Jane's silent emotions and Ashley’s excitement as they navigated conversations and clues.

It was a subtle, yet powerful, connection throughout the book while maintaining a comfortable balance between humor and not rushing the mystery and allowing me to experience the story while reading it.

If you, like me, adore vintage sneakers, a compelling mystery, and a lighthearted yet thoughtful read, then I highly recommend Snoopers and Sneakers. My go to gift for friends and family in 2025!!

[Mike Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Snoopers & Sneakers by Cristina Rouvalis & Lydia Wayman, and I absolutely loved it! With a charming mix of mystery, friendship, and adventure, this book is perfect for young readers. My three granddaughters—avid book lovers who adore their teachers and have a soft spot for cats—will be delighted by this story. I plan to gift it to my oldest, who is right in the target age group, and I have no doubt she’ll find it both fun and engaging.

Even as a dog-loving grandfather well outside the intended audience, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading it again with my granddaughter. Snoopers & Sneakers is a delightful read that young mystery lovers—and even their grandparents—will truly enjoy!

[Carole Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, well-written mystery for the middle schoolers in your life!

The Sixth Grade Girls Detective Club is determined to solve the case implicating their favorite teacher.

This book highlights middle school, friendships, and kindness.

Written from the point of view of two girls with a common goal of proving their teacher innocent. Together they solve more than the case, they learn to embrace each other's differences and discover the meaning of real friendship. The authors did a fantastic job with the descriptive scenes making you feel like you have escaped into the worlds of Ashley and Jane.

I loved this middle-grade mystery and can’t wait to read more books involving these two super snoopers.

[Hap1026 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring story about an unlikely friendship between two sixth-grade girls at opposite ends of the social spectrum. Ashley is a cheerleader who, at first, seems to glide through the friend challenges so common in middle school. Jane, who is on the autism spectrum, is often bullied and would rather hang with her cat, Lucy.

Ashley and Jane learn that their differences are actually strengths when they join forces to solve the mystery of a beloved teacher accused of stealing from a school fundraiser.

This debut novel from Cristina Rouvalis and Lydia Wayman captures the special awkwardness of middle school with a detailed and heartfelt story that sticks with you long after you finish the last page. Looking forward to Ashley and Jane’s next adventure.

[Marie Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a middle school teacher, I loved seeing the authentic voices of Jane and Ashley come alive throughout the book. Their interests and insecurities felt true to the real experiences of my own students. Snoopers and Sneakers is an inspiring story about friendship that has valuable messages for readers of all ages.

I was able to host a book club on the text with my eighth-grade students, and they were immediately engaged by Jane and Ashley’s alternating perspectives in the book. Their enthusiasm sparked rich discussions about character development and the challenges of growing up that make the book so compelling. We even invited the authors for an in-person visit at our school, and the students loved analyzing the book with them. Would highly recommend Snoopers and Sneakers!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle grade fiction hits all the right notes. The story is compelling and the characters all ring true, from the beloved teacher to the popular bully to the classmates who just don’t fit in. It’s a story of an unlikely friendship and shows in a very real way what it feels like to be different. It does not hammer the reader over the head that its heroine is autistic. Instead, it just shows the reader what it’s like. It has the same feel as Louise Fitzhugh’s Harriet the Spy ( she probably was autistic too!) in telling the story of young, smart inquisitive girls from their perspective in a way that an adult can find as charming as a young reader undoubtedly will.

[Susan Ladd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley is popular.
Jane is not.
Ashley can give or take the rules.
Jane must follow the rules.
Ashley’s friendships start to crumble.
Jane’s routine starts to crumble.
Two girls who could not be more opposite are paired in a school assignment. They struggle to get along, but when their teacher is accused of a wrongdoing, they decide to form a Girls’ Detective Club to save her. Little did they know that they would each save something about themselves too. Readers will cheer for Ashley and Jane in Snoopers and Sneakers.

[Angela Saylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The two main characters, Ashley and Jane, develop a heartwarming friendship while solving a mystery to save their favorite teacher from jail. Readers of all ages can relate to the trials and tribulations of middle school as experienced by these endearing young sleuths. The realistic portrayal of Jane, who is autistic, by an award-winning journalist and an autistic advocate, will deepen readers’ understanding of kids with this disability. Both the authors and the protagonists are obsessed with cats. As a fellow cat-lover and elementary school teacher, I highly recommend this book.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

👧🏻 reviews: What a short and stunning book about two different middle-grader girls joining forces to clear their teacher’s name from accusation. It is an easy read to follow and the storyline between an autistic and a popular girls combination is actually compelling and fascinating. Why?!? Because this partnership between these two girls’ putting heads together to solve problems is best illustrated and shown as the close to perfect solution to tackle issues. It is definitely a young middle-grade level book but the story doesn’t simply define simplicity yet offered more. Great read!!!

[Leni Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a charming, funny and heartfelt book about an odd couple of youth sleuths - Jane, a cat-obsessed girl on the autism spectrum, and Ashley, a dethroned popular girl. They have nothing in common except for wanting to save their beloved teacher, who is falsely accused of stealing money. Read this book!

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-crafted story that really captures the stress and pressure of middle-school friendships. Add in the perspective of a main character who is autistic and you've got a unique book!
I especially liked that there were unexpected twists in the mystery the girls team up to solve.
Great character development and scene setting by the authors.
A fun read with a message for all ages.

[Jane Gottlieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snoopers & Sneakers is a young-adult story that reminds adults how charming and hopeful kids are, and how scary and fraught their lives can be every day in the classroom and on the playground. And that's even without the element of a disability. a layer the book artfully adds without becoming sentimental. The book is also full of hope, humor and is a great read!

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kid read this in like a day, which never happens. I asked her about it but she just said, "It's good." So I had to know. I grabbed it from her shelf after she left for school and read the whole thing this morning. Let me tell you, it's good.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story about two very different sixth grade girls - Jane, autistic and crazy for cats, and Ashley, who just got dumped by the popular girls. They come together to solve a mystery. Funny, sweet and lots of cats!

[Lisa Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley, dethroned popular girl, and Jane, neurodivergent cat lover, team up in this sweet enemies to friends mystery. Despite the odds and their differences, the smart and charming six graders work together to clear the name of their favorite teacher Miss DiMicco. Loved it!

[Michelle D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book for a pre teen book group. It is fun and filled with suspense. So many issues to discuss...autism, friendship, bullying. Every pre teen should read this book. The story will keep them reading! Can't wait for the next one. I hope it is the beginning of a series!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! It’s about cats, kid detectives and what we all go through in middle school. A fun, quick read. Highly recommend for both kids and adults.

[Elizabeth Schwertfuehrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lesson to all of us to be kind, be accepting and be a good friend.

[Ella Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was so cute and fun to read. really simple, funny (sometimes cringey) but yet so beautiful and valuable

[Sophia Aukerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

So amazing I love the mystery

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane and Ashley are my favorite sixth-grade power team! These unlikely friends come together to solve a mystery: who framed their favorite teacher for stealing from a school fundraiser? And why?

Each girl brings unique strengths. Jane, who has autism, often notices details that escape everyone else. Ashley, bubbly and social, has a knack for persuading people to help them. Both girls also are enduring bullies and a horrible substitute teacher, which gives extra incentive to bring back their beloved teacher.
I love the characters. And the mystery kept me turning the pages late at night.

Perfect for elementary and middle-school students.

[Leigh Valencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love a great mystery novel? This book kept me up late reading, not just for the mystery but also for love of the characters. Each chapter alternates viewpoints between Jane, an autistic 6th grade girl, and Ashley, her neurotypical classmate. The representation rings true because it is — Jane’s POV is written by Lydia Wayman, an autistic advocate and author. Snoopers & Sneakers is serving up some genuine lessons on inclusion and friendship, all while drawing you in to the exciting mystery.

[Peg Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this mystery about two sixth grade girls, one autistic obsessed with cat , and the other a popular girl who gets dumped by her friends. Funny and sweet friendship story that will bring you back into the hallways of middle school.