The Case of the Contraband Closet

Bubblegum Shoes #1

by Goldy Moldavsky

When a stock-pile of confiscated classroom items go missing, (self-appointed) seventh grade PI Maya is on the case. From the New York Times bestselling author of Kill the Boy Band comes a whip-smart middle grade debut and the start of a sharp cul-du-sac crime-solving series.

9:48 AM. Math class. Marlowe Middle School.

Life isn't easy on the streets, er, hallways of Marlowe Middle School. Luckily, private eye Maya Mendoza never stops paying attention. She knows who is passing notes in class. Spots which teacher wore shoes a half-size too tight. And she certainly notices when her former best friend Jordan suddenly stops talking to her.

Then, the legendary Contraband Closet is robbed. Every Hotwheels car, spray paint canister, bouncy ball, and other prized possession teachers have collected since the dawn of time are seemingly lost forever—including an item of Jordan's. Suddenly, Maya sees a case that may set things back to the way it used to be because contraband—and friendships—don't vanish into thin air...right?

A wise-cracking start to a new mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Goldy Moldavsky.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Humor, Friendship, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Fiction

Audible Audio

Published July 1, 2025

About the author

Goldy Moldavsky was born in Lima, Peru, and grew up in Brooklyn, where she still lives. Her novels include the New York Times bestseller, KILL THE BOY BAND, the Publishers Weekly bestseller, THE MARY SHELLEY CLUB, and the upcoming OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS, and BUBBLEGUM SHOES. You can find her on X and Instagram @goldywrites.

Reviews

[Kennedy Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok this book 😮‍💨, one of the best!
This had me laughing so many times 🤣! I just couldn’t get enough. The plot 😶… had me shocked 😳.
5 out of 5 recommend, if love mystery or middle school drama, this is your book 😎

[Skye Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my honest review
This book is actually really amazing!!
It’s very well written and the plot is exceptional!!
Some chapters were either sooo suspenseful or had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes!!
Really good book and 100% is 5 stars!!

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A MG debut by GM perfect for fans of James Ponti and Stuart Gibbs.
🫧
Maya Mendoza is a gifted (bubble)gumshoe—just ask her and she’ll tell you. Too bad no one else appreciates her talents. When her ex-best friend, Jordan, gets detention with Maya and a few other girls, they try to break into the infamous Contraband Closet on campus, only to find out it’s already been cleaned out! Maya makes a deal with the principal that she can solve the mystery and get the girls and herself out of trouble. The case is on!
🫧
Fans of film noir detective movies will enjoy Moldavsky’s foray into the middle grade detective mystery world. I found Maya to be a strong, capable and very smart female and can’t wait for this series to continue! We need more powerful FMCs in middle grade books.

CW: theft

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

While my favorite Goldy books are unhinged off-the-wall masterpieces, this was also really well done and funny! Maya learns some valuable friendship lessons while solving the case and building relationships both in her family and outside of it. I loved how all the pieces came together and how Maya turns a phrase; I legitimately laughed out loud a few times. Thanks to PRH Audio for the audiobook via their librarian/industry program.

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book and that's really all I can say lol. Obviously, there was a message about how to be a better friend and self-growth which is good for middle grade. I did find the whole contraband thing to be funny. Them banning trading card games at school is actually very realistic 😂

I'll probably read the second one!

[Sandy Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite having several of her books on my TBR, this is my first read of author Goldy Moldavsky — now I’m eager to read more! This is her first book in the middle-grade genre and, as a middle school librarian, my professional opinion is that she hit the mark. Some of the characters come off a bit innocent compared to what I see on a daily basis, but middle school is a weird juxtaposition of innocence and growing up too fast so it was refreshing to have 7th graders who weren’t trying to act like high schoolers. Middle grade readers will find the MC relatable yet not necessarily likable even though her heart is in the right place, but she gets there in the end, leading to a solid teachable moment for the intended audience. Readers will also appreciate that each character feels unique and contributes to the plot in their own way, helping lead the MC to the moral of the story and to a satisfying HEA conclusion. Adults are either evil, obtuse, or absent with one notable exception, but that’s just one more layer said audience will probably feel like they can relate to. The humor was really cute, the story kept my interest, and the character growth throughout was pleasantly unexpected. Looking forward to the next in the series, and I will definitely be adding this to my middle school library collection.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

[Waverli Almand · Rating 2 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss

Middle grade mystery is such a special genre to me, so I have a lot of opinions. First, I think that any mystery has to be just as tight as a YA mystery in terms of plot, especially for the upper end of the target age range, because kids will pick it apart! Tweens who see themselves as Maya will be the first to notice every single detail. I know that my 10/11/12-year-old self would be annoyed with all of the plot holes and improbabilities. I understand fiction being, well, fiction, but some of the circumstances were just straight up implausible in a way that felt too fantastical to be a “realistic” setting (i.e. unfettered access to a boiler room? Hijinx like setting off the sprinklers and fake poisoning with no repercussions? etc.). Also, the language felt unnatural for a middle grade. I know the author was inspired by old black-and-white noir movies, but it simply didn't translate well most of the time and wouldn't resonate with this age group imo. Unfortunately it felt like it was trying too hard to fit a certain genre and ended up falling short by leaning hard into cliches while also forcing unnatural language and scenarios that ended up being irrelevant to the plot. Don’t get me wrong though, the writing was great and the plot was creative aside from the all-too-familiar tropes.

The concept was cute overall and the overarching themes of friendship and family were nice. I think Maya’s relationship with Jordan was the best part of the book, and Madge was a sweet addition as well. Each of the Happy Helpers had a unique personality that felt distinguishable enough but also meshed well. Ava was my favorite! Can’t wait to see what the four of them get up to in 8th grade :)

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Maya Mendoza loves to solve mysteries, even though it's gotten her in trouble with her former friend Jordan. When Maya asks to go to the restroom during class to check on her friend (and to get a hit of bubblegum), she and Jordan are caught in front of the contraband closet, where the school stores all of the toys, technology, and other distractions that get taken away from children. The principal sentences them to an after school detention, where they meet Ava Agarwal, a ten year old prodigy who runs a Happy Helpers business, as well as Clementine, who has moved to the school from a ritzier neighborhood. Jordan has had the school choir pitch pipe confiscated, and Clementine has lost her cell phone, so the group distracts the monitor and breaks into the closet... only to be caught again. The closet is empty, and unless they can find the culprit, the group will be in detention every day. Maya's parents are divorced, and her father has a girlfriend, Madge, who doesn't appreciate the 1940s detective films as much as her father does, but is a better cook, and her parents' inattentiveness gives her some leeway to investigate the case. Using Ava's Happy Helpers as a front, they give coupons to the suspects so they can sneak into their houses. They start with Johnny Persnicowitz, but find no evidence, and are hired to do someone's diorama for school, to clean bathrooms, and to play cards with someone's grandmother. None of their investigations pan out, although they get some leads to follow. A tagger named Frito seems a likely suspect until he turns out to be a fairly mild mannered (and a little bit cute) classmate named Seth. Suspecting Jordan's friend Kaylee makes checking her out difficult, but Maya spray paints her garage and then sneaks into her house while cleaning it up. Is she the culprit? Maya and her group won't rest until they find out who has stolen 40 years worth of contraband.
Strengths: Maya's love of a mystery causes a lot of tension with Jordan, and that kind of friend drama is definitely typical of middle school. The investigation is well constructed, and lets Maya and her fellow detainees talk to all manner of different students. My favorite part of the book was the father's girlfriend, Madge, who ends up picking Maya up from school one day after she gets in trouble, and is a very reasonable and supportive person. I'm curious to see what the next mystery will be.
Weaknesses: I cannot even imagine the wrath of a parent whose child's cell phone was taken away and not given back the same day! This would never happen at my school. If a student's phone is taken away, a parent is called IMMEDIATELY, and the parent has to pick up the phone. Phones are expensive! Also, if there is 40 years' worth of contraband, why does it get handed back to students at the end of the book after the mystery is solved? And why is the closet in the hallway and not in the office? This was not at all realistic, which made it hard for me to become invested in the story. There is some problematic language as well. I don't think my students use phrases like "take a leak", "other side of the tracks', or "broad" (which is highly offensive!).
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed the film noir highjinks in Tidhar's The Candy Mafia, Daneshvari's The League of Unexceptional Children, or Krosoczka's Platypus Police Squad.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seventh grader Maya Mendoza is a self-declared detective in Hillside, New Jersey. When the school’s Contraband Closet is mysteriously emptied, Maya vows to crack the case. She tracks suspects and possible locations of the loot with the help of other kids sent to detention by Principal Spade: Ava Agarwal, Clementine Steffin-Paller, and Jordan Freeman. Jordan is Maya’s ex-bestie, and she hopes their shared investigation will mend their broken friendship. Will it? As she helps to uncover crooked kids and compromised adults, Maya is navigating a first crush, the ups and downs of tween social interactions, and the changes brought about by divorce. Maya and her crew take on an illegal card ring, nab a vandal, and get into (and out of) plenty of scrapes. Maya and her crew decides to make a name for their group. It’s decided it will be called Bubblegum Shoes. Each member of their new club, the Bubblegum Shoes, brings a distinct skill set for future adventures.

YA author Moldavsky takes on organized crime at Marlowe Middle School in her middle-grade debut, a mystery series opener. It’s a novel of humor, mystery and friendship. I enjoyed reading Maya’s detective work and getting her crew to go along with decisions she makes to find the person who emptied the Contraband Closet of its content. I look forward to reading the next book.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strict my own.

[Linda (The Arizona Bookstagrammer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Random House BFYR @randomhouse Random House Children’s Books @randomhousekids and Goldy Moldavsky @goldywrites for this free book!
“Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet” by Goldy Moldavsky⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: MG Fiction, ages 8-12. Location: Hillside, New Jersey, USA. Time: Seventh Grade.

Maya Mendoza is a 7th grader at Marlowe Middle School. She’s a self-appointed PI (private eye) who loves classic noir detectives, and never stops paying attention. She sees the note-passers, the teachers with too-tight shoes, and she notices when best friend Jordan stops talking to her. In detention again, Maya discovers “fellow inmates” Jordan, Clementine, and Ava all had something confiscated and put in the legendary Contraband Closet. They break into the Contraband Closet and find all confiscated items are missing. School principal Mr. Spade gives P.I. Maya one month to find the real thieves or be suspended. Contraband and friendships don't vanish into thin air, right?

Author Moldavsky has written the 1st book in a new mystery series filled with friendship, humor, and mystery. Her wise-cracking main character Maya matures, learns to appreciate friendship, and develops a crush. And Maya adds witty references to noir film settings when describing the investigation. (Moldavsky’s 1st middle grade book was inspired by black-and-white noir movies.) It’s fun, it’s action-packed, and it’s 5 stars from me 📚👩🏼‍🦳#BubblegumShoes #GoldyMoldavsky

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This particular author's snappy writing and insight into the hearts and minds of her characters make reading her books a delight. She doesn't miss a beat as she transitions from YAL to middle-grade fiction here, crafting a relatable and imperfect character in seventh grader Maya Mendoza. Maya sees herself as something of a detective, delighting in solving small mysteries in her school and observing her classmates more than participating. After losing her best friend, Jordan, after The Incident, an event that is hinted at early in the book but slowly revealed, she's even more of a loner. Various mishaps prompt a temporary alliance with two other girls, Ava and Clementine, and Jordan, as the girls work to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of all the stuff in their school's contraband closet. Along the way, Maya makes more than a couple of mistakes but finds support in some unlikely places. This was an encouraging start to a new series that will have plenty of appeal for loners, mystery fans, and anyone who likes a dash of snark with their reading. I found it delightful, especially since the first-person narration gives readers insight into Maya's thoughts and motivations. Parts of it are over the top, of course, but it's easy to forgive those aspects since the rest of it works.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really sweet story about making mistakes and learning how to be a better friend, all wrapped up in a very silly mystery with some pretty fun detective work.

I really enjoy that the emphasis is that “everybody makes mistakes“ and how rewarding it is to read about a character who truly messes up, but learns how to take accountability.

I will say, some of the things that happen in the Middle school are almost impossible to believe (especially the principal taking a student’s phone, even when students use phones inappropriately in school, at least in my middle school. It is held in the office until an adult comes to get it) - and some of the other things that are taken like an Oscar? I do not know how the adult would come to retrieve these items. But it does help add some silliness to the plot that I think kids would really enjoy. Like, pretty sure any child reading about a school keeping a kid’s phone for over a month would raise their fist in solidarity instead of being troubled over whether or not it was truly realistic to their live experiences. Just wanted to share that as I am sure there will be some adult readers who find the lack of pure reality distracting.

A really fun and quick read at just 112

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

With her keen observation skills, seventh grader Maya is a self-appointed detective, ready to solve any mysteries that she encounters, even after one such mission cost Maya her friendship with her BFF. When the items stashed in the school’s Contraband Closet are stolen, Maya is on the case along with three classmates—prodigy Ava, rich girl Clementine, and Maya’s former BFF Jordan. Maya hopes that working the case with Jordan will mend their friendship and reunite the school’s students with their confiscated items. Using each of the team’s unique skills, the girls navigate twists and turns to find the contents of the closet.

This is an entertaining story with humor, a lively pace, and a core group of characters who grow and change over the course of the story. Adding the element of friendship drama to a mystery brings depth and dimension to the story and weaves in the social challenges that come along with navigating middle school in a natural and engaging way. I’m looking forward to seeing the Bubblegum Shoes team in action again in future books!

[Damien Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goldy Moldavsky… I always feel like I say the same stuff when reviewing her books. But, yet again here I am, stating that Goldy will be an instant buy for me no matter what the book is. The past three to four, I’ve done in totally blind. This is no exception. The Case of the Contraband Closet is Moldavsky’s debut middle grade novel. Having taught middle grade, this is a book I would absolutely share and recommend to my students every year. Like all of her books, there are chunks of dialogue you have to read more than once because it’s so funny, the characters are always interesting, the storyline takes its time and doesn’t tell you everything immediately. Something I found important; the man character is flawed, she knows she is, she’s made mistakes, she tries to fix them. The advice given here isn’t your average “just be nice” kind of stuff. This book felt real, the struggles the kids go through are things I’ve seen in schools. This is a fantastic book. K thx.

[Christine LaBatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya is a middle schooler who loves investigating and solving mysteries. She finds herself drawn into a mystery when she breaks into the Contraband Closet (along with three other girls in detention - Ava, Clementine, and her former best friend Jordan) but finds it's empty. Determined to try to help her former bestie Jordan recover what she lost, Maya sets out to find the culprit.

This was a cute first book in what seems like it might be a series! Maya definitely goes on a growth journey because she is definitely clueless about social interactions early on. I love that Madge ended up being the adult she learned most from and that that relationship was able to grow. This seems like the start of a fun mystery middle grade series.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun middle grade mystery that Moldavsky explains was created in part because of her love of noir mysteries and wanting to write a middle grade, thus the Bubblegum Shoes was created and the first case is the contraband closet. A closet full of confiscated items at school that Maya decides to make her mission to identify at the middle school using others including Ava, the teacher's pet smartie and Clementine, the mysterious transplant from a fancy school. With a secondary plot of Maya trying to gain back her friendship with Jordan.

It's light and entertaining and innocuous while also reverberating for readers who can connect to having items taken away that have sentimental or intrinsic value. Maya will figure it out and it's a person who ended up trying to have them shake their trail at one point.

[Breanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Review written by a 12 year old middle schooler*

This book is a middle school detective story about a crime to be solved and Maya Mendoza is the perfect person to solve this case. This book was the basic ‘middle school crime’ but the story was super compelling and pulled me in. I really liked this Author’s writing style; she made each character very different and I really liked it (it’s slightly sassy!)


The only thing I didn’t like was the front cover; I probably wouldn’t have picked this book from the cover (it seemed to young and ‘little kiddish’ for me) but I really liked it. It would be a good book for 5-7 graders who like fun light mysteries.

*This book was given as a prerelease review copy*

[Jesse Bornemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 10 year old received this delightful mystery through Parnassus Books’ subscription service, and we read it together. Though some parts of the plot are a little implausible/overly convenient, we enjoyed the clever writing — and I got a laugh out of the nods to ‘80s/‘90s pop culture, as a “kid” from that era. My son was a bit disappointed that none of the main characters are boys, but he still awarded 4 stars, which is a testament to universal appeal!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this plucky middle grade debut that follows a young precocious wannabe detective who breaks into the contraband closet at school while on detention only to find someone has stolen everything already. Part friendship story, part first crush story, this was fun and heartfelt and sure to appeal to fans of books like Harriet the spy. It was also good on audio narrated by EJ Lavery.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute mystery about a group of kids that try to find out who stole all the contraband out of the school's closet. I loved the idea of kids looking for all the stuff that was confiscated from them during the school year, and the mystery was fun and kinda hard to predict. A great one for kids who enjoy mystery's that aren't scary.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will purchase one copy to see if I can find readers.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun middle grade mystery with amateur sleuthing, friendship, and even a sprinkling of light romance. Looks like it might be book one in a new series.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Maya likes investigating things - it cost her her friendship with Jordan. Now she's in detention having been accused of raiding the contraband closet

[Missy Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

7th grader, Contraband closet, caper, culprit, higher reading lvele, tagger, step families, losing friends as we get older.

[Ashley Mariner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining book for middle grade sleuths. It featured lessons in friendship and a light romance. I found it funny and look forward to the next book in the series!

[AnaLuz Sanchez · Rating 3 out of 5]

listened to this one with my kids, they loved it and looked forward to listening every day until we finished.

Thanks to the audiobook publisher PRH Audio for the review ALC

[The One Where Aimee Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bubblegum Shoes is the second book I’ve read by Goldy Moldavsky and my second five-star read by her, I LOVED IT! I cannot wait to reread this one with my kids, who are the perfect age for Middle Grade books.

I love a good mystery book and this one definitely delivers. I was guessing about the culprit and failing to solve the mystery throughout the novel and having an absolute blast while doing so. I was delightfully surprised by how hilarious Moldavsky’s writing is! While reading, I had to repeatedly resist the urge to read passages out loud to my kids, because I didn’t want to spoil the fun for them when they read it. I also loved the characters. School can be difficult for kids to navigate socially and Maya’s challenges will be relatable for many kids. I think kids will feel seen my this novel and feel less alone.

I highly recommend Bubblegum Shoes for Middle Grade readers looking for an uproariously funny, entertaining and heartfelt mystery read.

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is an element of hardboiled detective novel in play here with the main character solving a mystery about missing items from the school contraband closet. The way she is slightly out of step with her peers sets up a good opportunity for her to learn how to better take care of her new group of friends when they happen to find themselves all in detention together. I got the sense that there would be more mysteries to solve in later books but it could also be a standalone.