The Mastermind's Trap

Last Chance Academy #2

by Debbi Michiko Florence

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery

288 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

Debbi Michiko Florence is the author of upper middle grade novels Sweet and Sour, Keep It Together, Keiko Carter, Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai, and This Is How I Roll. She has a debut middle grade series called Last Chance Academy. Book 1, A Study in Secrets, is coming on March 11, 2025! She is also the author of three chapter books series including Jasmine Toguchi with four new books, Follow Jasmine as she travels to Japan on vacation! And Debbi co-authored a picture book biography, Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites.

Her books have received starred reviews, JLG Selections, and inclusion on lists such as Amazon Best Books and the Chicago Public Library Best of the Best.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot to love in this fun and sweet follow up to A Study in Secrets.

This is not quite on par with the first book in the series, particularly in terms of atmosphere and the quality of the treasure hunt part of the plot, but it’s still a fun read and a really good pick for young readers.

I was really impressed with how the treasure hunt unfolded in the first installment in this series (I’m on record as generally being disappointed by kids treasure hunt books) and while this one doesn’t regress that badly in that capacity, it is notably less clever than the first book.

There’s a lot less enjoyable connection between the school and overall setting and the clues, and I’m not sure the bit about the Mastermind effectively blackmailing Meg worked at all.

On the plus side, this really delivers as a friendship story, and I love the relatively low stakes but very real obstacles the group of friends has to overcome and how they handle them. And Mastermind aside, the adult characters got way better storylines this time around.

I hope the third book gets back to focusing on the atmosphere of the school, and that the details of the treasure hunt get tightened back up. But there’s plenty to like here, and I’m interested to see where the story goes next.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this follow-up to book one. It’s a sweet story that highlights friendship and makes for a great middle grade read.

Full disclosure: I did enjoy book one a bit more. The hunt in that one felt tighter and more engaging, while this installment takes a looser approach. For me, the shift away from the school setting made the plot feel a little less focused.

That said, that’s coming from an adult perspective. I think middle grade readers will have a lot of fun with the twists and turns and will enjoy trying to piece everything together from the different angles the story presents.

It’s a quick, engaging read that held my attention throughout. This would be a great addition to a classroom library—while it’s a sequel, it can absolutely stand on its own. There’s enough context woven in to make it an enjoyable experience even if you haven’t read book one.

I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Simon and Schuster children’s via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[Cathy Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved! I was so happy to get the ARC for this book because I enjoyed book 1 a lot and was really excited about reading this sequel. This book started off a little slow while the group was on their vacation trip, but slow ended up NOT meaning totally boring. There were some interesting scenes. But back at the school, the plot really picked up. Some questions that book 1 left us with were answered here. There was great character development from the 4 student MCs and a couple of more background adult characters about friendship, family, loss/regret, and trust. This is an engaging book sure to interest middle-grades readers who enjoy mysteries and action. Highly recommend this series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Meg and her friends Tana, Ryan, and Zane are back after their adventures in A Study in Secrets, and are going on the trip that Meg won in the scavenger hunt. At the last minute, her father can't chaperone, and her Aunt Vivian (who is always very negative) goes instead. The group ends up at Moon Manor, a fabulous house in California, and proceed to spend nearly half the book solving mysteries and seeing the sights like the Crystal Cave, Balboa Fun Zone and the Japanese American National Museum. There's a bit of a secret about who orchestrated this trip, but it's soon found out, and before long the kids are back at school. The Leland Chase Academy is having financial troubles, and to solve this issue, the director is having all of the students do a showcase project to attract investors to the school. Meg doesn't know what to do, but working with some teachers, she decides to plan a walking trail. She won't have to actually build it, just come up with the plans. It's hard to concentrate on this when she needs to find the identity of the Mastermind, especially since he has threatened to end the showcase, which would lead to the closure of the school and Meg's loss of her friends. It's likely that the culprit is Charles Chase, the descendant of the founder of the school and also the boyfriend of a teacher, Miss Jillian. There seems to be a Chase treasure that could help save the school, but Meg's research into this is hindered by the necessity of keeping things secret from her friends. While everything works out, the book ends with a teaser for another possible mystery for the group to solve.
Strengths: Boarding school tales are always fun, and it was interesting to see Meg and her friends as they become more acquainted with each other. The virtual vacation in California was rather fun, and Florence (who was raised there) has an obvious fondness for the location. There are a lot of clues to follow, and a serious issue to address about the school. Add in a bit of friend drama, as well as a cat, and this will be a winner with readers who like clue oriented mysteries and scavenger hunts.
Weaknesses: I didn't like the way that the Mastermind threatened Meg in a rather serious way and the showcase didn't seem like enough to save a school.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Yee's The Misfits or Gerber's The Liar's Society. Florence's This is How I Roll and Sweet and Sour are wildly popular in my library, and since romance books have become more popular, I'd love to see her write a few more like these.


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[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hunt for treasure at Last Chance Academy continues in this second book of the series.

Meg Mizuno and her three classmates still do not know the identity of The Mastermind.

Here are some notes on Book 2:

😎Meg, Tana, Ryan, and Zane get a chance to enjoy the fruits of their labors in A Study in Secrets with a trip to California. Aunt Vivian is their chaperone and it turns out to be a good thing!

📩A new set of clues keeps them busy on the trip. Why are they in a different format and tone?
Upon their return to school for the second semester, they hope to continue where they left off.

😻Sir Grey the kitten continues his life as an extra roomie to Meg and Tana. I would have loved to have a cat in my dorm room in college.

ⓂDo they find out who The Mastermind is? You will have to read this one for yourself to find out. I can tell you that the Last Chance Academy series is likely to have a third book coming out next year.

Thank you to Aladdin and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follow-up to A STUDY IN SECRETS picks up with Meg and her friends enjoying a sun and fun-filled winter break trip as a prize for completing a challenging scavenger hunt at their boarding school. When they return to school, Meg finds that the Mastermind, the unknown individual behind the original hunt, has yet another puzzle for her to solve. The stakes are high, as the Mastermind is threatening to reveal secrets that will impact Meg and her friends and take down the school, too. This time she’ll need to work alone, jeopardizing her relationships with her friends as she races to unravel the clues.

Mystery fans will enjoy the twists and turns, but I think the true highlight of this book is the relationships between the friendship group. The spring break trip shows the strengthening of the bonds within the group, so when Meg is forced by the Mastermind to go it alone, readers feel the tension she experiences when she is forced to keep the next puzzle a secret. Readers who enjoy stories that feature mysteries or scavenger hunts and those who like stories set in boarding schools will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an eARC of the book with me.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come for the mystery, stay for the friendships. I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first, and book 2 kept me happily turning pages. I liked the mystery aspect and found it a bit more suspenseful than book 1, but the suspense is mild and won't upset middle-grade readers. But mainly, I was so happy to be with this foursome of characters again: Meg, Tana, Ryan, and Zane. They are so true to life, as are their relationships with each other, which can sometimes be complicated by the things they've gone through in their lives. And despite challenges presented in the story, they never stop caring for each other and trusting each other. These are important lessons for readers of any age! I'm an adult who reads both MG and YA fiction, in addition to adult fiction.

[A Novel Approach · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.25/5. Book 2 in the Last Chance Academy series picks up where book one left off. It’s the Christmas holiday and our group of four students won The Mastermind’s grand prize and are about to take off for a trip to California. However, when they get there, silver envelopes start showing up again. They’re informed that another game will ensue shortly, and this time there can only be one winner.

This middle-grade academia story keeps the reader entertained with themes of:

✉️ Friendship / leaning on your friends
✉️ Japanese heritage
✉️ Treasure hunts
✉️ Found family

I enjoyed following our group of students through the end of their seventh year, and I’m excited for the next book which I think will be their summer school session! If you’re a fan of middle grade books that have similar vibes to The Mysterious Benedict Society, Harry Potter, and The Inheritance Games, you should definitely pick up this series! Also, I listened to the audiobooks and have really enjoyed the narrator’s calm yet descriptive voice.

[Bookish2theMax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was SUCH a good book! Dare I say even better than the first? This picks off as Meg and the crew go on their vacation prize from the Mastermind. Well let me just say a bunch of crazy fun things happen and friendships are tested. If you’re a middle grade reader or someone who enjoys a fun adventure with high stakes read this book! All the characters are well thought out and the dialogue is just perfect!

[Sherry]

A wonderful sequel- Meg and her friends head to California to enjoy their prize, but with her aunt, instead of her father, as a chaperone- which turns out to be great for the kids. Back at LCA, the mastermind is up to his old tricks and the crew is off on another adventures as they try to solve clues and figure out who the mastermind is- will they succeed? You’ll have to read it to find out! Highly recommend!

[LS Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm sad this book was so disappointing. the first 19 chapters could be lifted right out of the book and the remaining story would still make sense. there was such great development of aunt vivian as a character and her relationship with mizuno, but then it abruptly stopped at chapter 20. it felt like 2 completely different books. i probably won't continue reading the series.