Up for Grabs

by Michelle Mulder

Frida and her brother, Zac, have lived in seven countries in ten years. In fact, they’ve been travelling for so long that Frida has never considered herself from anywhere ― until they inherit their grandmother’s house in Victoria, British Columbia. Zac, always looking for money-making opportunities to fund their travels, is determined to sell everything in the house and expects Frida to help. Now they’re up to their ears in family heirlooms, paintings of dead relatives, vintage paperclips, and ceramic animals. As Frida explores the neighborhood, she meets a childhood friend of her grandmother’s, a relentlessly friendly kid named Hazeem who has a knack for finding treasures in the many book-exchange boxes nearby, and a nosy antique dealer who takes an interest in her grandmother’s stuff. A big, sneaking-around-trying-to-break-in-to-the-house kind of interest. Is this strange neighbur looking for something specific? And will Frida and Hazeem figure it out before it’s too late?

Genres: Mystery, Canada, Middle Grade, Fiction, Contemporary

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2023

About the author

Michelle Mulder is a Canadian children's author. She loves writing about kids who seize life's opportunities, and she tries to do the same in her own life. Some of her favourite adventures have included helping to dig a water pipeline in the Dominican Republic, backpacking through Argentina with her husband, and riding a hot air balloon through a Cappadocian valley in Turkey. She lives with her husband in Victoria, BC.

Reviews

[Rebecca Upjohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A middle grade mystery set in Victoria BC with compelling action, unique and diverse characters and layered relationships. Frida's only "parent" is her older brother Zac. For most of Frida's life she'd traveled in her brother's care to where he found jobs in different countries. After inheriting their grandmother's house in Victoria, they've returned to clean out the contents and sell it.

Frida meets a boy her age, Hazeem, staying across the street. His passion for writing and Frida's for art connect the two as Hazeem introduces her to the neighbourhood and they explore, meeting people and sorting through titles in the local tiny book boxes as their friendship grows.

Suspicious behaviour from a pushy art dealer raises the stakes. And after items go missing from their house that Zac already had buyers for, Frieda's worry grows. When the action comes to a head, surprises continue to be revealed, including some about her own mother and grandmother.

Family history, details of local setting and Canadian events are woven into the twists and turns of the escalating action. I found myself rooting for Frida on many levels. At heart, this is an adventure story with intriguing details and a cast of characters that keep the pages turning.

[Luciana · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awesome novel based in Victoria, BC!

Frida & her brother Zac inherit their grandmother's house in Victoria & they have some valuable antiques that an antique dealer is interested in.

The house gets ransacked, some goods are taken, but it is evident that the thieves were trying to locate something else that perhaps Frida has found. Frida has found an invaluable painting (portrait) & discovers that it was stolen from Montreal during Canada's biggest art heist in 1972.

A most intriguing read!

[AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was ok. Honestly I think the author should’ve explain more about the book.Also say how old Frida and Zach are.

[K.A. Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun middle grade mystery with twists, turns, and some real danger that will keep young readers' hearts' pounding—and keep them flipping those pages.

Loved the unusual family and situation—the big brother caretaker/nomadic lifestyle, in town to clear out the family home was both unique enough to feel fresh to some readers while also offering much-needed representation to others. The cast was a nice balance of larger-than-life without becoming cartoon-y, and the real-life locations in Victoria make it a fantastic read-along for trips, classrooms, and locals. Clever use of galleries and archives for research, little libraries, and the harbour front offer more curriculum and/or day-trip tie in options. Approachable for middle elementary readers on up, with plenty to engage older readers as well!

[Kay S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one presents very interesting characters - love the young if doting older brother acting as parent, kids moving around and the difficulty of making new friends... It's a great set of characters. I do feel like the plot was a bit heavy on the back end but I also recognize the need to establish these characters to make the hiding of art theft believable.

This book did provide some great one-liners for the group chats. We're still talking about how memories and thoughts of one's mother compares to eating octopus...

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Up for Grabs is an engaging middle grade novel, filled with action and mystery. Frida and her brother Zac's grandmother has recently passed and the siblings are prepping her home to sell. Frida has many questions about their family's past and some of the items in the house come under question too.

Up for Grabs is a 2025 MYRCA Sundogs nominee.

3+ stars