Kid Alone

Gr 9 Up—Garvie Smith, a sarcastic teen with a photographic memory, has a record IQ and is a notorious slacker. When a schoolmate is murdered at the nearby industrial estate, Garvie calculates the minimum effort to expend on school and turns his attention to the case instead. He extends his aid to the police, regardless of whether they want it, creating more problems than solutions in the process. The teen's personal life begins interfering with his would-be detective work; school exams and a new crush all hinder his focus. Staying one step ahead of the police, Garvie is determined to find the killer. This second installment takes place in the same gritty urban setting as the first and again, though incredibly apathetic, Garvie is committed to solving the murder. This entry has all the elements of a classic mystery as well as aspects particularly suited to teens. Police interviews and various conversations are presented as interrogation notes, prompting readers to search for clues. And although Garvie observes small details and deduces important information from them, he keeps those thoughts to himself, compelling teens, along with secondary characters, to try solving the puzzle on their own.