The Girl in the Wall

Gr 7–10—Sera really doesn't want to go to Ariel's birthday party. She and her rich friend have become estranged, and Ariel has turned all their classmates against her. Nevertheless, she grudgingly attends because of parental pressure. It can't be all bad: a hot pop star is scheduled to perform. As the lights dim for the start of the show, however, expert marksmen enter the room and assassinate Ariel's father and another guest, misidentified as his daughter. Meanwhile, Ariel escapes into the labyrinth of secret tunnels that snake throughout her family's mansion. Familiar with the tunnels from childhood explorations with her friend, Sera is overwhelmed with pressure to reveal Ariel's location as their classmates are murdered one by one. Told in alternating voices, which are at times difficult to discern, this compelling narrative includes a touch of romance. If they can forgive the unlikely action sequence at the end, readers will find this mystery satisfying.—Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL