Grant, Natalie with Naomi Kinsman. Light Up New York. illus. by Cathi Mingus. 208p. (Glimmer Girls: Bk. 4). ebook available. HarperCollins/Zonderkidz. Jan. 2017. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780310752745.

Gr 3-6 –Ten-year-old twins Mia and Maddie and their little sister, Lulu, head to the big city to support their mom, who is performing there. In tow is their zany nanny, Miss Julia, who promises lots of sightseeing and fun to be had by all. During their trip, the girls are confronted by some sad realities of the world. They also learn about the rich history of New York City and all it has to offer. Though this is a mostly light and fluffy tale, Grant conveys some important life lessons. The girls struggle with jealousy and the temptation to break the rules. As the mystery unravels, readers are compelled to ask what is truly right and wrong and how sometimes those lines can become blurred. Readers will find themselves thinking about difficult decisions and how choices they make can affect themselves and others. VERDICT Fans of the series will be happy to have this next installment. Overall, tweens will enjoy the adventures of these spirited sisters.–Bernice La Porta, Susan E. Wagner High School, Staten Island, NY

McNicoll, Sylvia. The Best Mistake Mystery. 155p. (The Great Mistake Mysteries: Bk. 1). ebook available. Dundurn. Jan. 2017. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9781459736252.

Gr 4-7 –A heartwarming mystery that illustrates that mistakes are not always a bad thing. A small Canadian town experiences upheaval when the local school seems to be terrorized by a mysterious person. New dog walker extraordinaire Stephen has been anxious about surviving middle school since his best friend moved away. After he finds out why his school was closed for the day, his dog-walking misadventures lead him to Renée, the class know-it-all, who soon enlists Stephen’s help in solving the mystery before her brother, a notorious teen prankster, gets blamed for the latest troubling series of events. The pair set out on a quest to clear Renée’s brother’s name. While readers may find the story line interesting, the tone and characters are bland and the ending is less than thrilling. However, some readers may appreciate that everything works out in the end. VERDICT Fans of classic mysteries and dog lovers will enjoy the Canadian setting, the dog-walking service, and seeing characters learn from their missteps. A secondary purchase.–Jessica Bratt, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI

Thompson, Lisa. The Goldfish Boy. 320p. Scholastic. Mar. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781338053920.

Gr 4-6 –Watching from his bedroom window, Matthew, called Goldfish Boy because he never leaves his room, is the last person to observe a neighborhood toddler before the child’s disappearance. With his hands tightly secured inside rubber gloves, Matthew struggles with an intense fear of germs, brought on by the death of his baby brother. There are few characters who interact with Matthew: his frustrated parents, a girl who lives down the street, and his adjoining neighbors, all of whom are suspects in the toddler’s disappearance. The novel successfully weaves Matthew’s personal struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder and the search for the missing toddler into a compelling story with a hearty dose of mystery and adventure. Though the topic is serious, the tone is fairly light and the story well-paced, considering the setting rarely changes from Matthew’s home. Readers will root for Matthew. VERDICT Recommended for middle grade collections and for use as a classroom read-aloud, ideal for building empathy.–Pilar Okeson, District of Columbia Public Library