Booktalk: Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams
(An Echo Falls Mystery)
by Peter Abrahams
While rehearsing for the Prescott Players production of Alice in Wonderland, eighth grader Ingrid Levin-Hill is stunned to find herself involved in a murder mystery. Somehow, between school, soccor practice, and rehersal, this Sherlock Holmes afficionado must solve the crime, avoid the suspicion of the police and the creepy new actor/director, and learn her lines, all before the final curtain.
Tips:
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Peter Abrahams is a fairly well-known adult mystery writer. His foray into teen fiction, however, is outstanding.
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Though there is a murder, it is not particularly disturbing and should not bother most readers. While Ingrid occassionally finds herself in a tight spot, she is never really in grave danger.
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I love Ingrid because she is such a complex character. She loves Sherlock Holmes, she’s great at soccer, she’s close with her family, especially her grandfather, and she’s a great actress. I found her to be incredibly realistic.
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There is a small budding romance between Ingrid and her best friend who happens to also be the sheriff’s son. It is very sweet and innocent, and the writer deals with appropriately.
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There are several more in the series and they address complex issues including ecological conservation, steriod use, and an affair between two adults (and the effect on their families).
