Description

In this funny and clever middle grade mystery reminiscent of Rear Window and perfect for fans of the Mysterious Benedict Society series, Sophie Young and Grace Yang are best friends, seventh graders, and spies.

Sophie and Grace have made a game out of spying on their neighbors. On one of their midnight stakeouts, these two amateur sleuths witness a terrifying scene at the home of their bizarre middle-school counselor Dr. Charlotte Agford (also known as Dr. Awkward).

At least, they think they do. When the girls are proven wrong, they are still convinced that Dr. Agford is hiding a terrible secret—and they’re determined to find out what it is, launching their own kids detective story. Soon the girls are breaking secret codes, being followed by a strange blue car, and tailing strangers with unibrows and Texas accents. But as their investigation heats up, Sophie and Grace start to crack under the pressure. Will solving the case destroy their friendship?

  • Funny Mystery Book: Packed with laughs and clever twists, seventh-graders Sophie and Grace investigate their bizarre school counselor, a woman they’ve nicknamed Dr. Awkward.
  • A High-Stakes Friendship Story: As the girls dig deeper, the pressure mounts. They have to trust each other to solve the case, but the secrets they uncover might be the very thing that tears their friendship apart.
  • An Edge-of-Your-Seat Spy Adventure: Midnight stakeouts, breaking secret codes, and tailing a strange blue car are all part of the mission for these two young spies.
  • Kid Detectives on the Case: After Sophie and Grace witness a terrifying scene through their counselor’s window, they’re sure she’s hiding a dark secret. The only question is, what are they willing to risk to find out the truth?

About the author(s)

Kristen Kittscher is a writing tutor in Pasadena, California, where she lives with her husband. The 2014 James Thurber House Children's Writer-in-Residence and a graduate of Brown University, she taught middle-school English for many years. She is the author of The Tiara on the Terrace and The Wig in the Window.

Reviews

“This book is funny, realistic, and suspenseful —a pitch-perfect mystery for the tween set.” - Kate Messner, author of Capture the Flag

“A witty, weird and wonderful book, The Wig in the Window’s trouble-making detectives kept me laughing—while the suspense had me inching towards the edge of my seat. It’s a perfect middle grade mystery! - Kirsten Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Nightmares!

“Sophie’s first-person narration rings true and makes the growing peril feel ominously real. Ample red herrings keep young sleuths and engaged readers guessing in this thrilling debut mystery. Reminiscent of the ever-compelling film Rear Window, this appealing and often spine-tingling tale will leave its audience wishing for more.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Ample red herrings keep young sleuths and engaged readers guessing in this thrilling debut mystery. Reminiscent of the ever-compelling film Rear Window, this appealing and often spine-tingling tale will leave its audience wishing for more.” - Kirkus Reviews

“This fast-paced, action-packed romp has all the ingredients of a great mystery, and it does not leave out the angst felt by so many middle schoolers. Readers will see themselves and their friends in Sophie and her classmates, and they will have a difficult time tearing themselves away.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

“Kittscher’s debut novel addresses the inevitable rocky periods in middle-school friendships with perceptiveness, honesty, and well-targeted humor” - Publishers Weekly

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