Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception

Sammy Keyes, girl sleuth extraordinaire, cracks the case once again in the latest installment of Wendelin Van Draanen's smart, snappy mystery series for readers ages 11 and older. This time, the trouble begins when 13-year-old Sammy ("a magnet for mayhem") attends a fancy reception at an art gallery (wearing high-tops, of course) and ends up tackling a gun-wielding art burglar who crashes the party. He, however, proves to be only one of an entire gallery of rogues. As ever, Van Draanen crafts an entertaining, multi-layered page-turner starring a brash, likable heroine with a big mouth and a big heart. Throw in a little romance at a Renaissance Faire, a whole new side to Sammy's grandmother (what's this about a tricked-out Harley?), and some thoughtful views on the nature of art, and voila! you have one of the best Sammy Keyes books to date. (Ages 11 and older) --Karin Snelson