Megan Frazer Blakemore

The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill Megan Frazer Blakemore

Brief Description: From the author of the critically-acclaimed novel "The Water Castle," this richly-layered mystery featuring the charming and precocious Hazel Kaplansky will be an instant classic. Review Quotes: "The Water Castle" is full of adventure and mystery, but mostly it's about the importance of family, friendship and home. Review Quotes:"Science, history and literature references glow . . . With keen intelligence and bits of humor, the prose slips calmly between narrative perspectives, trusting readers to pick up a revelation that Ephraim and Mallory don't see--and it's a doozy. This one is special." --"Kirkus Reviews", starred review on "The Water Castle""What shines through...is Blakemore's tender understanding of how these children--and all children--feel about their lives and the adults who control them." --"New York Times", on "The Water Castle" "A book that deserves love." --Elizabeth Bird for "Fuse8", on "The Water Castle" "The Water Castle is full of adventure and mystery, but mostly it's about the importance of family, friendship and home." --"The Washington Post", on "The Water Castle" "Blakemore skillfully explores the intersection of science and magic in this multifaceted story . . . a sense of skeptical wonder pervades the book and lingers." --"Publishers Weekly", on "The Water Castle"Brief Description: Hazel Kaplansky and new student Samuel Butler investigate rumors that a Russian spy has infiltrated their small Vermont town, amidst the fervor of Cold War era McCarthyism, but more is revealed than they could ever have imagined. Review Quotes:"Hazel's inquisitiveness, independence and imperfections are a winning combination." --"Kirkus Reviews ""There's lots to talk about here . . . making this a great choice for book clubs or class discussion." --"Booklist""The sense of the time period is seamlessly portrayed . . . The real strength of Blakemore's novel is the underlying juxtaposition of a seemingly pleasant small town and that community's harsh reaction to those who are different." --"The Horn Book Magazine""A strong work of historical fiction for mystery fans." --"School Library Journal""Science, history and literature references glow . . . With keen intelligence and bits of humor, the prose slips calmly between narrative perspectives, trusting readers to pick up a revelation that Ephraim and Mallory don't see--and it's a doozy. This one is special." --"Kirkus Reviews", starred review, on "The Water Castle""What shines through . . . is Blakemore's tender understanding of how these children--and all children--feel about their lives and the adults who control them." --"New York Times" on "The Water Castle" "A book that deserves love." --Elizabeth Bird for Fuse8 on "The Water Castle" ""The Water Castle" is full of adventure and mystery, but mostly it's about the importance of family, friendship and home." --"The Washington Post" on "The Water Castle" "Blakemore skillfully explores the intersection of science and magic in this multifaceted story . . . a sense of skeptical wonder pervades the book and lingers." --"Publishers Weekly" on "The Water Castle"Marc Notes: ; Hazel Kaplansky and new student Samuel Butler investigate rumors that a Russian spy has infiltrated their small Vermont town, amidst the fervor of Cold War era McCarthyism, but more is revealed than they could ever have imagined.. Review Quotes: "Hazel's inquisitiveness, independence and imperfections are a winning combination." "--""Kirkus Reviews""" "There's lots to talk about here . . . making this a great choice for book clubs or class discussion." --"Booklist" "The sense of the time period is seamlessly portrayed . . . The real strength of Blakemore's novel is the underlying juxtaposition of a seemingly pleasant small town and that community's harsh reaction to those who are different." "--""The Horn Book Magazine""" "A strong work of historical fiction for mystery fans." "--""School Library Journal""" "Hazel is an engaging, if not always likable, girl, and her kid's-eye-view of life offers an accessible entryway to the McCarthy/Cold War era. Blakemore's characters are refreshingly three-dimensional . . . Will also appeal to the mystery lovers of the middle grade crowd." "--""BCCB" "Science, history and literature references glow . . . With keen intelligence and bits of humor, the prose slips calmly between narrative perspectives, trusting readers to pick up a revelation that Ephraim and Mallory don't see--and it's a doozy. This one is special." "--""Kirkus Reviews," starred review, on "The Water Castle""" "What shines through . . . is Blakemore's tender understanding of how these children--and all children--feel about their lives and the adults who control them." "--""The New York Times "on "The Water Castle" "A book that deserves love." --Elizabeth Bird from Fuse8 on "The Water Castle""" ""The Water Castle "is full of adventure and mystery, but mostly it's about the importance of family, friendship and home." "--""The Washington Post "on "The Water Castle""" "Blakemore skillfully explores the intersection of science and magic in this multifaceted story . . . a sense of skeptical wonder pervades the book and lingers." "--""Publishers Weekly" on "The Water Castle"Review Quotes: Science, history and literature references glow With keen intelligence and bits of humor, the prose slips calmly between narrative perspectives, trusting readers to pick up a revelation that Ephraim and Mallory don't see-and it's a doozy. This one is special."Review Quotes: What shines through is Blakemore's tender understanding of how these children-and all children-feel about their lives and the adults who control them."Review Quotes: Science, history and literature references glow... With keen intelligence and bits of humor, the prose slips calmly between narrative perspectives, trusting readers to pick up a revelation that Ephraim and Mallory don't see-and it's a doozy. This one is special. Review Quotes: What shines through...is Blakemore's tender understanding of how these children-and all children-feel about their lives and the adults who control them. Review Quotes: Blakemore skillfully explores the intersection of science and magic in this multifaceted story a sense of skeptical wonder pervades the book and lingers."Biographical Note: Megan Frazer Blakemore is the author of "The Water Castle," which received a starred review from "Kirkus," and the YA novel "Secrets of Truth And Beaut"y which received a starred review in "Publishers Weekly" and was on the ALA Rainbow list. A former middle-school librarian, Megan lives in Maine with her family. www.meganfrazer.com @meganbfrazerPublisher Marketing: Hazel Kaplansky is a firm believer in the pursuit of knowledge and truth-and she also happens to love a good mystery. When suspicions swirl that a Russian spy has infiltrated her small town of Maple Hill, Vermont, amidst the fervor of Cold War era McCarthyism, Hazel knows it's up to her to find a suspect starting with Mr. Jones, the quietly suspicious grave digger. Plus she's found a perfect sleuthing partner in Samuel Butler, the new boy in school with a few secrets of his own. But as Hazel and Samuel piece together clues from the past and present, the truth is suddenly not what they expected, and what they find reveals more about themselves and the people of their cozy little town than they could ever have imagined." Review Citations:

Horn Book Magazine 05/01/2014 pg. 80 (EAN 9781619633490, Other)

Audio File 10/01/2014 pg. 61 (EAN 9781619633490, Other)

School Library Journal 11/01/2014 pg. 61 (EAN 9781619633490, Other) - *Starred Review

Publishers Weekly 03/10/2014 (EAN 9781619633483, Hardcover)

School Library Journal 04/01/2014 pg. 140 (EAN 9781619633483, Hardcover)

Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2014 (EAN 9781619633483, Hardcover)

Horn Book Magazine 05/01/2014 pg. 80 (EAN 9781619633483, Hardcover)

Booklist 05/01/2014 pg. 59 (EAN 9781619633483, Hardcover)

New York Times Book Review 05/11/2014 pg. 23 (EAN 9781619633483, Hardcover)

Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2014 pg. 10 (EAN 9781619633483, Hardcover)

Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2014 (EAN 9781619633483, Hardcover)