Heather Vogel Frederick

Between a new book release and the eternally bad news cycle, I decided that “cozy” was the way to go for my next read. Actually, a Little Library kind of decided it for me. I found the book in a local LL and thought they’d be fun. (And the cover is completely captivating.)

“Cozy treasure hunt” might be a better way of summing up Absolutely Truly than “cozy mystery” (even if the family’s dog is named Miss Marple). Nobody dies. Instead, amateur sleuth Truly and her friends solve show more a series of interconnected puzzles that also help Truly tackle her unhappiness over having to move to Pumpkin Falls. (The first book is also a love letter to E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, and a slew of other Boomer and Gen X children’s book classics.)

The mystery itself is not the central focus of the books, and really functions more as a device to integrate the reluctant Truly into accepting Pumpkin Falls as her new home. I would argue that both books focus as much, if not more, on friendship and family. Character drives the story far more than plot. Plot-driven narratives have become far more common in the 12 years since Absolutely Truly was published, which may help explain the frustration some contemporary readers have experienced with these books. “Too slow,” and “nothing much happens” are the most common complaints. A lot can happen in character-driven narratives, only the emphasis is more on the evolution of the characters and the relationships between them rather than the plot. So in Absolutely Truly, do the characters evolve in interesting ways? Truly absolutely does, and so do the secondary characters, which makes the books satisfying—albeit less action-oriented—reads. It’s still fair to say that these books may not satisfy readers who are expecting a more substantial mystery.

While the book fits into the “cozy” category, it also possesses a certain edginess. Truly’s father’s first name may be Jericho, but a wall has tumbled down upon him. Suffering from PTSD and a deeply buried grief over losing his best friend as well as his arm, Jericho comes across as an overly strict and somewhat frightening control-freak for most of the book. He is highly unlikeable, and very believable.

What I found most unbelievable was that teenage Truly doesn’t yell back at him. She’s carrying a load of resentment over the move, and as the tallest girl in Pumpkin Falls, she’s self-conscious about sticking out. You’d think that her father’s behaviour would tip her over the edge. In fact, I kept on silently urging her to fight back against him and her own compliance. Instead, Jericho’s sister (Truly's aunt) steps in when his rules get too crazy. Her negotiating tactics are a primer in how to outmaneuver a pig-headed, controlling parent.

Truly’s youngest sister, Pippa, speaks with a lisp, and her speech is written phonetically. This has the effect of sidelining Pippa to the role of perpetually cute baby sister, diminishing her actual frankness and spunk.

A delicious-sounding recipe for Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies is included to add to the cozy vibe. show less

Note: I did not read the first two books in this series, but that isn't a problem. There are nods to the earlier books and reading them first would clarify characters and such, but grabbing it up as a stand alone isn't terribly difficult, either.

Truly is anything but thrilled, when her family decides to have their annual reunion in the small town of Pumpkin Falls. She's still trying to settle in, since she no longer lives next to her best friend and cousin, and knows her huge family is show more embarrassing. But as life bubbles around her, the first mystery pops up and a trophy goes missing. But before her and her gang of sleuths can really get going, she's sent off to Mermaid Camp with her cousin...something she's not thrilled about. Add the new adventure of a possible lost treasure and deepening mystery back home, and soon she's dealing with more than a super heavy, mermaid tale.

This is such a lovely book. The author has woven two mysteries together, and that while diving into an amazing family and bunch of friends. Each character...and there are a lot of them...carries so much personality and quirks. There's a constant sense of chaos, and yet it's the wonderful kind, which makes the reader wish they could dive right into it too. The relatives are smart but ridiculous in their own ways, and the mermaid camp is packed full of unexpected and odd moments, too. Truly definitely has a lot going on, but she keeps her chin up, tries her best, and has so much support from around her that it's impossible not to cheer her on.

The mix of pirate treasure and mermaid camp is amazing...and not what I expected when I first read the blurb. The pirate end belongs to a mystery back in Pumpkin Falls, which her friends are investigating. This one involves the history of the town and a town myth. The Mermaid Camp, on the other hand, is a setting all for itself and involves Truly's cousin's dream of becoming...or learning to swim....like a mermaid. Actually, this end could have been a book on its own thanks to the amazing setting, characters and happenings. I almost wish this had been so as to let it deepen even more. The pirate mystery, while a great contrast (and in some ways, combination) to the mermaids, didn't get the attention it could have...and would have made a great book on its own as well.

This is a fun read with tons of silliness, tension, heart, family, friendship, and exciting mystery. I can really recommend it (and will have to go back and read the first two books, now). I received an ARC and really enjoyed this mystery and the characters show less

Emma, Jess, Cassidy, and Megan's mothers get together after a yoga class and hatch the idea of a Mother-Daughter Book Club. They unilaterally enroll their daughters in the group and come up with the rules on their own, to which the girls are supposed to agree. (Aside: from an organizational management perspective, one would say that they "failed to get buy-in.") The girls are all resistant to some degree, especially Megan, who is one of the popular "Fab Four" at school. (Becca, the show more ringleader of the Fab Four, takes her cue from her obnoxious mother; they both mock the group, though they are transparently jealous and upset about being left out.)

The book for the sixth-grade year is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, who lived in Concord, MA, where the book is set. (Aside: an entire year to read a book? It's the rare college course that focuses on just one text, and a college course is only one semester, not two.) Quotes from Little Women and "fun facts" about Louisa are sprinkled throughout the book.

Each girl faces problems and challenges, and each one grows over the course of the year. In the audio version, different narrators for each girl help keep it clear which one is talking; in the print version, I sometimes forgot whose chapter it was. All in all, a nice, if rather simple, middle grade story. show less

An enjoyable novel of family relationships and the ups and downs of change. Truly Lovejoy is a strong character with strengths and weaknesses who struggles with her feelings, but remains loyal to family and friends. I liked her spunk. Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire epitomizes many a small community with a diversity of characters both quirky and likable, but most of all, a heart that pulls together during crises. My favorite character was Aunt True with her unflagging warmth, and positive show more attitude. She was the backbone of Truly's family. As a birder myself, I loved that Truly was a birder and finds happiness in birds even in the most difficult times. A recommended middle-grade novel. Includes a recipe for Aunt True's Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and "Miss Marple's" Picks (a book list attributed to the bookstore dog, Miss Marple). Books on this list that I have read and enjoyed: Charlotte's Web, Little House on the Prairie, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, and Owl Moon. I love when books are included in books! show less