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The Parker Inheritance
The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It's waiting for Candice Miller.
When Candice finds the letter, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, after all, who left Lambert in a cloud of shame. But the letter describes a young woman named Siobhan Washington. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. Grandma tried and failed. But now Candice has another chance.
So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues in the letter. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter's promise before the summer ends?
When Candice finds the letter, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, after all, who left Lambert in a cloud of shame. But the letter describes a young woman named Siobhan Washington. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. Grandma tried and failed. But now Candice has another chance.
So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues in the letter. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter's promise before the summer ends?
331 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2018
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April 19, 2018
The other day I was asked to come up with ten children’s book equivalents to Claudia Rankine’s book Citizen (which, should anybody ask you, is not for kids). To do this, I wanted to include a range of different kinds of books at different ages. Picture books and nonfiction titles. Early chapter books and poetry. And, of course, socially conscious middle grade novels (books for kids between the ages of 9-12). But as it turns out, books for young people that take a long hard look at systematic oppression in America in the 21st century are nine times out of ten written for young adults. On the surface this makes sense. Parsing the complexity of racist systems requires brains. Still, I wanted to include something on the younger end of the scale. Something that’s interesting and fun, but also manages to bring up some pretty serious issues at the same time. You can see where I’m going with this, and it shouldn’t surprise you that that middle grade novel I selected in the end was, The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson. Until I read that book I’d never encountered a fun, casual middle grade puzzler that was, at the same time, socially conscious on the topic of race in America with a keen sense of how the past affects the present in every way. Come for the puzzle, then. Stay for the biting glimpse of America’s intolerant past.
Candice’s grandmother wasn’t crazy or corrupt or anything like that but try telling that to the residents of Lambert, South Carolina. About ten years ago her grandma used her position in the city to dig up some tennis courts on some kind of a treasure hunt. When nothing was revealed she resigned and helped raise her granddaughter elsewhere. Now Candice and her mother have moved to Lambert, temporarily, for the summer while her father attempts to sell their house after the divorce. Candice knows for a fact that her grandma was never the loon some people in town still consider her to be, and she’s even more convinced of this when she finds a mysterious letter in her old things. A letter that insinuates that there’s a treasure to be found if you just look deep enough into the past. Now with the help of the boy next door, Candice is off to clear grandma’s name, find the treasure, and maybe even save Lambert itself.
The natural comparison this book practically requires in blood is The Westing Game and that’s understandable. There are innumerable similarities. First and foremost, like Raskin’s classic, the clues aren’t linear or even all that comprehensible. This isn’t a book where each clue is neatly tucked away as a little rhyme in a little envelope, one leading to another. The letter contains all the clues and it’s up to the characters to pick that apart. There is good and bad to that. Unlike, say, an Agatha Christie book, the average child reader is not going to be able to figure out these clues on his or her own. You don’t read a book like this to actually solve the mystery yourself. That’s where the other readalike to this title comes in. As the action started to shift more regularly between Enoch Washington, Siobhan Washington, and other people from the past, to our present day heroes, I was reminded strongly of Holes by Louis Sachar. Think about it. The sins of the past have repercussions in the present day and it’s the kids that have to shoulder that burden.
As an author, Varian Johnson doesn’t make this book easy on himself. It would have been the simplest thing in the world to just “Mr. Lemoncello” it and be done with it. You know. Focus on the puzzle, include a single main character with a problem and some bit characters on the side, and keep focused on the goal. Instead, Mr. Johnson prefers to give not just his main characters depth, not just his side characters depth, but the state of the city and, let’s face it, 21st century America as well. The danger he runs in doing this is bogging the story down. He works in a boy who may or may not be gay, divorce, loving but intolerant grandparents, police brutality, the act of passing (and its long-term emotional effects), and much much more. At times it can feel like Mr. Johnson is throwing in everything and the kitchen sink into his story, but as you read on, the plot stuff settles into place. Personally, I read this book in fits and starts, and I can tell you that that is not the way to read “The Parker Inheritance.” This book requires a dedicated, steady read without interruptions. Otherwise you find yourself saying, “Wait. Who’s Siobhan again?”
The author also touches on topics that I’ve never seen any middle grade novel for kids discuss. Take the end of segregation. At one point the grandparents are explaining to our baffled heroes that when the black schools were dissolved it had an detrimental effect on the community. “…if you were black, Perkins was your school.” And they go on to mention that back then high school was like college to them and that it meant something to graduate from there. There are other examples. I’ve been looking for the middle grade equivalent to The Hate U Give for a while now and though this book doesn’t really veer too deeply in that direction, it does address issues of police and the abuse of adults in power. Oh. And it mentions that the Hoo family in The Westing Game is stereotypical. Good points all.
And I liked the character moments. Those little telling details that say so much more about a person than a thousand lines of text ever could. One great example comes in the description of Big Dub. Describing why he was a fan of tennis the book says, “He liked that he didn’t need to depend on anyone else to win a match.” The flashbacks to the past are interesting because in the present day you are seeing everything alongside Candice. You don’t know anything contemporary that she doesn’t know. The past is different. There the reader is omnipotent. You can get into the heads of every player, understand every motivation, and never be left in doubt of why they do what they do. The tradeoff for that kind of knowledge is that the author has to let you have everything in pieces with trust, on the reader’s part, that this is all going to make sense at the end. I am happy to report that though it’s a little shaky at the start, once the author gets going he really sucks the reader in. And, best of all, there’s not a single dangling plot thread left by the close. Plenty of questions for a sequel, oh yes indeed. But nothing dangling.
I’m going to ask you a question now, and I want you to take it seriously. Here goes. Should a book that discusses incredibly serious topics have a sense of humor? The answer to that question is one that I’ve been pondering for a long time. I don’t limit it to books either. What is the role of humor, whatever its bent, in documentaries or novels or anything really? We’re living in an age of peak comedy, but writing a book with serious themes, and then working in some humor, poses a definite risk. Too flippant and the tone of the book is off entirely. The goal of an author unafraid of levity is to use it to break tension, humanize the characters, and endear the written pages to the reader. Yeah it’s a risk, but it’s a risk worth running. The Parker Inheritance isn’t what you’d call a laugh riot, but it definitely keeps things light and, many times, amusing.
It’s all in the title, of course. The Parker Inheritance. It seems on first glance to be a reference to the actual monetary inheritance that would go to the person that solves the puzzle. Like a natural counterpoint to a title like The Westing Game (another story of rich men with multiple names and masks they hide behind). But take a closer look at that word. “Inheritance”. This whole book is about what we inherit from the past. We get the genes of our ancestors, sure, but we can also inherit their prejudices, views, and systems. Systems that ensure that some folks stay at the top and others at the bottom. I know almost no books that have found a way to clarify this point for young readers. Now I have one. It’s not a lot. Not nearly enough, but at least there’s one out there now. The puzzle may be impossible, but nothing about this book is implausible. The new required reading.
For ages 9-12.
Candice’s grandmother wasn’t crazy or corrupt or anything like that but try telling that to the residents of Lambert, South Carolina. About ten years ago her grandma used her position in the city to dig up some tennis courts on some kind of a treasure hunt. When nothing was revealed she resigned and helped raise her granddaughter elsewhere. Now Candice and her mother have moved to Lambert, temporarily, for the summer while her father attempts to sell their house after the divorce. Candice knows for a fact that her grandma was never the loon some people in town still consider her to be, and she’s even more convinced of this when she finds a mysterious letter in her old things. A letter that insinuates that there’s a treasure to be found if you just look deep enough into the past. Now with the help of the boy next door, Candice is off to clear grandma’s name, find the treasure, and maybe even save Lambert itself.
The natural comparison this book practically requires in blood is The Westing Game and that’s understandable. There are innumerable similarities. First and foremost, like Raskin’s classic, the clues aren’t linear or even all that comprehensible. This isn’t a book where each clue is neatly tucked away as a little rhyme in a little envelope, one leading to another. The letter contains all the clues and it’s up to the characters to pick that apart. There is good and bad to that. Unlike, say, an Agatha Christie book, the average child reader is not going to be able to figure out these clues on his or her own. You don’t read a book like this to actually solve the mystery yourself. That’s where the other readalike to this title comes in. As the action started to shift more regularly between Enoch Washington, Siobhan Washington, and other people from the past, to our present day heroes, I was reminded strongly of Holes by Louis Sachar. Think about it. The sins of the past have repercussions in the present day and it’s the kids that have to shoulder that burden.
As an author, Varian Johnson doesn’t make this book easy on himself. It would have been the simplest thing in the world to just “Mr. Lemoncello” it and be done with it. You know. Focus on the puzzle, include a single main character with a problem and some bit characters on the side, and keep focused on the goal. Instead, Mr. Johnson prefers to give not just his main characters depth, not just his side characters depth, but the state of the city and, let’s face it, 21st century America as well. The danger he runs in doing this is bogging the story down. He works in a boy who may or may not be gay, divorce, loving but intolerant grandparents, police brutality, the act of passing (and its long-term emotional effects), and much much more. At times it can feel like Mr. Johnson is throwing in everything and the kitchen sink into his story, but as you read on, the plot stuff settles into place. Personally, I read this book in fits and starts, and I can tell you that that is not the way to read “The Parker Inheritance.” This book requires a dedicated, steady read without interruptions. Otherwise you find yourself saying, “Wait. Who’s Siobhan again?”
The author also touches on topics that I’ve never seen any middle grade novel for kids discuss. Take the end of segregation. At one point the grandparents are explaining to our baffled heroes that when the black schools were dissolved it had an detrimental effect on the community. “…if you were black, Perkins was your school.” And they go on to mention that back then high school was like college to them and that it meant something to graduate from there. There are other examples. I’ve been looking for the middle grade equivalent to The Hate U Give for a while now and though this book doesn’t really veer too deeply in that direction, it does address issues of police and the abuse of adults in power. Oh. And it mentions that the Hoo family in The Westing Game is stereotypical. Good points all.
And I liked the character moments. Those little telling details that say so much more about a person than a thousand lines of text ever could. One great example comes in the description of Big Dub. Describing why he was a fan of tennis the book says, “He liked that he didn’t need to depend on anyone else to win a match.” The flashbacks to the past are interesting because in the present day you are seeing everything alongside Candice. You don’t know anything contemporary that she doesn’t know. The past is different. There the reader is omnipotent. You can get into the heads of every player, understand every motivation, and never be left in doubt of why they do what they do. The tradeoff for that kind of knowledge is that the author has to let you have everything in pieces with trust, on the reader’s part, that this is all going to make sense at the end. I am happy to report that though it’s a little shaky at the start, once the author gets going he really sucks the reader in. And, best of all, there’s not a single dangling plot thread left by the close. Plenty of questions for a sequel, oh yes indeed. But nothing dangling.
I’m going to ask you a question now, and I want you to take it seriously. Here goes. Should a book that discusses incredibly serious topics have a sense of humor? The answer to that question is one that I’ve been pondering for a long time. I don’t limit it to books either. What is the role of humor, whatever its bent, in documentaries or novels or anything really? We’re living in an age of peak comedy, but writing a book with serious themes, and then working in some humor, poses a definite risk. Too flippant and the tone of the book is off entirely. The goal of an author unafraid of levity is to use it to break tension, humanize the characters, and endear the written pages to the reader. Yeah it’s a risk, but it’s a risk worth running. The Parker Inheritance isn’t what you’d call a laugh riot, but it definitely keeps things light and, many times, amusing.
It’s all in the title, of course. The Parker Inheritance. It seems on first glance to be a reference to the actual monetary inheritance that would go to the person that solves the puzzle. Like a natural counterpoint to a title like The Westing Game (another story of rich men with multiple names and masks they hide behind). But take a closer look at that word. “Inheritance”. This whole book is about what we inherit from the past. We get the genes of our ancestors, sure, but we can also inherit their prejudices, views, and systems. Systems that ensure that some folks stay at the top and others at the bottom. I know almost no books that have found a way to clarify this point for young readers. Now I have one. It’s not a lot. Not nearly enough, but at least there’s one out there now. The puzzle may be impossible, but nothing about this book is implausible. The new required reading.
For ages 9-12.
April 11, 2018
I loved so many things about this book--the characters, the history, and the mystery. This would be a fabulous read aloud or a jumping off place for conversations about racism, family dynamics, and friendship.
July 16, 2023
What I liked:
- Very ambitious story; Overall, I liked the structure, mixing in flashback point of views to fill in the gaps of the mystery
- While not near as refined or effective as either, this reminded me more of Holes than The Westing Game (either way, good books to be compared to)
- Reggie and Siobhan's relationship was emotionally effective
- Big Dub was a fantastic anti-hero (adult Reggie too, was authentically flawed)
- Candice and Brandon's relationship was sweet
- Milo (the bully) was very realistic, two-faced, as was his mother (whom he probably learned his haughty bullish traits from)
- The subplot of Brandon being bullied nicely mirrored the story unfolding in the flashbacks
What I struggled with:
- While the effort was ambitious, the result was highly convuluted; Lots of story details to keep track of and LOTS of characters to keep track of; Gets easier in the second half of the book
- There is really no mystery to solve; Candice and Brandon don't really get to the "puzzle" until halfway into the book and even then, more is revealed to the reader in flashbacks than anything
- In fact, I don't have any examples on hand, but often times it felt like Candice and Brandon made contrived leaps just to keep up with the pace with which the author was revealing information in the flashbacks
- Candice and Brandon didn't behave like 12 year olds to me; They behaved much older
- While I liked that the subplot of Brandon being bullied mirrored what was happening to the Washington's in the past, I still couldn't help but feel that it made the story a little too weighty
- Very ambitious story; Overall, I liked the structure, mixing in flashback point of views to fill in the gaps of the mystery
- While not near as refined or effective as either, this reminded me more of Holes than The Westing Game (either way, good books to be compared to)
- Reggie and Siobhan's relationship was emotionally effective
- Big Dub was a fantastic anti-hero (adult Reggie too, was authentically flawed)
- Candice and Brandon's relationship was sweet
- Milo (the bully) was very realistic, two-faced, as was his mother (whom he probably learned his haughty bullish traits from)
- The subplot of Brandon being bullied nicely mirrored the story unfolding in the flashbacks
What I struggled with:
- While the effort was ambitious, the result was highly convuluted; Lots of story details to keep track of and LOTS of characters to keep track of; Gets easier in the second half of the book
- There is really no mystery to solve; Candice and Brandon don't really get to the "puzzle" until halfway into the book and even then, more is revealed to the reader in flashbacks than anything
- In fact, I don't have any examples on hand, but often times it felt like Candice and Brandon made contrived leaps just to keep up with the pace with which the author was revealing information in the flashbacks
- Candice and Brandon didn't behave like 12 year olds to me; They behaved much older
- While I liked that the subplot of Brandon being bullied mirrored what was happening to the Washington's in the past, I still couldn't help but feel that it made the story a little too weighty
November 29, 2018
What makes this book so good are the nuances. It's a mystery and while trying to solve it, the young protags deal with bullying, bigotry and the weight of the past. One of my favorite elements of the story was the way it revolved between past and present. It was like having a YA folded into a MG novel and I was as invested in the story arc of the past as I was in the story arc of the present. The racism is shown in its true brutal form and we're left helpless to watch the young characters process it. It's the type of story that refuses to make nice about racism and its impact. Those looking for a way to talk on the topic with young readers could start here.
September 2, 2019
I might be reading too much into this but The Parker Inheritance (P.I. *wink wink*) is an AMAZING middle-grade mystery book, reminiscent and inspired by The Westing Game.
Twelve-year-old bookworm and puzzle expert, Candice Miller spends the summer in Lambert, South Carolina with her mom after her parents get divorced. They stay in what was once her grandmother's house and she finds a letter addressed specifically to her in the attic about a lost fortune of millions. If found, Candice would receive 10% of the money and the rest would be allocated to bettering the city of Lambert. Her grandmother once attempted to gather the clues and find the money, but it resulted in her losing her job as city manager and shamed for her foolishness. Candice, along with her new friend, Brandon take it upon themselves to solve the mystery and restore her reputation.
This story has so many layers. It addresses racism, homophobia, the impact of divorce, bullying and more. I loved the design of the book as well where chapters of past events have black/gray-toned pages. These chapters were very informative about life in the 1950s/60s and even 80s where segregation and discrimination were much more visible than today. When we learn about this era in history, we all think it's horrible, but it isn't until we see the dynamics between white and black characters in these chapters that we realize how unfair, uncomfortable, and dangerous everything was.
There was a line in the book that really stuck out to me- "Son, if the worst thing you've ever been called is colored, then you should consider yourself very, very lucky." As a person of color, I've never found colored a derogatory term, but I understand there are many of my generation who do and I thought it was interesting to point out what the old generations vs new generations found offensive.
The book is also rich in history and from what I understand, the historical events were adapted from real life ones. The characters were relatable too and I loved the community feel of Lambert and Candice's new neighbors.
Something else I loved was the positivity around reading certain books. "It's just...I don't think there's such a thing as boy books or girl books. I think there are people books." Candice knows what's up and for initially coming off as a book snob, I died a little inside when Brandon pulls out a copy of Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret." THANK YOU! It's about time this was addressed. Girls love sci fi and comics just as much as boys and boys shouldn't feel ashamed to read books where the main character is a girl. The stigma just makes people miss out on awesome stories!
Great characters, meaningful layers, and an extremely fun puzzle! In my day, The Westing Game was required reading. I fully approve of this book being the updated version in schools today, though I think everyone should read The Westing Game too.
Twelve-year-old bookworm and puzzle expert, Candice Miller spends the summer in Lambert, South Carolina with her mom after her parents get divorced. They stay in what was once her grandmother's house and she finds a letter addressed specifically to her in the attic about a lost fortune of millions. If found, Candice would receive 10% of the money and the rest would be allocated to bettering the city of Lambert. Her grandmother once attempted to gather the clues and find the money, but it resulted in her losing her job as city manager and shamed for her foolishness. Candice, along with her new friend, Brandon take it upon themselves to solve the mystery and restore her reputation.
This story has so many layers. It addresses racism, homophobia, the impact of divorce, bullying and more. I loved the design of the book as well where chapters of past events have black/gray-toned pages. These chapters were very informative about life in the 1950s/60s and even 80s where segregation and discrimination were much more visible than today. When we learn about this era in history, we all think it's horrible, but it isn't until we see the dynamics between white and black characters in these chapters that we realize how unfair, uncomfortable, and dangerous everything was.
There was a line in the book that really stuck out to me- "Son, if the worst thing you've ever been called is colored, then you should consider yourself very, very lucky." As a person of color, I've never found colored a derogatory term, but I understand there are many of my generation who do and I thought it was interesting to point out what the old generations vs new generations found offensive.
The book is also rich in history and from what I understand, the historical events were adapted from real life ones. The characters were relatable too and I loved the community feel of Lambert and Candice's new neighbors.
Something else I loved was the positivity around reading certain books. "It's just...I don't think there's such a thing as boy books or girl books. I think there are people books." Candice knows what's up and for initially coming off as a book snob, I died a little inside when Brandon pulls out a copy of Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret." THANK YOU! It's about time this was addressed. Girls love sci fi and comics just as much as boys and boys shouldn't feel ashamed to read books where the main character is a girl. The stigma just makes people miss out on awesome stories!
Great characters, meaningful layers, and an extremely fun puzzle! In my day, The Westing Game was required reading. I fully approve of this book being the updated version in schools today, though I think everyone should read The Westing Game too.
June 28, 2023
This was really good! I enjoyed seeing these friends try to solve the puzzle and now I want to read The Westing Game, lol! I really enjoyed this book.
June 9, 2018
"Just because you don't see the path doesn't mean it's not there."
What an incredible book! In my view this is totally for adults as well. The way the story weaves in interludes from the past with the present was my favorite thing about it, and in doing so it delves deeply into history, racism and oppression, love, friendship, legacy, sexual orientation, and more. This book lets people be complicated and almost never one-note and has a suspenseful mystery at its heart.
An expertly written page-turner that explores vividly real-feeling characters navigating injustice in a variety of ways. And the kids at its center are delightfully smart and beautifully true friends.
From the Author's Note: "Conditions have slowly gotten better for African Americans, but you only have to look at the questionable shootings of Trayvon Martin in 2012, Michael Brown in 2014, and Philando Castile in 2016, and countless others to realize that life today is still very dangerous for a person of color. But I do believe, if we work together, we can make the world a safe place for all people, no matter their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or religion. We have a long way to go, but I believe we'll get there."
What an incredible book! In my view this is totally for adults as well. The way the story weaves in interludes from the past with the present was my favorite thing about it, and in doing so it delves deeply into history, racism and oppression, love, friendship, legacy, sexual orientation, and more. This book lets people be complicated and almost never one-note and has a suspenseful mystery at its heart.
An expertly written page-turner that explores vividly real-feeling characters navigating injustice in a variety of ways. And the kids at its center are delightfully smart and beautifully true friends.
From the Author's Note: "Conditions have slowly gotten better for African Americans, but you only have to look at the questionable shootings of Trayvon Martin in 2012, Michael Brown in 2014, and Philando Castile in 2016, and countless others to realize that life today is still very dangerous for a person of color. But I do believe, if we work together, we can make the world a safe place for all people, no matter their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or religion. We have a long way to go, but I believe we'll get there."
July 2, 2018
It was so much of what I wanted, but not quite how I wanted it. Varian Johnson delivered the following rare ingredients:
* A mystery that is solved by learning history
* LGBT issues handled in a PG context
* A bully character with more than one dimension
* A balance between talking about the history of overt racism contrasted with modern, more subtle racism
And yet, it falls short. Why? Where did this winning formula go wrong?
* The characterization is heavy-handed. If a character is shy about seeming girly, then Johnson lets you know it three times in a row and then has the narrating character comment on it.
* This book is at least 100 pages too long. Most of my students would need over two weeks to read it, which is more than they have attention for. Even though it's a mystery story, it's not a "fast" 331 pages in the way that a suspenseful book usually is.
* The flashbacks are too good, and the present day material is too weak. Johnson spills all the info in flashbacks, which kills any urgency the characters' investigation might have. As a reader, wading through the present-day chapters seems like a waste of time. All you're doing is watching semi-likable characters blunder around and discover a fraction of the backstory that you already know.
* The mystery is really lame. The solution is a mix of bad puns and random addition. It's less like The Westing Game and more like an old episode of Batman.
* A mystery that is solved by learning history
* LGBT issues handled in a PG context
* A bully character with more than one dimension
* A balance between talking about the history of overt racism contrasted with modern, more subtle racism
And yet, it falls short. Why? Where did this winning formula go wrong?
* The characterization is heavy-handed. If a character is shy about seeming girly, then Johnson lets you know it three times in a row and then has the narrating character comment on it.
* This book is at least 100 pages too long. Most of my students would need over two weeks to read it, which is more than they have attention for. Even though it's a mystery story, it's not a "fast" 331 pages in the way that a suspenseful book usually is.
* The flashbacks are too good, and the present day material is too weak. Johnson spills all the info in flashbacks, which kills any urgency the characters' investigation might have. As a reader, wading through the present-day chapters seems like a waste of time. All you're doing is watching semi-likable characters blunder around and discover a fraction of the backstory that you already know.
* The mystery is really lame. The solution is a mix of bad puns and random addition. It's less like The Westing Game and more like an old episode of Batman.
July 2, 2018
Both a mystery in the vein of The Westing Game (which is cited in the book) and a look at race relations past and present, this is an excellent and vital book. I don't really want to spoil any piece of the puzzle, so just let me say that there is a reason why this book has gotten such good reviews, and so many stars. Varian is a wonderful writer, but this is really a tour-de-force.
October 8, 2019
I was a bit disappointed in this one. The amount of different characters was difficult to keep up with. As well the time setting kept alternating between the 1950’s and modern day. I think middle-grade readers would have difficulty finishing this book.
September 15, 2020
Might be closer to a 3.5 stars for me but man, I loved the entire flashback storyline so much
Watch me talk about this book in my August wrap up: https://youtu.be/Scz9G-ptc8c
Watch me talk about this book in my August wrap up: https://youtu.be/Scz9G-ptc8c
April 20, 2018
This is definitely one of my favorite middle grade reads of 2018. Rich in detail and content, wonderfully written, and highly engaging.
February 19, 2019
The puzzle to solve and the historical piece of the narrative made for an interesting plot and made me want to revisit The Westing Game. Candice and Brandon make a great team. Would be more appropriate for students who are older than these two due to the sensitive issues dealt with and the random details thrown in addressing current events.
July 27, 2018
What a fantastic story of friendship, differences, struggles, and love - with a dash of adventure, mystery, and history. I was so inspired by so many little comments throughout that it makes me want to do more, to inspire others to do better out there in the world.
May 30, 2018
One of the best middle grade books I've read in years. Fast-paced, fascinating, significant while staying fun. I want to read it all over again!
July 2, 2018
I've read a lot of opinions on this already from the Newbery goodreads group, so I'll weigh in on what I've already heard.
1. There are too many issues for one book: I was OK with this. Except for one part at the very end. They all seemed realistic for a kid to be experiencing and I wasn't overwhelmed.
2. The book is too long: Yeah, a little bit.
3. The mystery wasn't strong: I agree with this. It was a little confusing and there was much luck involved. I was confused when Candi and Brandon seemed to know some details about the past which we had learned through our reading, but I didn't remember how they would have learned those same details. And it was too much work to look back to see if/how they learned them.
Also, I'm not a big fan of the cover. It was a complex story with a lot of issues, including some tough ones about race, and the cover seemed younger than the book (though it was fine as a cover. Just not for this book.).
Finally, I was confused about a detail at the end.
But overall, I would still suggest this to strong middle-grade readers who want a mystery.
1. There are too many issues for one book: I was OK with this. Except for one part at the very end. They all seemed realistic for a kid to be experiencing and I wasn't overwhelmed.
2. The book is too long: Yeah, a little bit.
3. The mystery wasn't strong: I agree with this. It was a little confusing and there was much luck involved. I was confused when Candi and Brandon seemed to know some details about the past which we had learned through our reading, but I didn't remember how they would have learned those same details. And it was too much work to look back to see if/how they learned them.
Also, I'm not a big fan of the cover. It was a complex story with a lot of issues, including some tough ones about race, and the cover seemed younger than the book (though it was fine as a cover. Just not for this book.).
Finally, I was confused about a detail at the end.
But overall, I would still suggest this to strong middle-grade readers who want a mystery.
January 23, 2019
Candice and her author mom move to her late grandmother's home in Lambert, South Carolina while their Atlanta home is being remodeled to put on the market due to her parents' divorce. Candice planned to spend time with her friends that summer, but now she will be alone much of the time as her mom writes. Candice' grandmother served as Lambert's city manager until a letter presenting a puzzle and an opportunity to help Lambert's economy caused her to dig up the tennis courts. She resigned due to pressure from the town, leaving the puzzle unresolved. Candice befriends Brandon from across the street. They both share a love for reading. She finds her grandmother's letter in one of her old puzzle books in the attic and enlists Brandon to help her resolve the puzzle. They uncover the outcome of a 1957 tennis match between the black and white schools which forced the town's coach and his family as well as a player to leave town, assuming new identities. Candice and Brandon piece things together to solve the mystery. While I loved the puzzle itself and even the story behind it, I would never encourage a Christian young person to read this as some of the behavior of children and adults clearly defies biblical commands and moral teaching.
July 9, 2018
If you are reading this review you need to run to the closest library, Target or keyboard and get this book now. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ this book and I know quite a few teachers who will love it too. I am always looking for good mysteries for students who like that type of story. This book fits the bill. Not only does it have mystery, but it also has a puzzle that the reader is attempting to solve along with the character. Moreover, it is plush with a lot of history. The story flashes back to a time during the mid 1950’s in the south during segregation and Jim Crow laws. Fascinating story about a small African American community and what it was like to be black and growing up in these difficult times. Did you ever read The Westing Game? Well let’s just say this book was a fav of the authors. Enough said. 🤪
January 5, 2021
Richie’s Picks: THE PARKER INHERITANCE by Varian Johnson, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, March 2018, 352p., ISBN: 978-0-545-94617-9
“Although the decision did not succeed in fully desegregating public education in the United States it put the Constitution on the side of racial equality and galvanized the nascent civil rights movement into a full revolution.”
--thirteen.org “Brown v Board of Education” (1954)
“I don’t want to be your tiger
‘Cause tigers play too rough
I don’t want to be your lion
‘Cause lions ain’t the kind you love enough
I just want to be your teddy bear”
-- Elvis with the song that was #1 on the Billboard charts on August 10, 1957, the day of the secret tennis match that changed the town forever.
THE PARKER INHERITANCE is the fictional tale of a brutal racial incident in Lambert, South Carolina in 1957. Events are set in motion when the coach of the tennis team at the town’s Black high school challenges the coach of the tennis team at the town’s white high school to an unauthorized, middle-of-the-night match between their respective teams. =
At the center of the story are Big Dub, the Black coach at the Black high school, and Reggie, the best player he’s got--a young man with secrets. The portions of the book that are set in 1957 are told from the point of view of multiple characters who either participated in that tennis match, were there to see it, or were otherwise connected to the game or the subsequent attacks. The town suffers as the result of that night’s horrible conflict.
But that’s just the story within the story. THE PARKER INHERITANCE is also the present-day story of Candice and Brandon, two Black tweens who have just gotten to know one another. They meet when Candice, with her mother, temporarily moves into her late Grandma’s old house in Lambert. That’s right across the street from the home of Brandon, his mom, and his grandfather, Mr. Gibbs. Brandon is frequently bullied by schoolmates and can certainly use a good friend. He and Candice develop a beautiful, caring partnership as they search for a buried treasure. They are aided in their quest by Brandon’s big sister, who has a car and a good heart.
The treasure hunt starts when Candice, exploring the attic of Grandma’s house, discovers a box with her own name on it. In the box is an old letter that Grandma received from a stranger, offering clues to an unsolved $40 million mystery. The mystery and treasure are connected to the events on that terrible night in 1957 in Lambert.
Years ago, Candice’s grandmother failed in her own attempt to locate the treasure. Grandma lost her city job because of it. Now it’s Candice’s turn to search for it.
The story unfolds in chapters that alternate between the events of 1957, and Candice and Brandon’s contemporary search to solve the letter’s puzzle and find the Parker millions. The new friends begin seeking clues and information:
“Mr. Gibbs poured iced tea into a mason jar. ‘Alright, what do you want to know?’ he asked.
‘Did you know the Allens?’ Brandon asked.
Mr. Gibbs whistled. ‘Ah, the Allens. Russell Allen passed away a few years after we moved here. He was an important man.’ He settled at the table. ‘Of course, I didn’t really know him. The Allens were a whole different type of white people. A little too blue-blood for us regular folks. From what I understand, Russell’s daughter ran the family business after he died. She was the only halfway decent one. Most black folks steered clear of Russell Allen’s sons.’
‘Do they still live in town?’ Candice asked.
Maybe a few cousins. But the ones with all the money, Russell Allen and his kids, have died or have moved away.’ He paused to drink his tea. ‘Not that they were really that rich in the end.’
‘Because they lost some contracts?’ Candice asked.
‘As a matter of fact, that’s right.’ Mr. Gibbs placed his glass on the table. ‘Who told you that?’
‘I...um...found some documents in Grandma’s attic that mentioned it. ‘That’s, um, how I got roped into Brandon’s project. What about a man named Enoch Washington? Have you ever heard of him or his wife, Leanne? Candice wasn’t even going to try to say Siobhan’s name.
Rudolph Gibb’s forehead furrowed so his eyebrows bunched together. He wiped some condensation from the glass. ‘ I didn’t know him. We moved here long after he’d been…’
‘We know,’ Candice said. ‘He was forced to leave town.‘
‘Things were different back then,’ Mr. Gibbs said. ‘I know y’all have seen the TV specials and read all the books, but there’s a big difference between reading about life in the fifties and sixties and living it. We were supposed to mind our place, with our heads bowed and mouths closed. When we didn’t, bad things happened.”
The clock ticks down toward the day that Candice must move back home to Atlanta, where her father is overseeing renovation of their home...or what has been their home. Candice’s parents have recently divorced, and the house is being prepped for sale as Candice and Brandon spend their days together, seeking to solve the mystery and find the treasure.
In their quest to seek clues necessary to solve the mystery, they use online resources; investigate artifacts from the former Black high school that are now housed in a memorial collection in the current integrated high school’s library; and obtain a first-hand account from an old woman who, in 1957, was the best friend of Siobhan, the daughter of the Black high school’s tennis coach.
Will they find the $40 million? What did happen that night in 1957, and what is the deal with James Parker, the mysterious benefactor who has set up the mystery? There is so much to tell here, but I don’t want to ruin it for you.
I both marveled and wept as I read this book aloud, over the phone to my grandson. Readers will see that the 1954 Brown decision wasn’t the end of the fight. It was only the beginning of a bitter and sometimes deadly struggle that continues today in America.
THE PARKER INHERITANCE is a both a haunting mystery and a powerful, socially-conscious book for young readers. It’s a one-of-a-kind gem. Don’t miss it.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
[email protected]
“Although the decision did not succeed in fully desegregating public education in the United States it put the Constitution on the side of racial equality and galvanized the nascent civil rights movement into a full revolution.”
--thirteen.org “Brown v Board of Education” (1954)
“I don’t want to be your tiger
‘Cause tigers play too rough
I don’t want to be your lion
‘Cause lions ain’t the kind you love enough
I just want to be your teddy bear”
-- Elvis with the song that was #1 on the Billboard charts on August 10, 1957, the day of the secret tennis match that changed the town forever.
THE PARKER INHERITANCE is the fictional tale of a brutal racial incident in Lambert, South Carolina in 1957. Events are set in motion when the coach of the tennis team at the town’s Black high school challenges the coach of the tennis team at the town’s white high school to an unauthorized, middle-of-the-night match between their respective teams. =
At the center of the story are Big Dub, the Black coach at the Black high school, and Reggie, the best player he’s got--a young man with secrets. The portions of the book that are set in 1957 are told from the point of view of multiple characters who either participated in that tennis match, were there to see it, or were otherwise connected to the game or the subsequent attacks. The town suffers as the result of that night’s horrible conflict.
But that’s just the story within the story. THE PARKER INHERITANCE is also the present-day story of Candice and Brandon, two Black tweens who have just gotten to know one another. They meet when Candice, with her mother, temporarily moves into her late Grandma’s old house in Lambert. That’s right across the street from the home of Brandon, his mom, and his grandfather, Mr. Gibbs. Brandon is frequently bullied by schoolmates and can certainly use a good friend. He and Candice develop a beautiful, caring partnership as they search for a buried treasure. They are aided in their quest by Brandon’s big sister, who has a car and a good heart.
The treasure hunt starts when Candice, exploring the attic of Grandma’s house, discovers a box with her own name on it. In the box is an old letter that Grandma received from a stranger, offering clues to an unsolved $40 million mystery. The mystery and treasure are connected to the events on that terrible night in 1957 in Lambert.
Years ago, Candice’s grandmother failed in her own attempt to locate the treasure. Grandma lost her city job because of it. Now it’s Candice’s turn to search for it.
The story unfolds in chapters that alternate between the events of 1957, and Candice and Brandon’s contemporary search to solve the letter’s puzzle and find the Parker millions. The new friends begin seeking clues and information:
“Mr. Gibbs poured iced tea into a mason jar. ‘Alright, what do you want to know?’ he asked.
‘Did you know the Allens?’ Brandon asked.
Mr. Gibbs whistled. ‘Ah, the Allens. Russell Allen passed away a few years after we moved here. He was an important man.’ He settled at the table. ‘Of course, I didn’t really know him. The Allens were a whole different type of white people. A little too blue-blood for us regular folks. From what I understand, Russell’s daughter ran the family business after he died. She was the only halfway decent one. Most black folks steered clear of Russell Allen’s sons.’
‘Do they still live in town?’ Candice asked.
Maybe a few cousins. But the ones with all the money, Russell Allen and his kids, have died or have moved away.’ He paused to drink his tea. ‘Not that they were really that rich in the end.’
‘Because they lost some contracts?’ Candice asked.
‘As a matter of fact, that’s right.’ Mr. Gibbs placed his glass on the table. ‘Who told you that?’
‘I...um...found some documents in Grandma’s attic that mentioned it. ‘That’s, um, how I got roped into Brandon’s project. What about a man named Enoch Washington? Have you ever heard of him or his wife, Leanne? Candice wasn’t even going to try to say Siobhan’s name.
Rudolph Gibb’s forehead furrowed so his eyebrows bunched together. He wiped some condensation from the glass. ‘ I didn’t know him. We moved here long after he’d been…’
‘We know,’ Candice said. ‘He was forced to leave town.‘
‘Things were different back then,’ Mr. Gibbs said. ‘I know y’all have seen the TV specials and read all the books, but there’s a big difference between reading about life in the fifties and sixties and living it. We were supposed to mind our place, with our heads bowed and mouths closed. When we didn’t, bad things happened.”
The clock ticks down toward the day that Candice must move back home to Atlanta, where her father is overseeing renovation of their home...or what has been their home. Candice’s parents have recently divorced, and the house is being prepped for sale as Candice and Brandon spend their days together, seeking to solve the mystery and find the treasure.
In their quest to seek clues necessary to solve the mystery, they use online resources; investigate artifacts from the former Black high school that are now housed in a memorial collection in the current integrated high school’s library; and obtain a first-hand account from an old woman who, in 1957, was the best friend of Siobhan, the daughter of the Black high school’s tennis coach.
Will they find the $40 million? What did happen that night in 1957, and what is the deal with James Parker, the mysterious benefactor who has set up the mystery? There is so much to tell here, but I don’t want to ruin it for you.
I both marveled and wept as I read this book aloud, over the phone to my grandson. Readers will see that the 1954 Brown decision wasn’t the end of the fight. It was only the beginning of a bitter and sometimes deadly struggle that continues today in America.
THE PARKER INHERITANCE is a both a haunting mystery and a powerful, socially-conscious book for young readers. It’s a one-of-a-kind gem. Don’t miss it.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
[email protected]
April 26, 2018
Books are usually aimed at an audience slightly younger than the main characters in the book. Since the present-day heroine and hero are 12- and 11-years-old, that would indicate elementary school kids as the target audience. However, the writing level and issues discussed are at least high-school age to adult, IMO. The main characters from the 1957 era (with chapters from their points-of-view) were high schoolers and adults, so maybe that is the intended audience.
Anyway, the present day (black) kids uncovered what happened in the period around 1957, which dealt with segregation in schools, racism against blacks, and how light-skinned people with black ancestry sometimes lived as whites. The present-day kids dealt with bullying around sexual-orientation issues. Some boys called Brandon names that made Candice think he was gay, Brandon's best friend was gay, and Candice's dad was gay. Candice stood up for Brandon against the bullying. Candice's mom and dad had just gotten divorced, but the reason why came as a surprise to her at the very end. Rather than actually deal with the complex reaction a child would feel at this news, the author had her quickly decide that she felt sad that her parents obviously would never get back together, but she was glad to see her dad with his new boyfriend because her dad was happy.
I thought the 1957 story was interesting and showed the affects of racism and how difficult some choices could be. I enjoyed how Candice and Brandon doggedly solved the mystery. However, I felt like the issues the modern kids dealt with were given pat, politically-correct answers. I was disappointed that the author essentially pressured kids not to feel conflicted because they SHOULD feel happy for their gay parent, who will, of course, still totally love them. (In contrast, I recently finished a biography where the gay dad completely abandoned his children when he chose to divorce his wife and wasn't sorry about doing so.) Overall, I was disappointed by the ending, especially that the kids used the money to support sexual-orientation issues when it was intended to be used to help improve the lives and opportunities of the blacks in that area of the city.
There was no sex. There was a minor amount of bad language. The racist slurs and gay name-calling was implied rather than actually printed out.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
Anyway, the present day (black) kids uncovered what happened in the period around 1957, which dealt with segregation in schools, racism against blacks, and how light-skinned people with black ancestry sometimes lived as whites. The present-day kids dealt with bullying around sexual-orientation issues. Some boys called Brandon names that made Candice think he was gay, Brandon's best friend was gay, and Candice's dad was gay. Candice stood up for Brandon against the bullying. Candice's mom and dad had just gotten divorced, but the reason why came as a surprise to her at the very end. Rather than actually deal with the complex reaction a child would feel at this news, the author had her quickly decide that she felt sad that her parents obviously would never get back together, but she was glad to see her dad with his new boyfriend because her dad was happy.
I thought the 1957 story was interesting and showed the affects of racism and how difficult some choices could be. I enjoyed how Candice and Brandon doggedly solved the mystery. However, I felt like the issues the modern kids dealt with were given pat, politically-correct answers. I was disappointed that the author essentially pressured kids not to feel conflicted because they SHOULD feel happy for their gay parent, who will, of course, still totally love them. (In contrast, I recently finished a biography where the gay dad completely abandoned his children when he chose to divorce his wife and wasn't sorry about doing so.) Overall, I was disappointed by the ending, especially that the kids used the money to support sexual-orientation issues when it was intended to be used to help improve the lives and opportunities of the blacks in that area of the city.
There was no sex. There was a minor amount of bad language. The racist slurs and gay name-calling was implied rather than actually printed out.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
May 18, 2018
Kids who like puzzle mysteries and solving riddles are going to eat this up. And it's a story with meat on its bones. As Candice and Brandon are researching, they discover a lot of unsavory stuff that happened to the African Americans who started the whole thing in the 1950s. They learn a lot about their families and their town and themselves as they try to piece together where the fortune came from and where it might be hidden.
Hand this to kids who love The Westing Game and other puzzle mysteries with high stakes fortunes.
Hand this to kids who love The Westing Game and other puzzle mysteries with high stakes fortunes.
July 6, 2018
3.5 stars. Well-written, but it's no Westing Game. The historical flashbacks dominated, and that story was interesting but there were so many characters to keep track of and I got bogged down. It felt really long--I thought it must be about over and then realized I was only at 50%! I wanted more of the mystery, particularly since the historical parts dealt with heavy themes. Which is fine, but I like to know that's what a book is about going in. So I felt a little tricked into reading something "good for me" rather than the fun mystery I was expecting.
June 11, 2018
possible #mockNewbery2018
This book takes on too much.: race relations, Civil Rights history, LGBTQ, divorce, religion, some language. . .
and then you have to keep up with all these characters and time jumping/alternating chapters, plus The Westing Game (Raskin) letter/code mystery hidden treasure. . . too much
I'm not sure a middle grades reader would invest in all that.
This book takes on too much.: race relations, Civil Rights history, LGBTQ, divorce, religion, some language. . .
and then you have to keep up with all these characters and time jumping/alternating chapters, plus The Westing Game (Raskin) letter/code mystery hidden treasure. . . too much
I'm not sure a middle grades reader would invest in all that.
February 15, 2019
Likes: Well, this is a compelling mystery. I was flipping pages frantically near the end. I had to know if the kids would find the treasure!
The mystery kept me guessing. I never predicted where the clues would lead. Brandon and Candice are the perfect characters to star in this story because they’re an unstoppable team. They want to prove that the treasure is real and that Candice’s grandmother wasn’t a delusional person who dug up a beloved tennis court for no reason. The kids face constant obstacles but always find ways to get around them. I badly wanted Candice and Brandon to find the treasure. They deserve it.
I love the characters because they are so realistic! Even the side characters are fully developed. I like that the “good guys” sometimes make bad decisions. Nobody is perfect. We all have a snapping point, and we all do things that we regret.
The story is split into two timelines: contemporary and historical. The historical chapters explain why this treasure-hunting mystery exists. Both timelines are equally engaging. I never got bored or skimmed ahead to read my favorite point-of-view. I wanted to solve the mystery and know who’s responsible for the mystery’s existence. This is an ambitious, well-crafted novel. I appreciate the skill that went into structuring it.
The story tackles important topics (racism, homophobia, divorce, bullying, etc.), but it doesn’t become an “issue book.” The problems don’t feel like they’re put in the novel to be educational. They help shape the plot and the characters’ actions, but they don’t completely take over the story. This book is about two kids solving a mystery. They just happen to encounter problems along the way.
Dislikes: Would kids enjoy this book? It’s certainly dense. Kids might struggle with the length, the slowness of the plot, and all of the names and information they have to remember. I had to flip backwards and reread Candice’s grandmother’s letter a few times because I couldn’t remember why the characters were making certain decisions.
I like the historical chapters, but I think a few of the early ones could have been removed without hurting the story. The book takes its time getting to the point.
The Bottom Line: This book deserves all of the award and praise it’s been getting. An unpredictable mystery with characters who are easy to love.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense? I have a blog for that.
The mystery kept me guessing. I never predicted where the clues would lead. Brandon and Candice are the perfect characters to star in this story because they’re an unstoppable team. They want to prove that the treasure is real and that Candice’s grandmother wasn’t a delusional person who dug up a beloved tennis court for no reason. The kids face constant obstacles but always find ways to get around them. I badly wanted Candice and Brandon to find the treasure. They deserve it.
I love the characters because they are so realistic! Even the side characters are fully developed. I like that the “good guys” sometimes make bad decisions. Nobody is perfect. We all have a snapping point, and we all do things that we regret.
The story is split into two timelines: contemporary and historical. The historical chapters explain why this treasure-hunting mystery exists. Both timelines are equally engaging. I never got bored or skimmed ahead to read my favorite point-of-view. I wanted to solve the mystery and know who’s responsible for the mystery’s existence. This is an ambitious, well-crafted novel. I appreciate the skill that went into structuring it.
The story tackles important topics (racism, homophobia, divorce, bullying, etc.), but it doesn’t become an “issue book.” The problems don’t feel like they’re put in the novel to be educational. They help shape the plot and the characters’ actions, but they don’t completely take over the story. This book is about two kids solving a mystery. They just happen to encounter problems along the way.
Dislikes: Would kids enjoy this book? It’s certainly dense. Kids might struggle with the length, the slowness of the plot, and all of the names and information they have to remember. I had to flip backwards and reread Candice’s grandmother’s letter a few times because I couldn’t remember why the characters were making certain decisions.
I like the historical chapters, but I think a few of the early ones could have been removed without hurting the story. The book takes its time getting to the point.
The Bottom Line: This book deserves all of the award and praise it’s been getting. An unpredictable mystery with characters who are easy to love.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense? I have a blog for that.
February 13, 2023
Trigger warnings: racism, violence, homophobia, racial profiling, bullying, hate crime, mentions of cancer
Hmm. This one was a weird reading experience for me. Like, the first third of the story I just wanted to keep reading about the kids trying to solve the puzzles and find the treasure, and I resented the jumping back in time to tell the story of these seemingly random people 60-odd years ago because it dragged the pace down to be jumping between a contemporary mystery and straight up historical fiction.
But then something somewhere along the way shifted, and I think I ended up loving the historical sections more than the contemporary sections. Johnson doesn't shy away from the realities of the past, from threats of racially motivated violence to taking advantage of white-passing privilege. It's not sugar coated in the slightest, and while there were times when I honestly wanted to stop reading and walk away for a little while to get away from the horrors happening in the story, the jumps back to the present almost ended up serving as breathing room.
So yeah. While I ultimately wasn't particularly invested in whether or not a couple of tweens solved the mystery aspect of the story, the historical side of things was fantastic and very compelling.
Hmm. This one was a weird reading experience for me. Like, the first third of the story I just wanted to keep reading about the kids trying to solve the puzzles and find the treasure, and I resented the jumping back in time to tell the story of these seemingly random people 60-odd years ago because it dragged the pace down to be jumping between a contemporary mystery and straight up historical fiction.
But then something somewhere along the way shifted, and I think I ended up loving the historical sections more than the contemporary sections. Johnson doesn't shy away from the realities of the past, from threats of racially motivated violence to taking advantage of white-passing privilege. It's not sugar coated in the slightest, and while there were times when I honestly wanted to stop reading and walk away for a little while to get away from the horrors happening in the story, the jumps back to the present almost ended up serving as breathing room.
So yeah. While I ultimately wasn't particularly invested in whether or not a couple of tweens solved the mystery aspect of the story, the historical side of things was fantastic and very compelling.
June 20, 2018
My favorite type of book may begin on summer vacation, small town, and a mystery. In a perfect world all kids would have a puzzly break from school which allows them to run rampant through a town with parks and ice cream shops. PARKER INHERITANCE is this type of story. I also love when far flung narratives make their way to a central spot in clever and unexpected ways. PI goes for this too, although it does feel more manipulative than organic.
There is a lot going on here (note the extensive tags in my collection), and mostly it feels cohesive, and possibly a little shoe-horned in at times.
There is a lot going on here (note the extensive tags in my collection), and mostly it feels cohesive, and possibly a little shoe-horned in at times.
September 21, 2020
This book was so good.
January 23, 2019
An amazing blend of historical fiction and mystery. I loved this book. Definitely, think it could be up to win the Newberry.
January 10, 2022
Was it just a few months ago I swore off books about kids solving clues to find a secret treasure? Yes, that was before my cousin asked me to address her class of third-graders about my job as a puzzle editor, in connection with their reading of The Parker Inheritance. A book about a group of kids solving clues to find a secret treasure.
Groan. Out of a sense of duty, I decided to at least skim the book. I ended up devouring it in two days. Varian Johnson is an excellent writer, and his brilliant twist on the formula is that the main characters are African-American kids. In the deep south. Meaning that while they are tracking down clues, they are frequently being stopped by suspicious administrators and bureaucrats, in the way their white counterparts never were. More important, the puzzle solving takes a back seat to the characterization of the protagonist, 11-year-old Candice, and her friendship with her new neighbor Brandon, a boy who gets teased for reading Judy Blume (kid, I can relate). Candice and Brandon realize that their quest is deeply entwined with the dark history of the town, in particular a racist incident from 1957 that the whole town tried to cover up. Johnson weaves all this together effortlessly, and he never ever talks talks down to his readers, examining how thorny and complicated these issues are. I couldn't have been more impressed.
Groan. Out of a sense of duty, I decided to at least skim the book. I ended up devouring it in two days. Varian Johnson is an excellent writer, and his brilliant twist on the formula is that the main characters are African-American kids. In the deep south. Meaning that while they are tracking down clues, they are frequently being stopped by suspicious administrators and bureaucrats, in the way their white counterparts never were. More important, the puzzle solving takes a back seat to the characterization of the protagonist, 11-year-old Candice, and her friendship with her new neighbor Brandon, a boy who gets teased for reading Judy Blume (kid, I can relate). Candice and Brandon realize that their quest is deeply entwined with the dark history of the town, in particular a racist incident from 1957 that the whole town tried to cover up. Johnson weaves all this together effortlessly, and he never ever talks talks down to his readers, examining how thorny and complicated these issues are. I couldn't have been more impressed.
November 8, 2019
I think the beginning is a little slow but by the end of the book it got much more interesting
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