Finding Mighty

Gr 4-7--Told in alternating chapters by the three main characters, this novel contains all the right elements for an intriguing adventure: a long-ago theft, a suspicious death, a lost cache of uncut diamonds, menacing gang members, and a shrouded family history. Twelve-year-olds Myla and Peter, through a set of coincidences (or are they?), end up working together to solve a mystery. Peter and his mother have recently moved to Dobbs Ferry, NY, from Yonkers, NY, and are next-door neighbors to Myla Rajan and her family. Just before the move, Peter's 16-year-old brother Randall disappeared, leaving a note saying -Don't find me.- Nevertheless, Peter is determined to do just that. Randall, following in their deceased father's footsteps, is a graffiti artist as well as a practitioner of parkour. The pace of the book picks up significantly midway when Randall, on a personal and dangerous mission, is given voice in his own chapters. The relationships, especially the sibling ones, are believable, and it is refreshing to see parents depicted as attentive and intelligent. When all paths converge, it is a heart-pounding race to see who will untangle the mystery first. And at what cost. VERDICT The plot is solid and the familial bonds strong. Exploring urban graffiti as a legitimate art form is a great discussion topic. Recommended for mystery fans and for most medium to large collections.--Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Savvy readers will put the pieces together, too, although false leads and red herrings are cleverly interwoven...the rich backdrops of gritty New York City and history-laden Dobbs Ferry and is made all the more colorful by references to graffiti art and parkour."—Kirkus