Author Guest Post: “Teaching Activities Related to James Baldwin’s Extraordinary Life” by Michelle Meadows, Author of Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues

Share

“Teaching Activities Related to James Baldwin’s Extraordinary Life”

James Baldwin wrote more than 20 works of fiction and nonfiction, including essays, plays, short stories, poems, and novels. Before he became a legendary writer and civil rights activist, he was a young boy from Harlem who loved books and the library. His friends and family called him Jimmy.

Here are five ways to inspire students to learn from James Baldwin’s phenomenal life and boost their self-awareness at the same time. These activities can be used as discussion points or writing exercises.

Set Goals

From a young age, Jimmy knew he wanted to be a writer. He devoured books, loved the rhythm of words, and felt that writing soothed him. One day, he shared his deepest dream with his mother: “I’m going to be a great writer when I grow up.”

Activity # 1: After reading the book JIMMY’S RHYTHM & BLUES: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin, students will enjoy picking out various moments that show Baldwin’s interest in writing. Explain to kids that they don’t have to know all their goals now, but that it’s wonderful to set goals related to activities you enjoy. Invite students to address: What are your goals right now? What are you doing to achieve them?

Celebrate Supporters

Jimmy’s teachers noticed he had a gift for weaving words together like musical notes of a song. This book highlights his most significant supporters, including a theater teacher named Orilla Winfield. Her nickname was Bill. Bill encouraged Jimmy’s interest in the arts by taking him to museums, movies, and plays outside of school.

Activity #2: Ask students to identify Jimmy’s main supporters and the nature of their support. Then ask them: Who are the supporters in your life? How do they show you support? How do you thank them for supporting you?

Face Challenges

While Jimmy found joy in the rhythm of music, family, and books, he also found the blues, as a Black man dealing with discrimination and oppression in America. After he moved to Europe and no matter where he lived, he always cared deeply about the struggles of Black people back home. He took action by taking a tour of the Southern states in the U.S. He marched, protested, and wrote and spoke eloquently about the fight for freedom.  Jimmy energized people of all ages and races to open their minds to new ways of thinking.

Activity #3: After inviting students to identify Jimmy’s challenges, ask students: What challenges have you experienced in your life? What actions did you or will you take to face those challenges?

Express Yourself

When Jimmy discovered the written word, he discovered true power. Writing gave him a voice and a channel to express himself. Jimmy also appreciated many types of artistic expression. He loved to sing and dance; music was an important part of his life. He was also interested in the colors of clothing, nature, and paintings. Hence the choice to tell his life story through the lens of a variety of colors. For example, one excerpt:

Writing is electric blue,
bright, brilliant swirls
of letters and words
flying, flipping,
flowing to the beat.

Activity #4: Explain to students that there are so many ways they can express themselves. Invite them to brainstorm: What are your favorite ways to express yourself? What colors do you connect with your different feelings and moods?

Writing Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin was one of the most exciting projects of my life. From the publication of his groundbreaking collection of essays The Fire Next Time to his passionate demonstrations during the civil rights movement, Jimmy used his voice fearlessly. My hope: One day every student will know the name James Baldwin – one of America’s greatest writers and intellectuals.

Published January 30th, 2024 by HarperCollins

About the Book: Celebrate James Baldwin’s one-hundredth birthday anniversary with the first-ever illustrated biography of this legendary writer, orator, activist, and intellectual.

Before he became a writer, James “Jimmy” Baldwin was a young boy from Harlem, New York, who loved stories. He found joy in the rhythm of music, family, and books.

But Jimmy also found the blues, as a Black man living in America.

When he discovered the written word, he discovered true power. Writing gave him a voice. And that voice opened the world to Jimmy. From the publication of the groundbreaking collection of essays The Fire Next Time to his passionate demonstrations during the civil rights movement, Jimmy used his voice fearlessly.

Michelle Meadows, author of Brave Ballerina and Flying High, introduces young readers to the great American novelist, essayist, poet, playwright, orator, and artist James Baldwin, who, with the fire of his pen, dared a nation to dream of a more equitable world filled with love. Brought to life with warm illustrations by Jamiel Law, Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues chronicles the life of an incredible visionary who left an indelible mark on American literature and history.

About the Author: Michelle Meadows is the author of many acclaimed books for children. She loves dreaming up new projects and telling stories with heart. Some of her books include Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles and Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins. Michelle also contributed to Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy by Misty Copeland. With a passion for storytelling, Michelle graduated from Syracuse University with a dual degree in journalism and literature. Michelle grew up in Washington, DC, and now lives near the beach in Delaware with her husband. Visit Michelle at michellemeadows.com.

Thank you, Michelle, for this deep dive into Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues and James Baldwin’s life!

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Heart of Everything by Marc Levy

Share

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!


Dear readers,

Hi and welcome to another book review! Today I would like to introduce The Heart of Everything by Marc Levy! This shorter story detailing what it means to lose someone was originally published in French, but this translated copy is still written beautifully. Thomas, the main character, feels like he is being delusional when his father who has been dead for five years comes knocking at his door. This moment turns out to be the beginning of a journey, physical and emotional, that this father and son duo embarks on. Raymond, Thomas’s father has such a funny personality that it lightens the sadder themes of the book and definitely made me laugh out loud a few times! 

Goodreads Summary

Even death can’t break the bond between father and son in an uncannily funny and poignant novel about love, loss, memory, and family by Marc Levy, the bestselling author of P.S. from Paris. There’s nothing too unusual about a father asking his son for a favor—unless, of course, the father in question has been dead for five years. Thomas, a young virtuoso pianist living a quiet, carefully structured life in France, is stunned when his late father, Raymond, suddenly appears in his home. He’s not a ghost in the traditional sense-he’s real enough to ask for help. His request? That Thomas travel with him to San Francisco to find Camille, the long-lost love of his life. For Thomas, it’s as surreal as it sounds. And yet…it might be his last-in-a-lifetime chance to know his father as a man and to square the regrets of the past. Together they embark on a five-thousand-mile journey that questions the very nature of existence, proves that love never fades, and rekindles the curious, heart-tugging bond between a parent and child that somehow endures beyond death.

My Thoughts

This book had an unsuspecting hold on me while I was reading it, and I was always thinking about when I could read the next bit! The interesting boundary this book sits between makes it feel realistic while also having fantastical elements. I highly recommend picking this book up, not just because of the valuable insight it offers, but because it is such a funny and exciting novel. If you have any traveling coming up soon, I feel like this book is perfect for a flight, or even to read while on vacation. The entire book took me about 4.5 hours to read, which entertained me throughout my four day winter break trip! The chapters are on the shorter side, meaning that you can pick this book up anytime, even if you only have 15 minutes! The Heart of Everything is a sweet and impactful novel about the father-son bond, and how it overcomes death.

While The Heart of Everything is an adult novel, I believe it is perfectly readable for anyone who enjoys YA books. Some mature themes to keep in mind though are death, loss of a loved one, and drugs. Enjoy your reading!

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 2/2/26

Share

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop we host which focuses on sharing what we’re reading. This Kid Lit version of IMWAYR focuses primarily on books marketed for kids and teens, but books for readers of all ages are shared. We love this community and how it offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. The Kid Lit IMWAYR was co-created by Kellee & Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

Bold_line

Wednesday: The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Bold_line

Kellee

This is my week off! You can always learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

Middle Grade

My 9-year-old son and I listened to Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan. We really liked it. It tells the story of a girl who is visiting her family, and her grandfather is an Indian boarding schools survivor. While she is there, she keeps dreaming of a girl who is running from an Indian boarding school. There aren’t many books available at the middle grade level about Indian boarding schools, so I am really glad this book exists. It was well-written and engaging.

Young Adult

On Starlit Shores by Bex Glendining is a graphic novel about a girl who is packing up her grandmother’s house after her death. There is a bit of magical realism/fantasy in this book, which I really enjoyed as a reader.

Adult

I love Lucy Score’s romance novels and enjoyed Maggie Moves On. She does a great job building characters.

Overruled by Lana Ferguson is an adorable romance about divorce attorneys. This one had some depth to it, which I always enjoy in a romance!

Love is a War Song by Danica Nava is an Indigenous love story about a popular singer who makes some racist mistakes. She decides to visit her reservation to wait out the media fallout. It’s a wonderful romance that I highly recommend.

I was blown away by Virginia Evans’ The Correspondent. I listened to this one on audio and loved it. It is well worth the hype–very well-written and thought-provoking.

Bold_line

I am rereading Mexikid by Pedro Martín for my class this week! I love this book!

Bold_line

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: The Heart of Everything by Marc Levy

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Teaching Activities Related to James Baldwin’s Extraordinary Life” by Michelle Meadows, Author of Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues

Bold_line

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

 Signature andRickiSig

The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff

Share

The Aftermyth
Author: Tracy Wolff
Published February 3rd, 2026 by Aladdin

Summary: In a world ruled by the tenets of Greek mythology, one girl’s fate is more than it appears in the first book in a new dark academia fantasy middle grade series from #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Crave series Tracy Wolff.

What’s your myth?

Penelope Weaver has spent her whole life preparing to attend Anaximander’s Academy, where students learn how to bring to life the stories of Greek mythology as well as discover the Greek god whose principles they most embody. Penelope knows she’s an Athena—all smart, practical, and rule-following girls who take part in stories that matter are Athenas.

But when Penelope and her twin brother Paris arrive at Anaximander’s, it appears fate has other plans. Penelope isn’t placed with Athena but with students who are anything but practical and who prefer parties to rules. And that’s just the beginning. She’s given the world’s worst muse, her assigned tasks feel impossible, and the magic of Anaximander’s is overwhelming. Not to mention, there are two very different boys making her new life even more confusing.

But as things go from bad to dangerously worse, one thing becomes in a world where everything is fated to happen a certain way, some stories need to be rewritten. As the world around her shifts and cracks, Penelope is asked to forget everything she thought she knew to help create a better story…even if that changes every plan and breaks every rule.

About the Author: Tracy Wolff is the #1 New York Times, #1 internationally, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of the Crave series as well as many other novels. A lover of mythology, vampires, and getting lost in a great book, she’s spent her whole life asking “what if” and “what happens next”—questions being a writer has helped her answer again and again. At six, she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow, a unicorn, and a shapeshifting prince—and at seven, she forayed into the wonderful world of middle grade literature with her first Judy Blume novel. A one-time English professor, she now devotes all her time to writing fun, action-packed, romantic stories with fantastical worlds and characters who leap off the page. She has written all her seventy-plus novels from her home in Austin, Texas, which she shares with her partner, her sons, and their three adorable dogs.

Review: There is so much that go on in this book, but I love that the author started directly with character development of Penelope followed by a wild event that helped the reader get to know the protagonist while also devleoping the plot. And this trend continues–each event allows the reader to get to know Penelope more while also moving along the plot simultaneously. It keeps the reader wanting to turn the page. The book has a quote: “Sometimes the goal isn’t really the point. Sometimes it’s how you get there that’s important.” This encompasses the book and Penelope’s journey.

This book is the exposition to a series that I look forward to following. I do have a lot of questions still about what is going on and why the mythology is how it is, so be ready for an open ended ending and so many questions swirling around in your head!

Educators’ Tools for Navigation: There is so much I wanted to do with this book!

  • Each god/goddess’s building has a banner, and it would be so much fun to have students make banners (after sorting them, of course!).
  • There are so many myths mentioned in the book: Hercules, Pandora, Muses, and Prometheseus specifically, so the parts that mention these would be great to look at when also reading the myths.
  • One main point of the book is looking at the point of view of myths, specifically Pandora in this book. Who is telling the myth? Who were those in power when the myth was written? How could the myth have been different when from another’s point of view?
  • The book also looks at how there are different versions of myths which is a great opportunity to talk about oral tradition and how stories were passed around before text.
  • I love the focus on constellations in the book and would be a fun way to have a science/oral tradition lesson!
  • Lastly, Fifi’s muse has pun-y muse shirts, and it would be so much fun to have students make their own.

Discussion Questions: Provided by Simon & Schuster (this is just a sample of the discussion questions on the reading guide; visit The Aftermyth page on Simon & Schuster):

  • 1. Describe Penelope’s family and background. What are her parents like? What is her social life like before the book opens? Why do she and Paris end up going to Anaximander’s Academy?
  • 2. Why is Penelope uncomfortable when Fifi starts to call her Ellie? What is Penelope’s image of herself and why is it important to her? Why is she anxious when Fifi wants to decorate the apple in front of Aphrodite Hall?
  • 3. How does Penelope grow throughout the story? Contrast her self-image and her values at the beginning of Aftermyth to how she is at the end.
  • 4. What is Penelope’s relationship like with her twin brother, Paris? In what ways are they close? How are they alike, and how are they different? How does their relationship change during their time at Anaximander’s? Who is Rhea, what is she like, and what role does she play in the changes between Penelope and Paris?
  • 5. What are some examples of Penelope’s courage and leadership? How does she deal with the eagle in Dr. Minthe’s class? Later, during that class, how does she help others when her group is looking for the key to the door? (Chapters 27–37)
  • 6. What is the purpose of Anaximander’s Academy? Describe the five halls, the gods to which they are each dedicated, and how the halls are different in spirit. Which hall does Penelope hope and expect to join? Which one does she end up in?
  • 7. On the way to Anaximander’s, Penelope and her family meet PT. What is he doing? How does he respond to Penelope blowing out the lantern fire? Who does PT turn out to be in Greek mythology? What is his role in the story about Pandora’s box? What effect do Penelope’s actions have on him and his story?
  • 8. How does Penelope initially feel about Fifi? Why does Fifi become, according to Penelope, “the best friend I’ve ever had”? (Chapter 41) What do they have in common? How are they different? How do they help each other?
  • 9. Describe Fifi’s personality and style. Discuss her statement about herself, “‘I’m not good at much except directions and people.’” (Chapter 20) What are examples that show she is right about her strengths? What else is she good at? When does she show leadership? Explain why Penelope thinks, “I’ve learned that Fifi is a force of nature.” (Chapter 38)
  • 10. What role do muses serve at Anaximander’s? What is Fifi’s muse, Frankie, like? How do they get along? Contrast Frankie with Penelope’s muse, Calliope. What is Calliope like? What is her role in Greek mythology? When do the muses help their students?

Flagged Passages: Read a sample of this book on its Amazon page.

Read This If You Love: Greek mythology

Recommended For: 

classroomlibrarybuttonsmall 

Signature

**Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 1/26/26

Share

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop we host which focuses on sharing what we’re reading. This Kid Lit version of IMWAYR focuses primarily on books marketed for kids and teens, but books for readers of all ages are shared. We love this community and how it offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. The Kid Lit IMWAYR was co-created by Kellee & Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

Bold_line

Tuesday: The Case of the Scarlet Snakebite by Christyne Morrell

Thursday: Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Nothing More to Tell by Karen McManus

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Bold_line

Kellee

I am in Chicago for the ALA Youth Media Awards since I am the administrative assistant for the 2026 Caldecott Award. Tune in today at 10 a.m. CT to see all the award winners and honors!

Even without me posting, you can always learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off; see you next week!

Bold_line

Wednesday: The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff

Bold_line

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

 Signature andRickiSig

Sofia’s YA Book Nook: Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus

Share

Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!


Dear readers,

Let me introduce you to, Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus, a thrilling YA mystery told from two perspectives! You follow Brynn as she investigates the murder of her former teacher while being an intern at an up and coming true-crime podcast called Motive. You also get to see the story from Tripp’s eyes, one of the people who found the teacher’s body four years prior. As Brynn and Tripp work together, overcoming their past, they uncover secrets that will change them forever. This book was such an amazing read, and I feel that anyone who enjoyed A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder would absolutely love it! 

Goodreads Summary

Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened. The kids who found Mr. Larkin are her way in, and her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot, was one of them. Without his account of events, the other two kids might have gone down for Mr. Larkin’s murder – but instead, thanks to Tripp, they’re now at the top of the Saint Ambrose social pyramid. Tripp’s friends have never forgotten what Tripp did for them that day, and neither has he.

Just like he hasn’t forgotten that everything he told the police was a lie. Digging into the past is bound to shake up the present, and when Brynn begins to investigate what happened in the woods that day, she uncovers secrets that might change everything – about Saint Ambrose, about Mr. Larkin, and about her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot. Four years ago someone got away with murder. More terrifying is that they might be closer than anyone thinks.

My Thoughts

Nothing More to Tell is a riveting story that kept me on the edge of my seat! It is so exciting to see Mr. Larkin’s murder unravel, clue by clue, while Brynn and Tripp investigate. I loved the occasional flashback that Tripp had about the day Mr. Larkin was murdered, which allowed me to combine the information I already knew about the case with small details from when it actually happened. During the story, Brynn is also struggling with her friends, who she has barely talked to in the four years she was in another school. I liked the depth that Brynn’s friend struggles added to this book, making it more relatable than just a murder. Brynn and Tripp’s relationship is also fun to watch, as they decide how they feel about one another. The character dynamic plus the murder makes Nothing More to Tell a fixating read!

I would recommend this book for ages 12+ because of murder and many instances of underage drinking. All in all, Nothing More to Tell is an exciting book that is a must-read for lovers of murder and mystery! Enjoy!

 

**Thanks so much, Sofia!**

The Case of the Scarlet Snakebite by Christyne Morrell

Share

The Case of the Scarlet Snakebite
Author: Christyne Morrell
Published February 24, 2026 by Delacorte Press

Summary: In this middle-grade mystery, a twelve-year-old obsessed with Agatha Christie suspects every guest at her mother’s bed-and-breakfast of hiding secrets. That is until a real crime rocks the quaint B&B, and her mother is framed for it.

When the wealthy Willoughby family checks into her mother’s bed-and-breakfast for the weekend, Amber Adler is certain a crime is going to be committed right under their roof. And she should know—she’s read every Agatha Christie novel in the library and her father is a world-famous detective. Sure, Amber has made a few false accusations (and once got the SWAT team sent to her math teacher’s house), but this time, she’s positive that one of their guests is up to no good.

So it comes as no surprise to Amber when someone steals a priceless ruby belonging to the crotchety Willoughby patriarch. But what she didn’t expect was for her mother to be framed for it. Now, Amber must call on everything she knows about solving mysteries to find the stone and catch the real culprit before the family checks out—and learn that sometimes, people are the greatest mystery of all.

About the Author: When she’s not writing for kids, Christyne Morrell is busy raising one. She is a corporate attorney, and in her spare time enjoys reading, baking, and watching House Hunters marathons. She lives with her family in Decatur, Georgia. Kingdom of Secrets is her debut novel. Visit her online at christynewrites.com and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @christynewrites.

Review: Amber is always looking for crimes to solve, even when there is no true crime, but when she overhears a phone conversation about a crime by someone staying at her bed and breakfast, she knows this time there is truly a crime, and she is going to be the one that solves it. But this crime is different than she guessed but still full of twists & turns.

My middle schoolers are always looking for murder mysteries, but so many of them are teen; I am so glad that there are more and more middle school ones coming out, including this one. A truly fun middle grade mystery!

Educators’ Tools for Navigation: This book has so much that educators can use to expand on it!

First, I love that the author/publisher included a suspect tracker in the end. I WISH I had noticed it at the beginning because I would have loved to have utilized it, so I want to make sure educators know about it because it would be so much fun to take notes along with Amber.

Second, there are so many fun word play times throughout the book. For example, Amber would hear “betrayal” when it was actually “bee trail.” There would be some fun word games that you could do with this.

Lastly, with Amber being obssessed with Agatha Christie, there were definitely allusions to Christie’s work throughout.

Discussion Questions: 

  • What predictions did you make while reading? What clues made you make these predictions? Were your predictions correct?
  • Do you think Amber’s mom has justification to be upset with Amber throughout the book?
  • What do you think is the biggest mistake that Amber made throughout her investigation?
  • Why do you think Amber didn’t want a sidekick?
  • Why do you think E.B. trusted Amber so much?
  • Do you think Amber really thought her father was a investigator like Sherlock Holmes or do you think she had tricked herself into believing it?

Flagged Passages/Spreads: 

Chapter 1
Friday, 12:00 p.m.
(16 hours earlier)

I nudge the door open, and it releases a long, slow wail. This building is hundreds of years old, and it acts its age—­everything creaks and moans and rattles. Everything makes a fuss. But all that racket makes my job easier, so I can’t complain.

I’m wearing all black, down to my ballet flats. The only glint of color comes from the gold name tag pinned to my shirt with Amber Adler etched in block letters. I creep silently into the room and flit from place to place, my toes barely grazing the floor as my eyes dart around, taking in every detail—­the disheveled bed, the damp towels strewn on lampshades, the bottles littering the desk, leaking sticky puddles of who-­knows-­what onto the antique wood.

I unzip the black faux leather pouch around my waist and remove a pair of latex gloves. I slide them onto my hands one at a time, snapping them at the wrists to make sure they’re good and tight. They release a puff of sterile powder into the air. I run a fingertip over every surface—nightstands, doorknobs, windowsills—­then examine the residue in the light. Messy, yes. But not criminal.

I make my way into the adjoining bathroom. Like the rest of the place, it’s in disarray. I shake my head, and as I do, something near the floorboards catches my eye. The light spilling out of the vintage sconces glints off a shard of metal.

“Well, well, well,” I mutter to myself. “What do we have here?”

I crouch down for a closer look. The object is small but incredibly sharp. I count four blades jutting from its squat handle, each one angled and gleaming. I know I shouldn’t smile—­not in the midst of an active crime scene—­but I can’t help myself. From my pouch, I remove a plastic evidence bag with a ziplock top. I carefully pluck the weapon from the floor and drop it inside. “Gotcha.”

I rise and spin on my heel, prepared to disappear as silently as I’d arrived. But first, for a split second, I’m confronted by my own reflection in the bathroom mirror—­reddish-­blond hair scraped back into a messy bun, with escaped strands waving around my face like Medusa’s serpents; an all-­black ensemble designed to escape notice; and permanently narrowed eyes overshadowed by two thick brows known to have a life of their own. It’s a good thing I work in the shadows.

And then I see something else in the reflection—­or rather, I don’t see something in the reflection—­and my eyes grow wide as I realize what’s missing. “Eep!” I squeal louder than I should. But that doesn’t matter now. The time for sneaking around has passed. On to my favorite part: the big reveal.

I burst out of the room and onto the landing at the top of the stairs. My entrance gets everyone’s attention, as it’s meant to. At the bottom of the staircase, three heads turn to face me, all wearing matching looks of confusion. I barrel toward them, not caring anymore if the decrepit wood snaps, crackles, and pops with every step.

“Amber?” says Mom. Her brief moment of confusion has passed. Now she’s giving me a silent warning with her eyes. Not again, she’s saying without saying it.

Excerpted from The Case of the Scarlet Snakebite by Christyne Morrell. Copyright © 2026 by Christyne Morrell

Read This If You Love: Secrets of the Broken House and all books by Taryn Souders, The World’s Greatest Detective by Caroline Carlson, Undercover Latina bby Aya de León, Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz

Recommended For: 

classroomlibrarybuttonsmall 

Signature

**Thank you to the author for providing a copy for review!**