A STUDY IN SECRETS, by Debbi Michiko Florence, Aladdin, March 11, 2025, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl is pulled into a mysterious treasure hunt at her new boarding school in A Study in Secrets, the first book in a new series by Debbi Michiko Florence.
Ever since her mom passed away, twelve-year-old Megumi “Meg” Mizuno has been spiraling. After too many low grades and cut classes, she’s been expelled from school—apparently, everyone else has moved past her grief and expects the same from her. Her dad secures her a spot at the prestigious Leland Chase Academy, a boarding school in the middle-of-nowhere New York, called the Last Chance Academy by its student body. If Meg can’t make it work there, she’ll be forced to live with her horrible aunt.
At first, Leland Chase seems like an average, if very strict, boarding school, though Meg tentatively warms up to her roommate and some of their classmates. Then, one night, a mysterious envelope appears under her door, inviting Meg and her roommate to participate in a scavenger hunt. The only rules: don’t get caught by faculty or staff and no cheating. The grand prize? A luxury stay at a fancy resort in California. And after learning her dad has plans to sell their family home—with all its memories of Mom—Meg knows she has to win the competition and use the trip to convince Dad to stay.
Thanks to her mom, who taught her how to solve ciphers, Meg has a knack for puzzles she uses to get ahead in the hunt. But she quickly learns that her classmates seem to have their own sets of skills keeping them in the competition. And as they get deeper in the game, Meg and her fellow competitors realize the anonymous creator has their own agenda…and LCA isn’t quite what it seems. —Synopsis provided by Aladdin
A Study in Secrets is the first book in Debbi Michiko Florence’s Last Chance Academy series. The series builds on the popular boarding school for troubled kids trope by incorporating a mysterious treasure hunt that only one student can win.
At the center of the story is Meg, a girl who “lost her way” following the death of her mom. Her dad is always traveling for work, and its either attend LCA or live with her aunt. LCA isn’t as bad as she thought it might be. In fact, it helps Meg process grief. And when the mystery comes along, it’s like a part of Meg awakens. Her personal journey is at the heart of the story.
But it’s the mystery that really shines. Not only are there clues to discover and solve, but the hunt in itself brings the characters together and allows their personalities to shine.
A Study in Secrets moves quickly — I read it in one day. It’s got a lot of heart and a bit of adventure, too. I look forward to the next book in the series.
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