About BC Books Online
BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Description
Chloe McBride has some reservations about accepting her elderly great-aunts' invitation to spend part of the summer with them in Little Venice, but her initial reluctance is outweighed by her curiosity about the mysterious key that came with her aunts' note. She's also anxious to put the humiliating memory of a disastrous piano recital as far behind her as possible. Chloe's great-aunts tell her the legend of her great-grandfather, Dante Magnus, an ambitious magician who vanished without a trace almost a century earlier, and Chloe begins to search for clues to his disappearance. When her investigations eventually lead her to a mysterious rosewood box, which has been hidden for almost a hundred years, Chloe's belief in the power of magic forces her to confront her own fears and ambitions.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 9 to 12
- Grade:
- 4 to 7
- Reading age:
- 9 to 12
Awards
- Short-listed, Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award nominee
- Commended, OLA Best Bets
- Commended, CCBC Best Books
- Commended, PSLA Top Forty
Editorial Reviews
"This novel will appeal to young teenage readers...who love to solve mysteries."
— Resource Links
"Muller creates a very intense plot that is exciting to read...quirky personalities light up the story...The story moves quickly and smoothly and the mystery becomes more intriguing with each passing chapter. Highly recommended."
— CM Magazine
"A mix of fantasy, mystery and teen angst...this recommended purchase for middle school and public libraries is sure to be popular with middle grade readers."
— VOYA
"A meticulously plotted mystery with supernatural elements...Muller [hits] all the suspense marks with ingenuity and agility."
— The Globe and Mail
