January 1, 2022
A prom-night murder turns a town upside down. After pranking prom king Mario, Mirabelle, a snarky, beautiful girl whom nearly everyone seems to love, ends up dead. That's when the gossip, investigation, and revelations begin. Mario becomes a prime suspect, and his best friend tries to clear his name while his single mom hires an attorney. The possible suspects are lined up and quickly dismissed, and the outlook of most characters seems oddly upbeat despite the death that launches the story. As characters describe their relationships with the recently deceased prom queen, questions emerge about how well they really knew her. Secrets are revealed as the sequence of events about the night she was murdered is pieced together. Ultimately, the story edges more toward drama with a mild punch than high-tension thriller. The variety of formats, including letters, articles, and text messages, and the cast of realistic characters will appeal to reluctant readers. Still, some perspectives add little tension and detract from the main plot, and the tone of voice sometimes seems too consistent for the changing points of view to sound believable, especially when it comes to seasoned detectives and parents. Younger teens seeking a read with subtle hints of danger may enjoy the slow reveals. Mario's mother is presumed White, and the father he's never met lives in Chile; Mirabelle's boyfriend is Black, and other main characters default to White. A meandering but pleasant mystery. (Mystery. 12-18)
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August 12, 2022
Gr 9 Up-High school prom comes with many expectations to be a night to remember. In this young adult thriller, some students get far more than they bargained for when the prom queen, Mirabelle, is found dead in a ditch just hours after receiving her crown. This thriller is told in the rotating points-of-view of students who knew Mirabelle, as well as her family and the detectives, allowing readers to experience the story from many angles. Schroeder drops hints about who may have wanted revenge on Mirabelle and how she had complicated relationships with so many of her classmates, from the boyfriend she broke up with on prom night to the prom king she pranked to the mystery girl she wronged. Readers will find themselves constantly guessing at who the murderer could be. The story also jumps between narrative prose, letters, and text messages to bring a rounded storytelling approach. VERDICT A fast-paced thriller, told in multiple perspectives that will have readers on the edge of their seats until the conclusion and murderer are revealed. A perfect summer read for teens.-Tracey S. Hodges
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