Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Peter and Myla, twelve-year-old neighbors in Dobbs Ferry, just north of NYC, work together to investigate the disappearance of Peter's older brother, Randall. Graffiti, parkour, diamond smuggling, gang knaves, and a family secret involving the boys' deceased diamond-cutter grandmother all factor into the mystery. An exciting, fast-paced, and diversely populated urban adventure told from the rotating viewpoints of Myla, Peter, and (later) Randall. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Myla and Peter step into the path of a gang when they unite forces to find Peter's runaway brother, Randall. As they follow the graffiti tags that Randall has been painting in honor of the boys' deceased father, they uncover a sinister history involving stolen diamonds, disappearances, and deaths. It started long ago when the boys' grandmother, a diamond-cutter, partnered with the head of the gang. She was rumored to have hidden his diamonds before her suspicious death, leaving clues to their whereabouts. Now everyone is searching, including Randall. The duo's collaboration is initially an unwilling one fraught with misunderstandings. Even after Peter and Myla bond over being the only people of color in an otherwise white school (Myla is Indian-American; mixed-race Peter is Indian, African-American, and white), Peter can't believe the gang is after Myla. But Myla possesses a necklace that holds a clue. Alternating first-person chapters allow peeks into how Myla, Peter, and Randall unravel the story and decipher clues. Savvy readers will put the pieces together, too, although false leads and red herrings are cleverly interwoven. The action stumbles at times, but it takes place against 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. A quick, agreeable caper, this may spark some discussion even as it entertains. (Mystery. 10-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.