{"id":37317,"date":"2020-05-26T16:32:44","date_gmt":"2020-05-26T20:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37317"},"modified":"2020-05-26T16:32:44","modified_gmt":"2020-05-26T20:32:44","slug":"review-of-the-ambrose-deception-by-emily-ecton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37317","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Ambrose Deception, by Emily Ecton"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Ambrose Deception<\/em><\/p>\n

by Emily Ecton<\/p>\n

Disney Hyperion, 2018. 359 pages.
\nStarred Review
\n2018 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>:
\n#7 Contemporary Children’s Fiction<\/p>\n

This book opens with three unlikely candidates from three different Chicago schools being offered a $10,000 scholarship opportunity. When Melissa Burris, Bondi Johnson, and Wilf Samson arrive at the office, they\u2019re first made to sign a form saying they won\u2019t discuss the clues with absolutely anyone. Then they\u2019re given an envelope with three clues and told to take a picture of the clue solution. They are also given a cell phone, a camera, a debit card \u2013 and the use of a car and driver to take them anywhere in Chicago city limits.<\/p>\n

Now, the kids are pretty sure something\u2019s fishy. Given the title of the book, the reader is pretty sure, too. Wilf decides to enjoy the car and driver while he has them and plans a list of fun activities in Chicago. But Melissa and Bondi start seriously tackling their three clues.<\/p>\n

So begins a clever and inventive puzzle novel. The clues all lead to locations in Chicago \u2013 and they are clues that require some thought. I now wish I\u2019d tried to solve some using the internet \u2013 but I was reading the book in bed and didn\u2019t bother. I imagine kids who live in Chicago might have an advantage, but this is still a legitimate puzzle that you feel like you as a reader can solve along with the characters.<\/p>\n

I like the way they repeat the clues periodically \u2013 so you don\u2019t have to keep turning back in the book.<\/p>\n

I like that the characters are pretty ordinary kids, each with their own quirks. In fact, the drivers also have their own quirks. Wilf is a real slacker, trying to take advantage of this. Melissa is very suspicious, not wanting to even use the debit card or the car and driver. Bondi is a take-charge kind of kid, but he jumps to conclusions in a few spots.<\/p>\n

I won\u2019t say what the \u201cdeception\u201d is in the title, but it\u2019s all very satisfying when it works out. A puzzle novel with ordinary kids cast as the solvers, kids whom adults had written off.<\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/ambrose_deception.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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