Up for Grabs

Frida is only eleven, but she and her older brother, Zac, have lived in seven countries. She never feels like she is from anywhere until their grandmother dies and leaves them her massive house filled with stuff in Victoria, British Columbia. But Zac makes it clear he has no interest in keeping the house or most of the stuff. His plan is to sort it out, sell what they can, and get back to traveling with some time spent at the small house he has bought for them. Frida makes a friend, Hazeem, in the neighborhood, and he helps her with the mystery of a hidden painting and to thwart a nosy neighbor who takes to breaking and entering.

Michelle Mulder has written a fun and very compelling story that young readers will relate to on many levels. It is filled with mystery and excitement and showcases problems kids of Frida’s age face with fractured families, an all-too-common occurrence. The writing is excellent and the dialogue is snappy and true to the ages of the characters. It’s nice to see a good, platonic friendship between a boy and girl this age. Don’t miss this sweet story.