• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12 to 18

Fifteen-year-old Charlie stays home from school so he can help his older brother, Tom, who is in a hip-to-toe cast after breaking his leg in a football game.

When not waiting on his brother hand and foot, Charlie investigates a series of break-ins that have the whole neighborhood on edge. Things really hit home when Charlie nearly catches the thief and then foils an attempted break-in at his own house. As he continues to piece together the clues, Charlie realizes that the easiest way for the culprit to avoid suspicion is to hide in plain sight.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Alison Hughes is an award-winning author of many books for children and young adults, including The Silence Slips In, winner of the R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature and Hit the Ground Running, a nominee for the Governor General's Literary Award. Alison is a university Writing Advisor, volunteers with children and literacy groups and gives frequent workshops and presentations at schools, libraries, festivals and conferences across Canada. She lives in Edmonton with her family.

Alison Hughes' profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

“In this short but very effective story, Hughes conveys a credible mystery and subsequent detection without resorting to cliché or shortchanging the dynamic.”

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"An entertaining roller-coaster ride of emotions for reluctant readers."

Kirkus Reviews

“A solid book with an engaging plot. Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“Hughes has the skill to engage struggling readers with her quick, smoothly written plots and her interesting characters…a fast-paced, interesting book with just enough drama to make a struggling reader, or a reader who desires a quick and easy book for the moment, enjoy diving into the story.”

Must Read Literature: K thru YA