Rock Harbor Search and Rescue

Eighth-grader Emily O’Reilly had “means, motive, and opportunity” to steal Mrs. Dancer’s sapphire necklace, says Sheriff Kaleva; maybe, but Emily didn’t take it. All she wants is to become a search-and-rescue operator like her stepmother, Naomi, and her idol, Bree. Since everyone except her best friend Olivia thinks Emily stole the necklace, she has to clear her name, and to do that, she must find the real culprit. So begins the first book in a series for middle-grade readers based on bestseller Coble’s Rock Harbor series for adults. Told in third person from Emily’s point of view with a great deal of realistic, though sometimes dull, dialogue, the story is a briskly paced whodunit steeped in middle-school girl drama. The setting is Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the authors do a fine job of juggling a large cast. Some readers might wish for more polished prose or a dose of levity, but most will relate to the seriousness with which Emily takes herself, her faith, and her empathy. Ages 9–12. (Apr.)