The Girl from Felony Bay

May 13, 2013
Thompson's children's book debut offers mystery and adventure, while simultaneously exploring the far reach of history, justice, race, and family. Narrator Abbey Force begins the summer before seventh grade on Leadenwah Island, living with her conniving uncle and aunt, working on the horse farm her family used to own, and visiting her comatose father in a Charleston hospital. Determined to clear him of charges of malpractice and theft, Abbey finds an unexpected ally in Bee Force, the daughter of Reward Plantation's new owner and a descendant of slaves Abbey's family once owned. "Oh my gosh.... I'm sorry," Abbey says at their initial meeting, to which Bee responds, "It was a long time ago.... Had nothing to do with the two of us." Upon learning that her father had planned to deed Felony Bay to other descendants of Force slaves, Abbey discovers a motive for why someone might have framed him. The girls make clever sleuths, well-drawn supporting characters offer both farce and intrigue, and the snake- and alligator-infested swamps provide sultry local flavor in this ethically nuanced and suspenseful whodunit. Ages 8â12. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Foundry Literary + Media.

June 1, 2013

Gr 4-7-Spirited Abbey Force, 12, is the only child of the former owner of Reward Plantation, near Charleston, South Carolina. After a curious accident 18 months before, Abbey's father was found in a coma, surrounded by stolen jewels. Now Abbey lives with her cruel uncle and is determined to prove that her father is not a thief. Help arrives in the form of the daughter of the new plantation owner, Bee Force. The plot is clever, with clues dropped in each chapter and a surprising betrayal at the end. Suspense builds steadily, fueled by buried treasure, villains, and old-fashioned sleuthing. Thompson writes with plenty of dialogue, and the action is nonstop, but there is attention to detail as well. The landscape of Felony Bay-complete with alligators, mosquitoes, and a derelict cabin-creates a setting central to the story. With mixed success, Thompson takes Southern gothic tropes and incorporates them into a fast-paced mystery with subplots that tackle tough issues. Abbey is sensitive to Reward Plantation's slaveholding history. She is aware that her friend Bee, who is African American and shares her last name, is descended from people who were once slaves there. The story is a little heavy-handed, but tenacious Abbey makes it appealing to readers.-Martha Baden, Prescott Public Library, AZ

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