The Monkey's Secret

Gennifer Choldenko author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Hot Key Books

Published:6th Aug '15

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Monkey's Secret cover

A segregated town, a hidden boy, a courageous girl - and a mystery in desperate need of solving.

San Francisco, 1900. Thirteen-year-old Lizzy Kennedy is not like the other girls in her town. She'd much rather be helping her doctor father with his patients than be stuck in frilly dresses and learn how to dance - but unfortunately for her, society (and her Aunt Hortense) has other ideas about what is 'proper' for a young lady. This includes not poking your nose in other's people's business - but then Jing, their beloved housekeeper, gets stuck in the Chinatown quarantine. Fear rules San Francisco - fear of the Chinese, and mostly fear of the plague rumours that circle them. Lizzie knows she has to help Jing, whatever the warnings. But what she doesn't expect to find is a strange boy hiding in Jing's room.

The boy is called Noah. He says he's Jing's son - although Lizzie's never heard of him - and although he's escaped the quarantine, he can't risk leaving the house in case he gets rounded-up too. Lizzie wants to investigate, but it seems her questions only get people riled up. Is there really plague in San Francisco? What have the Chinese got to do with it? Just what or who is the mysterious 'monkey' - and what has his secret got to do with anything? Lizzie will have to use all of her courage, instinct and cleverness to unravel the mystery of the monkey's secret, save Jing, Noah and Chinatown - and maybe even her change her own destiny.

A solid story of friendship, mystery, and one girl's perseverance * Kirkus Reviews *
This engrossing mystery perfectly balances heart and intrigue, proving once again Choldenko's talent for packaging history within a story that kids are bound to love. -- Julia Smith * Booklist *
Choldenko's latest features a fast-paced plot that will appeal to lovers of both mystery and historical fiction * School Library Journal Reviews *
This book is a masterpiece ... wonderfully told and deserves praise galore. * The Guardian (Praise for AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS) *
[T]he book is hard to put down. You have been warned! -- Rudolf Loewenstein * School Library Association *

ISBN: 9781471403521

Dimensions: 198mm x 17mm x 128mm

Weight: 221g

272 pages