Yours Truly: A Pumpkin Falls Mystery by Heather Vogel Frederick

I read Absolutely Truly when it first came out in 2014 and really liked this cozy mystery. I have repeatedly put it up on a display stand in the library hoping someone will check it out but it usually continues to display instead of going home with someone. I have wished that a sequel would come out....because I really love cozy mysteries and expect lots of sequels as you get to know the characters.  So, I was delighted to find book 2 at a book store when I was on vacation over spring break. It came out in 2017.  That is really too long for such a charming book!

The book features a family of seven who move from Texas to Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire to help run the family bookstore. The father is suffering from injuries in the Afghanistan war and is no longer able to serve as a pilot for his career. In the first book, the family settles into the family home, school and bookstore business and in the process solve a mystery involving a first edition copy of Charlotte's Web. The season is winter.

In Yours Truly, the main character, Truly Lovejoy, a junior high girl, helps her friends figure out who is sabotaging the spring maple syrup production at the local farms in Pumpkin Falls. Truly's cousin visits over spring break and causes jealousy among her friendships and my favorite plot point was when Truly discovers a diary that leads to the discovery of a station on the Underground Railroad.  

This book has a little history, some mystery, and a touch of growing up angst. There are a lot of fun details about the family, book store, and town they live in.  I think I like cozy mysteries because they allow me to be a bit of a snoop and experience the life of the character and their family and community. And they are never too scary and usually resolve well.  I am not sure if the loose ends of the mystery tied up exactly the way I expected but I overlooked it just because I enjoyed the book. 

If you are looking for lots of adventure and thrills then this is not the book for you. This is a quiet and charming story about a family and their lives in a small town. I happen to really love this type of book. I only hope the next book comes along faster!

Age Range: 10 - 14
Grade Level: 4 -8
Reading Level:  5.2
Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (January 31, 2017)
Rating:  4 out of 4

I thought about Miracles On Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen when I read Yours Truly. It was a Newbery winner in 1957. This is a story about a family who move from the city to a Pennsylvania farm to help the father who is suffering from post traumatic disorder after coming home from WW II. The daughter, Marly, experiences life in the country and with the arrival of spring gets to be part of the maple harvest.  

It is another charming story of family who are helping the father to heal after serving in the military.  I really enjoyed this book.  I think reading both books would be a interesting book experience.