Written by Jeffrey Michael Ruby
Penelope March lives on a glacier. Literally. Within the city, the townspeople harvest turnips from the ice, live, go to school, and work. Everything seems hunky dory. Except, there is an ancient legend of an evil shape-shifter. After being defeated, she swore she’d come back and melt the whole city into the ocean. In town, there seems to only be one mysterious person who knows the full tale. When the ice starts melting and her brother starts having visions of the city drowning, Penelope can’t help but wonder if there’s truth to the legend. Is the shape-shifter real? Can she save the city from destruction?
The plot is complex and intriguing. The characters are well-developed, likable, and engaging. The mystery is interactive, full of adventure, and keeps the readers guessing until the end. It is recommended, however, that the reader keep a clues journal to refer back to. This book would be perfect for guided reading, close reading, and deductive reasoning skills teaching. Fans of 39 clues, mysteries, and adventures will enjoy reading this book.
Review by Jessica Moody, Olympus Jr. High Media Center
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 5-9
Penelope March Is Melting
Written by Jeffrey Michael Ruby
Delacorte Press
312 pages
Release Date: November 14, 2017
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
