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Quinnie Boyd Mysteries #1
The Maypop Kidnapping
C.M. Surrisi's debut middle-grade mystery, The Maypop Kidnapping is set in a small coastal Maine village filled with eccentric locals. When 13-year-old Quinnie's beloved teacher goes missing, Quinnie leads a relentless, sometimes misguided search – against her mother's orders.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
11 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Surrisi
6 books29 followersC. M. Surrisi has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Along with her husband, two dogs, and a cat, she lives in Asheville, NC. Visit her online at her Facebook page: C. M. Surrisi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
April 26, 2017
this was so cute & cozy. headstrong mc, engrossing mystery & small town coziness.
October 19, 2015
Quinnie Boyd's teacher, Ms. Stillford, has gone missing and Quinnie is convinced it's a kidnapping. Mom is Maiden Rock's town sheriff (and the postal worker and the realtor -- it's that kind of small town) and quite possibly the more reasonable of the two of them. Mom's pretty sure Ms. Stillford left of her own volition, even though she doesn't yet have an explanation for it. But Quinnie's just not so sure. Breaking in to Ms. Stillford's place in search of answers is just the beginning of this delightful middle grade whodunit. Has Ms. Stillford skipped out of town? Or could she be just under their nose? And if so, who nabbed her?
Surrisi has a knack for storytelling. Quinnie, her crush Ben, and her new maybe friend Ella are a delight, and Maiden Rock? Well, let's just say I'm seriously disappointed that Maiden Rock is only a fictional coastal Maine community. Otherwise, I'd be pulling a Stillford and driving up to Maine for some lobster fries. (In case you thought that was a spoiler alert, it isn't. She also is not stuck in a waiting line for those hard-to-get L.L. Bean boots either.)
Readers should be pleased to know there's at least one more Quinnie Boyd book in the works! Until then, I guess I'll just have to dream about lobster fries and try my hardest to not be super skeptical of everyone I see. You can never be too suspicious.
Surrisi has a knack for storytelling. Quinnie, her crush Ben, and her new maybe friend Ella are a delight, and Maiden Rock? Well, let's just say I'm seriously disappointed that Maiden Rock is only a fictional coastal Maine community. Otherwise, I'd be pulling a Stillford and driving up to Maine for some lobster fries. (In case you thought that was a spoiler alert, it isn't. She also is not stuck in a waiting line for those hard-to-get L.L. Bean boots either.)
Readers should be pleased to know there's at least one more Quinnie Boyd book in the works! Until then, I guess I'll just have to dream about lobster fries and try my hardest to not be super skeptical of everyone I see. You can never be too suspicious.
February 15, 2016
The characters in this mystery crackle and snap with life. At thirteen, Quinnie leads a pretty quiet life in the tiny town of Maiden Rock on the coast of Maine – a town so tiny that her crusader mother plays the parts of real estate agent, mayor, sheriff, AND postmaster. (And, in my absolute favorite detail, her office contains a separate desk for each role.) But things change when Quinnie’s beloved tutor disappears under suspicious circumstances, and no one else seems alarmed. Quinnie is determined to figure out what’s happening, and she’s aided by Ben, her childhood crush, and Ella, the daughter of a famous crime novelist staying in town. Maiden Rock is drawn in loving detail, from the diner run by Quinn’s dad that serves as a central meeting place for the residents, to the slightly batty nuns at Our Lady of the Tides convent. There’s just enough scary stuff to keep readers on edge, but characters, setting, and details of the crime keep the book firmly in middle grade territory. The only problem is that now I really really want to vacation in this fictional town…guess rereading this terrific mystery will have to suffice!
January 29, 2016
This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
I initially sent an e-mailed request to the publisher for this book because I thought it looked cute. When they told me they were out of physical copies but could approve it on Netgalley I took the plunge and joined up. That's right - I'm a brand-new Netgalley reviewer! Rah-rah team and all that. I feel like I'm quite on the in-crowd now - me and twenty thousand other reviewers. It took me like half an hour to get it set up so I could read Netgalley books on my iPad. This is normal, right?
Anyway, when I finally managed to download the Kindle app onto my iPad, set up the email address for it and then send the book over from the Netgalley website, what did I think of it? Well, I like it - a lot. It's a very fun, quirky read, and I enjoyed almost everything about it: the characters, the setting, the mystery . . . the only things I didn't really love were a) the way Quinnie kept setting her sights on someone and insisting that she just knew they were the culprit and b) the ending, which just feel that realistic.
This isn't going to be one of those reviews where I say, "I liked everything well enough, but it just didn't warm my heart because of these little flaws." No, this book most definitely did warm my heart - and I would be very happy to read a sequel (hint hint, Ms. Surrisi!). I'm just saying that there were things that could have made this into even more of a stand-out book. As it is, I enjoyed it and I'd happily read it again but in five years I'm going to have a hard time really remembering it.
Sometimes books set in quaint towns grate on my nerves, because they feel so obnoxiously "cute" that I just can't stomach it. The Maypop Kidnapping doesn't ever fall into that, though there were a couple times towards the beginning (especially when Quinnie's mother is introduced, with her different desks for her different jobs) when I thought it would. All played out smoothly, though, and Quinnie's tight-knit small-town life fits the story like a comfy old pair of warn-in jeans.
Quinnie is a great girl, very conscientious, and she tries very hard to obey her parents until her mother shuts her down one too many times and Quinnie decides she's the only one who really knows how to look for her teacher. I appreciated the fact that her parents weren't just obstacles to be overcome (as they are depicted in a lot of middle-grade novels) - instead, they're real individuals who love their daughter very much and just don't always communicate in the best of ways. Quinnie's not a brat to her parents and they're not inattentive to the point of negligence - both huge points in the book's favor.
If you think this book looks interesting to you, then by all means check it out - I don't think you'll be disappointed!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary eARC of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I initially sent an e-mailed request to the publisher for this book because I thought it looked cute. When they told me they were out of physical copies but could approve it on Netgalley I took the plunge and joined up. That's right - I'm a brand-new Netgalley reviewer! Rah-rah team and all that. I feel like I'm quite on the in-crowd now - me and twenty thousand other reviewers. It took me like half an hour to get it set up so I could read Netgalley books on my iPad. This is normal, right?
Anyway, when I finally managed to download the Kindle app onto my iPad, set up the email address for it and then send the book over from the Netgalley website, what did I think of it? Well, I like it - a lot. It's a very fun, quirky read, and I enjoyed almost everything about it: the characters, the setting, the mystery . . . the only things I didn't really love were a) the way Quinnie kept setting her sights on someone and insisting that she just knew they were the culprit and b) the ending, which just feel that realistic.
This isn't going to be one of those reviews where I say, "I liked everything well enough, but it just didn't warm my heart because of these little flaws." No, this book most definitely did warm my heart - and I would be very happy to read a sequel (hint hint, Ms. Surrisi!). I'm just saying that there were things that could have made this into even more of a stand-out book. As it is, I enjoyed it and I'd happily read it again but in five years I'm going to have a hard time really remembering it.
Sometimes books set in quaint towns grate on my nerves, because they feel so obnoxiously "cute" that I just can't stomach it. The Maypop Kidnapping doesn't ever fall into that, though there were a couple times towards the beginning (especially when Quinnie's mother is introduced, with her different desks for her different jobs) when I thought it would. All played out smoothly, though, and Quinnie's tight-knit small-town life fits the story like a comfy old pair of warn-in jeans.
Quinnie is a great girl, very conscientious, and she tries very hard to obey her parents until her mother shuts her down one too many times and Quinnie decides she's the only one who really knows how to look for her teacher. I appreciated the fact that her parents weren't just obstacles to be overcome (as they are depicted in a lot of middle-grade novels) - instead, they're real individuals who love their daughter very much and just don't always communicate in the best of ways. Quinnie's not a brat to her parents and they're not inattentive to the point of negligence - both huge points in the book's favor.
If you think this book looks interesting to you, then by all means check it out - I don't think you'll be disappointed!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary eARC of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2016
Trouble in Maiden Rock? Yes, it’s big trouble! Ms. Stillford, Quinnie’s teacher, goes missing! Quinnie and her friend Ben suspect almost everyone: two old admirers who’ve pined after Ms. Stillford for decades, a rocker group passing through town, even two nuns from the local convent. You’ll find yourself smack dab in the middle of the mystery, worrying about Ms. Stillford, resenting the new girl Mariella, house breaking and snooping alongside Quinnie. The Maypop Kidnapping by C.M. Surrisi reminds us that even grownups make mistakes and that somebody doesn’t have to be just like you in order to be your friend. This was fast paced and fun. See if you can figure out “who dunnit?”
December 17, 2015
Fun mystery story about a small Maine town and how everyone knows everyone else - or do they? Quinnie lives in a town so small her mother is the sheriff, postal worker, and real estate broker. When Quinnie's teacher goes missing, she is certain it is a kidnapping. The sheriff is not so sure. Quinnie starts a search, enlists help from a friend and a new girl, and goes against just abut every rule her mother, and father, make. There are clues, suspects, some local quirky characters, and enough intrigue to keep you reading.
January 8, 2016
The Maypop Kidnapping is an exciting mystery novel for middle grade kids. Quinnie and her new classmate Ella know that their teacher, Ms. Stillford, has been kidnapped. Unfortunately, the Sheriff, who also happens to be Quinnie's mom, doesn't agree. The girls must keep their investigation of the crime secret. After plenty of twists and turns, Quinnie and Ella solve it all in a thrilling conclusion readers won't expect.
January 4, 2016
A nice middle grade mystery about a girl named Quinette (Quinnie) who lives in a small town on the coast of Maine. When her teacher disappears, she has a hard time convincing anyone that something might really be wrong. She finally does and then she and her friends help to solve the teacher's kidnapping.
March 18, 2024
The Maypop Kidnapping is the 1st book in the Quinnie Boyd Mystery series for Middlegrade readers. The books are set in a very small coastal Maine village, called Maiden Rock. When the summer people leave, there are so few year round residents that Quinn's mom is the Sheriff, Postmaster and Real Estate Agent. The book opens with Quinn upset that her best friend and neighbour Zoe has moved away for the year with her dad and there will be an author and his daughter renting their house. Quinn heads over to Gusty's, the local eatery that is owned by her father to meet up with her teacher/tutor Ms. Stillwell to try and cheer up. They talk about the upcoming week and school starting for them. On the first day set for school, Ms. Stillwell doesn't show up and Quinn heads to her house. What she sees there leads her to believe that she has been kidnapped. She tells her mom, who doesn't take her seriously until she has been missing for several days. This leads Quinn on a hunt for her friend, mentor and teacher, with her new friend Ella, and Ben, the only other kid in the village. Will they find Ms. Stillwell without putting themselves in danger?
This is a great mystery for middlegraders, but I will admit that I enjoyed it as well. Still Rock is a community where everyone knows each other and their business. There are several quirky characters, such as Sister Rosie and Sister Ethel who are known by their bad habits. Quinn is a precocious thirteen year old, who doesn't always do what her mother asks, she stretches it a bit, thus getting herself into some sticky situations. Everyone pitches in to help in the search, but it doesn't mean that Quinn doesn't think a few of them could be the kidnapper. Ella's father is a mystery writer, so she has a lot of advice for Quinn, which she doesn't want to take, until she realizes that it makes sense, but is it too late? There is some danger to the girls, but nothing too serious. The clues Quinn puts together lead her in several directions, but eventually she figures it out. I really liked the relationships between Quinn and her parents as well as Quinn and Ms. Stillwell. The title comes from the reason for the kidnapping, so you will have to read this one to see how it fits. I am going to look for this trilogy as I think my granddaughter would enjoy Quinn's adventures.
This is a great mystery for middlegraders, but I will admit that I enjoyed it as well. Still Rock is a community where everyone knows each other and their business. There are several quirky characters, such as Sister Rosie and Sister Ethel who are known by their bad habits. Quinn is a precocious thirteen year old, who doesn't always do what her mother asks, she stretches it a bit, thus getting herself into some sticky situations. Everyone pitches in to help in the search, but it doesn't mean that Quinn doesn't think a few of them could be the kidnapper. Ella's father is a mystery writer, so she has a lot of advice for Quinn, which she doesn't want to take, until she realizes that it makes sense, but is it too late? There is some danger to the girls, but nothing too serious. The clues Quinn puts together lead her in several directions, but eventually she figures it out. I really liked the relationships between Quinn and her parents as well as Quinn and Ms. Stillwell. The title comes from the reason for the kidnapping, so you will have to read this one to see how it fits. I am going to look for this trilogy as I think my granddaughter would enjoy Quinn's adventures.
November 13, 2019
What a cute book. It's about a thirteen-year-old girl named Quinnie whose private teacher goes missing. At first, Quinnie is the only person who appears concerned for her teacher's well-being. But after a suspicious letter shows up in the mail, Quinnie's mother, who is also the town's Sheriff, post-master, and real estate agent, decides that something is amiss.
Of course, Quinnie isn't happy to just have her mother on the case. She performs her own investigation as well, causing no end to the trouble she gets in.
This is a really fun middle grade to lower YA mystery novel. Kids in the 10-14 age group will enjoy reading about Quinnie and her search for her missing teacher. With a small town full of quirky personalities, including spurned lovers, mysterious rockers, and a pair of old nuns living in a dilapidated convent, this mystery is perfect for kids. There is enough suspense to keep readers turning pages late into the night.
Source: I bought this book.
Content: Clean. Some suspense and very mild romance. Movie rating would be PG.
Of course, Quinnie isn't happy to just have her mother on the case. She performs her own investigation as well, causing no end to the trouble she gets in.
This is a really fun middle grade to lower YA mystery novel. Kids in the 10-14 age group will enjoy reading about Quinnie and her search for her missing teacher. With a small town full of quirky personalities, including spurned lovers, mysterious rockers, and a pair of old nuns living in a dilapidated convent, this mystery is perfect for kids. There is enough suspense to keep readers turning pages late into the night.
Source: I bought this book.
Content: Clean. Some suspense and very mild romance. Movie rating would be PG.
March 30, 2024
The Maypop Kidnapping
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.57/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 7
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.57/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 7
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
February 29, 2016
The story: When Quinnie Boyd's personal tutor goes missing, Quinnie knows she can't just have gone on an unexpected trip. Quinnie, along with best friend Ben and annoying new girl Ella, starts poking around town looking for clues, much to the irritation of the town sheriff--who also happens to be her mother. Quinnie should have known that snooping around where she's not wanted was going to land her in a literal boatload of trouble!
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (kidnapping, drug production) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: This is a fun mystery and a solid MS read that will appeal to girl fans of the genre. Too bad the cover makes it look younger than it actually is.
School Library Journal (January 1, 2016)
Gr 5-8-This funny and engaging debut is set in contemporary Maine, as eighth grader Quinnie is just about to begin school with her class of two when her teacher goes missing. Quinnie pleads with her mother-Maiden Rock's mayor, sheriff, and only real estate agent-to search for her missing teacher, but to no avail. After days of waiting, the tiny town finally realizes that something strange is happening in Maiden Rock. Armed with a new friend and her desperate desire to find her teacher, Quinnie takes matters into her own hands. Who is the kidnapper? "Maniac psycho-killer lover" Owen Loney? Left-at-the-altar John Derby? And just what are those two nuns up to, anyway? Surrisi has created a tale that captures readers' attention within the first few pages and keeps up the pace through the last chapter. The characters are relatable, refreshingly human, and very funny. Quinnie acts just like a 13-year-old girl would; she is an adult, a child, wise, and very foolish all at the same time. Surrisi's law background lends valuable perspective and information to the mystery but is never heavy-handed. Information is always provided through Quinnie and with the right level of comprehension for a girl her age. Perfect for middle schoolers and upper elementary-aged readers, this title hits just the right note of suspense without being too scary. A minor flaw is an abundance of pop culture references, which will date the book far too quickly. Here's hoping the next installment of this planned series keeps Quinnie on her toes. VERDICT A general purchase for most libraries, and a first purchase where mysteries are in high demand.-Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR © Copyright 2016.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (kidnapping, drug production) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: This is a fun mystery and a solid MS read that will appeal to girl fans of the genre. Too bad the cover makes it look younger than it actually is.
School Library Journal (January 1, 2016)
Gr 5-8-This funny and engaging debut is set in contemporary Maine, as eighth grader Quinnie is just about to begin school with her class of two when her teacher goes missing. Quinnie pleads with her mother-Maiden Rock's mayor, sheriff, and only real estate agent-to search for her missing teacher, but to no avail. After days of waiting, the tiny town finally realizes that something strange is happening in Maiden Rock. Armed with a new friend and her desperate desire to find her teacher, Quinnie takes matters into her own hands. Who is the kidnapper? "Maniac psycho-killer lover" Owen Loney? Left-at-the-altar John Derby? And just what are those two nuns up to, anyway? Surrisi has created a tale that captures readers' attention within the first few pages and keeps up the pace through the last chapter. The characters are relatable, refreshingly human, and very funny. Quinnie acts just like a 13-year-old girl would; she is an adult, a child, wise, and very foolish all at the same time. Surrisi's law background lends valuable perspective and information to the mystery but is never heavy-handed. Information is always provided through Quinnie and with the right level of comprehension for a girl her age. Perfect for middle schoolers and upper elementary-aged readers, this title hits just the right note of suspense without being too scary. A minor flaw is an abundance of pop culture references, which will date the book far too quickly. Here's hoping the next installment of this planned series keeps Quinnie on her toes. VERDICT A general purchase for most libraries, and a first purchase where mysteries are in high demand.-Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR © Copyright 2016.
January 14, 2018
What a great mystery book for 5th-8th graders! Surrisi has created a novel that will keep readers chuckling and wondering all the way through. Quinnie Boyd is a completely likable character with traits that will ring true with other 10 to 14 year olds as she faces separation from her best friend, changing feelings towards a boy she has grown up with, and an up and down relationship with a mom who is just as independent and capable as she is. The mystery that Quinnie is determined to solve revolves around her missing teacher and suspects abound, including a jilted fiancé, an enamored lobsterman, and a group of tattooed twenty-somethings. Seamlessly entwined in the mystery are relationship struggles with friends, parents, and neighbors who all have a their view of what the coastal town of Maiden Rock should be. Even “foodies” will find something to love as most of the town’s happenings occur in or around Gusty’s, the restaurant that has been owned by Quinnie’s family for generations and where burgers, chowder, cinnamon rolls and Moxie are served up daily. Having read (and loved) book 2 in the Quinnie Boyd mystery series last year when I received a preview copy in the mail, I recently and happily downloaded book 3, A Side of Sabotage, from Edelweiss Plus and enjoyed that one as much as Vampires on the Run. Reading the debut book last gave me an interesting perspective as I already what was to come for many of the characters, but if anything, it made the experience even better. I look forward to receiving all three books in my Spring order for my fifth grade library and will actively promote them with both male and female readers of mystery, action/adventure and realistic fiction. As with the other two Quinnie books, author Surrisi presents teens who behave like 13 year olds do, but without language, innuendo, or excessive violence, a lesson that other writers should learn.
November 12, 2015
Everything seems just fine in the tiny town of Maiden Rock, Maine, a town so small that Quinnie’s mom is the sheriff, the mayor, the post master and the real estate person. Quinnie is tutored instead of having to travel miles to a school, tutored by a retired teacher, Ms. Stillford, but her teacher never showed up at the only restaurant in town, their meeting place, for the first day of tutoring.
What happened to her? She seemed to have disappeared! Quinnie is sure her tutor has been kidnapped! No one believes her, especially her mom – the sheriff – so Quinnie, with her friend, Ben, and the new kid in town, Ella, daughter of a mystery writer renting a nearby house – begin their own investigation!
Could it be the lobsterman who has a thing for their tutor? Or maybe the head of the wildlife center who was about to get married to Ms. Stillford, but she left him alone at the church?
Their investigation leads to nail biting adventures in this suspenseful and often hilarious mystery set in a small, seaside Maine town – definitely a fun read!
What happened to her? She seemed to have disappeared! Quinnie is sure her tutor has been kidnapped! No one believes her, especially her mom – the sheriff – so Quinnie, with her friend, Ben, and the new kid in town, Ella, daughter of a mystery writer renting a nearby house – begin their own investigation!
Could it be the lobsterman who has a thing for their tutor? Or maybe the head of the wildlife center who was about to get married to Ms. Stillford, but she left him alone at the church?
Their investigation leads to nail biting adventures in this suspenseful and often hilarious mystery set in a small, seaside Maine town – definitely a fun read!
February 14, 2016
I had the opportunity to read a digital-ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is a fun, middle-grade mystery to read. I enjoyed it, and I believe my fifth grade students would enjoy it, because it's got more suspense to it than mysteries for earlier readers (Cam Jansen, Nate the Great, Encyclopedia Brown), but it's not over-the-top with scary violence.
The mystery begins when Quinnie's teacher, Blythe Stillford, fails to show up for her traditional first-day-of-school breakfast date at Gusty's. Concerned, Quinnie walks from the restaurant to Ms. Stillford's house. No one appears to be home when Quinnie peeks in the windows and nobody answers the door. She can see her teacher's cell phone resting on the dining room table. She enters the house through the unlocked kitchen door. Food is left out on the counter, her teacher's house is undisturbed, and her car is still in the garage. Quinnie becomes convinced that her teacher has been kidnapped.
For my complete review, please visit my blog: http://www.janatheteacher.blogspot.co...
The mystery begins when Quinnie's teacher, Blythe Stillford, fails to show up for her traditional first-day-of-school breakfast date at Gusty's. Concerned, Quinnie walks from the restaurant to Ms. Stillford's house. No one appears to be home when Quinnie peeks in the windows and nobody answers the door. She can see her teacher's cell phone resting on the dining room table. She enters the house through the unlocked kitchen door. Food is left out on the counter, her teacher's house is undisturbed, and her car is still in the garage. Quinnie becomes convinced that her teacher has been kidnapped.
For my complete review, please visit my blog: http://www.janatheteacher.blogspot.co...
February 16, 2016
Sometimes you just want to read something a little lighter. Don’t you? After the created worlds of Ivanovich’s War of Princes and Elizabeth’s Cogling, it was nice to go to Maiden Rock, Maine, and solve a simple mystery with a 13-year-old girl. I just love sinking into a good middle grade book. It reminds me of being 12 myself–that age where you’re still a child and you still kind of feel like a child but you also feel so very grown up and ready to make your own decisions. Such a pivotal point in the human life. I don’t think we ever forget what it feels like, and fortunately for us, C. M. Surrisi remembers it very well and writes about it even better...
See full review at www.litmamahomeschool.com
*I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review*
See full review at www.litmamahomeschool.com
*I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review*
August 12, 2016
This is a good solid mystery for the younger teen crowd. The narrator has a good solid and entertaining voice and I appreciated the fact that the main characters acted like smart 7th/8th graders and not like hard boiled detectives. They act out of well intended impulses and confused emotions. They even stop and think about what they are doing from time to time.
The mystery itself manages a good balance of having enough seriousness to give it suspense without being so intense that it would be too much for its audience.
If you are looking for a good solid book for a reader spreading their wings into mysteries or one that doesn't want anything too cutesy, but also doesn't want things too intense, I would absolutely recommend this one.
The mystery itself manages a good balance of having enough seriousness to give it suspense without being so intense that it would be too much for its audience.
If you are looking for a good solid book for a reader spreading their wings into mysteries or one that doesn't want anything too cutesy, but also doesn't want things too intense, I would absolutely recommend this one.
April 24, 2018
This book absolutely delighted me! I love Quinnie Boyd, a girl who will not be stopped in solving the mystery of her missing teacher. The odd, quirky town of Maiden Rock (where Quinnie lives) is filled with odd, quirky characters--and it all feels absolutely authentic and real. The story had me guessing right up to the heart-racing climax which kept me up way past my bedtime. I look forward to reading the next Quinnie Boyd mystery!
March 6, 2016
I absolutely adored this middle grade book! It was charming yet full of suspense. I found myself completely sucked into the story, compliments of C.M. Surrisi's perfectly nuanced writing. I loved how it was a mystery yet also effectively explored the equally mysterious complexity of friendships, crushes, and parental relationships.
June 2, 2016
Awesome middle-grade mystery, totally appropriate without being 'kiddish'... Quinnie is an intelligent, original protagonist and I enjoyed the dynamic with her, Ella, and Ben.
I do wish there was more elaboration on Zoe, since her absence came up numerous times... But the conflict between Quinnie's friendship with her vs Ella never gets resolved.
I do wish there was more elaboration on Zoe, since her absence came up numerous times... But the conflict between Quinnie's friendship with her vs Ella never gets resolved.
October 19, 2015
The Maypop Kidnapping is wonderfully creative. There are twists and turns that keep the reader interested and part of the quest to solve the mystery. My grandson who is ten was enthralled and can't wait for another book by Surrisi.
September 27, 2016
Quinnie is such a lovable character- I'd have followed her anywhere. That she took me around the endearing town of Maiden Rock- filled with quirky Mainers, mysterious rock stars and slightly suspicious nuns was all the better. An engrossing mystery with unforgettable characters.
January 24, 2016
Review will be published in VOYA magazine.
May 30, 2016
A skillfully plotted mystery with a come-to-life setting and characters to love. AND a debut novel?! Looking forward to more from Surrisi!
May 30, 2016
This made me interested in going to Maine, this little town sounds like an interesting quaint place. A fun, relatively light mystery.
June 23, 2016
Bookaday #23. Fun MG mystery in a small Maine town: missing teacher, mysterious plant, & multi tasking mom.
June 29, 2016
Maiden Rock, Maine is usually pretty quiet during the off-season. Then Quinnie's teacher goes missing . . . just as a crime novelist and his daughter move to the island.
November 5, 2018
The Maypop Kidnapping
By: C.M. Surrisi
Quinnie is ready to start her next year of schooling not quite like all the others, she is taught in her dad's café by her favorite teacher in the coastal village of Maiden Rock, Maine. Quinnie has a busy family with her dad running the family café and her mom wearing all the hats including the sheriff, Mayor, and the real estate agent. Quinnie is not excited about the circumstances of this year; she will have a fellow student from New York named Ella joining her and moving in the house in which her best friend Zoie used to live. Quinnie and Mrs. Stillford met the day before school started at the café to discuss their annual pancake breakfast, and plans for the school year. They headed home to gear up for an early morning yet to come. Seven o’clock sharp at the café. When Mrs.Stillford fails to show up, questions are asked. Where is she? Has she been kidnapped? Quinnie is certain that Mrs. Stillford has been taken against her will but with nobody by her side except her best friend Ben and the new girl Ella, she knew she had to do this by herself with the help of her two companions. Yet, as clues keep emerging and Mrs. Stillford has not appeared the sheriff and search teams knew something was up. Will they find Mrs. Stillford or her kidnapper before it's too late?
I really enjoyed this fictional teen book because it expresses much curiosity keeping me and other readers hooked throughout the book; making a variety of audiences attracted to this reading . The Paperback Novel, The Maypop Kidnapping, made me feel as though I was in the book. Unfortunately, the novel did become very confusing at some points.
I appreciate that this book teaches an important lesson along the lines of, keeping an open mind. The author accomplishes this by having Mrs. Boyd disagree with all of Quinine's explanations until she finally realized that what she was saying was a possibility and they needed to investigate to find out what happened to Mrs. Stillford. "I should have been more open to your concerns, but Blythe does have a history, and you can’t just go around wildly accusing of such things” said Mrs. Boyd emphasizing that she should have taken Quinine's ideas into consideration much earlier.
Megan Doyle
By: C.M. Surrisi
Quinnie is ready to start her next year of schooling not quite like all the others, she is taught in her dad's café by her favorite teacher in the coastal village of Maiden Rock, Maine. Quinnie has a busy family with her dad running the family café and her mom wearing all the hats including the sheriff, Mayor, and the real estate agent. Quinnie is not excited about the circumstances of this year; she will have a fellow student from New York named Ella joining her and moving in the house in which her best friend Zoie used to live. Quinnie and Mrs. Stillford met the day before school started at the café to discuss their annual pancake breakfast, and plans for the school year. They headed home to gear up for an early morning yet to come. Seven o’clock sharp at the café. When Mrs.Stillford fails to show up, questions are asked. Where is she? Has she been kidnapped? Quinnie is certain that Mrs. Stillford has been taken against her will but with nobody by her side except her best friend Ben and the new girl Ella, she knew she had to do this by herself with the help of her two companions. Yet, as clues keep emerging and Mrs. Stillford has not appeared the sheriff and search teams knew something was up. Will they find Mrs. Stillford or her kidnapper before it's too late?
I really enjoyed this fictional teen book because it expresses much curiosity keeping me and other readers hooked throughout the book; making a variety of audiences attracted to this reading . The Paperback Novel, The Maypop Kidnapping, made me feel as though I was in the book. Unfortunately, the novel did become very confusing at some points.
I appreciate that this book teaches an important lesson along the lines of, keeping an open mind. The author accomplishes this by having Mrs. Boyd disagree with all of Quinine's explanations until she finally realized that what she was saying was a possibility and they needed to investigate to find out what happened to Mrs. Stillford. "I should have been more open to your concerns, but Blythe does have a history, and you can’t just go around wildly accusing of such things” said Mrs. Boyd emphasizing that she should have taken Quinine's ideas into consideration much earlier.
Megan Doyle
March 13, 2017
As a Maine resident, I spent most of the time trying to figure out where the story was set. Based on the time it takes to get to Houlton, I would set it in the Bristol/Damariscotta area, and I can't imagine a town that tiny in that part of Maine. Downeast, past Machais? Sure. But it wouldn't be four hours away from Houlton. If it were an island, such as Matinicus, definitely, but it wasn't. I recognize that, for some readers, who cares? It's based on the author's Maine memories. Well, for this reader, I want a believable setting, and for me, as a Mainer who has spent a fair amount of time in the midcoast, southern and central parts of the state, that's not a believable setting.
Okay, so let's say you are a person who can ignore the setting. How's the plot? Characters? Well, I did like Quinn, who works hard to convince the adults in her life that her teacher really is missing. I also enjoyed watching the town solve the mystery, and how interconnected everyone's lives were. And, of course, I was always wondering what those nuns were up to. It wrapped up a little too quickly for me, but overall, the story part was fine. It's the setting that really didn't click for me.
Okay, so let's say you are a person who can ignore the setting. How's the plot? Characters? Well, I did like Quinn, who works hard to convince the adults in her life that her teacher really is missing. I also enjoyed watching the town solve the mystery, and how interconnected everyone's lives were. And, of course, I was always wondering what those nuns were up to. It wrapped up a little too quickly for me, but overall, the story part was fine. It's the setting that really didn't click for me.
June 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this story! I might even have cried with Quinnie towards the end (on pages 282-283). I really liked her. She was smart, adventurous, and rather mature for a 13-year-old starting 8th grade!
I really enjoyed the lack of angst in this story. Sure, Quinnie got upset with her Mom at points, but I never felt like she was an angst-ridden mess. And I was very grateful for this!
I read this middle-grade book because I needed something light and easy after finishing Romanov by Nadine Brandes late last night. Granted, this was a mystery and not so "light," but it was a fun story that I really enjoyed!
I really enjoyed the lack of angst in this story. Sure, Quinnie got upset with her Mom at points, but I never felt like she was an angst-ridden mess. And I was very grateful for this!
I read this middle-grade book because I needed something light and easy after finishing Romanov by Nadine Brandes late last night. Granted, this was a mystery and not so "light," but it was a fun story that I really enjoyed!
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