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The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes #15
Now You See It, Now You Don't
Abby Hayes tries to solve the mystery of who at her school is stealing the things which her fellow students value the most.
126 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2005
About the author
Anne Mazer
74 books108 followersQuite a lot of Anne Mazer’s writing education took place while she was unconscious. Her parents wanted desperately to become writers and made themselves get up at 4:00 a.m. Every morning in order to have writing time before their three young children awoke. The first thing Anne heard every day was two big, noisy electric typewriters. The furious sound of typing was her childhood wake-up music. During the day, her parents endlessly discussed ideas, plot, and character, and before she was seven years old, Anne knew about revisions, first and second drafts, and rejection slips. It was like growing up in a twenty four hour, seven day a week writer’s boot camp.
In order to escape from her parents’ obsession with writing, Anne turned to books. She was an avid reader from an early age and credits her love of reading for her writing career. Her favorite works were fantasy, fairy tales, historical fiction, humor, realistic fiction, and adventure. Her other interests were language, art, history, and science. At the age of twelve, she wanted to be an actress, a ballerina and a nuclear physicist. These careers were rapidly eliminated as she realized that a) she couldn’t dance, b) she couldn’t act; and c) she hated math.
Although at the time Anne thought writing was nothing but a nuisance, she now considers herself very lucky to have grown up with two aspiring writers. She learned a lot about discipline, perseverance and dedication to a craft from witnessing her parents’ struggle. They eventually became successful and award-winning young adult novelists.
It took Anne a long time to figure out that she, too, wanted to be a writer. During early adulthood, she worked as an au pair, a bank teller, a pill bottle labeler, a receptionist, an English tutor, and an administrative assistant, as well as other jobs that she was ill-suited for. She attended three universities, spent several years in Paris, traveled throughout Europe, and worked in Boston and New York City.
Anne’s “eureka” moment about writing came while she prepared a research report for one of her bosses. As she lovingly polished each sentence, and meticulously organized the paragraphs, she realized that no one really cared how beautifully she wrote about the latest models of air-conditioners. Except her, of course.
Using her parents’ model of daily writing and discipline, she began to write. It took her seven years to publish her first book, a picture book inspired by her then two year old son, Max.
Anne is the mother of an adult son and daughter. Over the last twenty years, she has written over forty-five books for young readers. She has enough ideas to last for another quarter century and hopes that she will be writing for a very long time.
Fun Facts About Anne Mazer
Her favorite foods are popcorn, rice pudding and blueberries.
When she was a kid, she would sometimes read up to ten books a day.
If she had magic powers, she'd choose invisibility.
She painted the rooms in her house yellow, orange, and violet.
One of her favorite childhood books was The Twilight of Magic, by Hugh Lofting.
When Anne was a teenager, her room was so messy that she needed a map to get from the door to the bed. (sort of)
In school Anne often flunked her favorite creative subjects, like writing and art.
In order to escape from her parents’ obsession with writing, Anne turned to books. She was an avid reader from an early age and credits her love of reading for her writing career. Her favorite works were fantasy, fairy tales, historical fiction, humor, realistic fiction, and adventure. Her other interests were language, art, history, and science. At the age of twelve, she wanted to be an actress, a ballerina and a nuclear physicist. These careers were rapidly eliminated as she realized that a) she couldn’t dance, b) she couldn’t act; and c) she hated math.
Although at the time Anne thought writing was nothing but a nuisance, she now considers herself very lucky to have grown up with two aspiring writers. She learned a lot about discipline, perseverance and dedication to a craft from witnessing her parents’ struggle. They eventually became successful and award-winning young adult novelists.
It took Anne a long time to figure out that she, too, wanted to be a writer. During early adulthood, she worked as an au pair, a bank teller, a pill bottle labeler, a receptionist, an English tutor, and an administrative assistant, as well as other jobs that she was ill-suited for. She attended three universities, spent several years in Paris, traveled throughout Europe, and worked in Boston and New York City.
Anne’s “eureka” moment about writing came while she prepared a research report for one of her bosses. As she lovingly polished each sentence, and meticulously organized the paragraphs, she realized that no one really cared how beautifully she wrote about the latest models of air-conditioners. Except her, of course.
Using her parents’ model of daily writing and discipline, she began to write. It took her seven years to publish her first book, a picture book inspired by her then two year old son, Max.
Anne is the mother of an adult son and daughter. Over the last twenty years, she has written over forty-five books for young readers. She has enough ideas to last for another quarter century and hopes that she will be writing for a very long time.
Fun Facts About Anne Mazer
Her favorite foods are popcorn, rice pudding and blueberries.
When she was a kid, she would sometimes read up to ten books a day.
If she had magic powers, she'd choose invisibility.
She painted the rooms in her house yellow, orange, and violet.
One of her favorite childhood books was The Twilight of Magic, by Hugh Lofting.
When Anne was a teenager, her room was so messy that she needed a map to get from the door to the bed. (sort of)
In school Anne often flunked her favorite creative subjects, like writing and art.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 6, 2008
Grades: 3 to 6 Genre: Realistic Fiction
Things have started to go missing at Abby’s school. First to go was Brianna’s signed Tiffany Crystal CD, but slowly other items have started to disappear. Soon it becomes apparent that the thief is targeting students that went to Abby’s old elementary school. That would mean the thief is someone that Abby knows. It is not until one of her items is stolen that Abby decides to try to solve this mystery. Only after Abby is hit by a stray softball and sent to the infirmary does she solve this case, but it is only by chance. Abby is a bright girl and each chapter begins with a journal entry by Abby. Through this kids can understand the inner workings of her mind. Part of the Amazing Days of Abby Hayes series.
Things have started to go missing at Abby’s school. First to go was Brianna’s signed Tiffany Crystal CD, but slowly other items have started to disappear. Soon it becomes apparent that the thief is targeting students that went to Abby’s old elementary school. That would mean the thief is someone that Abby knows. It is not until one of her items is stolen that Abby decides to try to solve this mystery. Only after Abby is hit by a stray softball and sent to the infirmary does she solve this case, but it is only by chance. Abby is a bright girl and each chapter begins with a journal entry by Abby. Through this kids can understand the inner workings of her mind. Part of the Amazing Days of Abby Hayes series.
August 13, 2017
really interesting book, considering its a childrens book. i just finished it a few minutes ago. it was funny because i randomly flipped to chapter 11 for no reason and saw that the theif was natatlie 0-0 i really enjoyed the storyline and it was funny how every one had no idea who the theif was amd they all wanted write fictions and do projects about it. i really really liked the part when the were in natalies backyard. overall just a great book. i would say grades 5 - 7
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2007
this is an awsome book of the series.i likes it alot and i would never believe it was her who did that. if you read the book then you would know what im talking about.
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May 4, 2008it is not good to steal because eventually you'll get caught.
October 16, 2008
this book iss just like the 1st one. which iss really hard to stop readingg.
February 11, 2009
Cool Book!
Read
April 2, 2009I learned that you should not steal. Stealing is not the solution. You have to talk about it. Thats the solution.
May 27, 2009
it was sortof a mystery book :)
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December 30, 2009 I couldnt beleive when I saw the name Natalie . She never ever does this kind of stuff.
July 8, 2010
Great mystery
December 1, 2011
I loved this book because natiley said that truth at the end and returned the stuff she stole.And how Abby hayes did the writing thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2018
Tiba's first english book
Very fun to read ❤
Very fun to read ❤
August 19, 2021
I do wish we found out the reason why the items were stolen. someone is stealing important items from the 6th graders who went to lancaster elementary school. the person who did it is shocking. abby has been helping out the jazz band to see her crush before joining a new literary book club and became an editor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2020
Definitely one of my comfort series as a kid!
July 23, 2017
I finished this book today and let me say that's really interesting. but the only thing that I didn't understand is why the thief "....." have stolen all the stuff !!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews