Middle-Grade Review: Mysteries of Trash & Treasure: The Secret Letters

I always enjoy Margaret Peterson Haddix's middle-grade novels, so when I saw she had a new book out that was the start of a new series, I knew I wanted to read it! I listened to Mysteries of Trash & Treasure: The Secret Letters on audio and thoroughly enjoyed this fun mix of mystery, friendship, family drama, and historical fiction.

Colin and Nevaeh are both spending the summer before middle school working for their parents, and though the twelve year olds don't know each other yet, their parents are fierce rivals. They are both in the junk-clearing business but with vastly different approaches. Colin's mom takes a Marie Kondo-like approach to helping people streamline their possessions, and the home the two of them share reflects this minimalism. Nevaeh's dad's business is called The Junk King, and the stuff their customers don't want often ends up in their own home! He lives by the adage that one person's trash is another's treasure. Nevaeh, the youngest in the family, has finally joined her many siblings in working for the family business. While helping to clear out someone's attic with some hired movers, Colin finds an old shoebox full of letters hidden. Though most stuff is getting thrown out, Colin secretly brings the letters home. His mom would be appalled, but Colin is fascinated and wants to read the letters. They turn out to be letters written from one twelve-year-old friend to another from the 1970's. Soon, Colin and Nevaeh meet, and she is also fascinated by the letters, though they know they need to keep their friendship secret from their rival parents. The two new friends read the letters written by two old friends. They're entranced not only by the close friendship that Rosemary and Toby shared back then but by the fascinating details about the times. Toby often writes about his favorite TV shows; Rosemary is a budding feminist who writes about Women's Lib and the Battle Between the Sexes. Colin and Nevaeh decide to try to find present-day Toby and Rosemary, but they both seem to have disappeared. 

There is so much packed into this novel! At the center of the novel is the main mystery, as Colin and Nevaeh read the letters, look for clues, and do research to try to find the now-grown-ups who wrote them. Nevaeh's dad is also trying to figure out what happened to a storage area he bid on that turned out to be empty, and he blames Colin's mom. The two kids have to hide their own growing friendship from their parents, even though they don't understand why heir parents hate each other. Meanwhile, both kids are dealing with issues inside their own families; this is a summer for revelations. And finally, though I hate to admit that the 1970's count as historical, there is fascinating history here for today's kids (nostalgia for me!) about the pop culture, sports, current events, and politics of the 1970's. Colin and Nevaeh learn lots of things during their own research, but there is also a glossary at the end to explain various '70's terms. The audio book was narrated by two separate narrators as Colin and Nevaeh, and the whole package was entertaining, fun, and interesting. I can't wait to read the rest of this wonderful series! Haddix has done it again.

400 pages, Katherine Tegen Books

HarperAudio

This book fits in the following 2022 Reading Challenges:

 

R.I.P. Challenge

Fall Into Reading Challenge - mystery or thriller

 

 

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Listen to a sample of the excellent audiobook here, with two narrators, and/or download it from Audible.

 

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