Reviews
Awards and Praise for The Parker Inheritance : A Coretta Scott King Author Honor winner A Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor winner Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year BookPage Best Books of the Year Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of the Year NPR Best Books of the Year New York Public Library Top Ten Books of the Year Chicago Public Library Best Books of the Year School Library Journal Best Books of the Year Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year Boston Globe Best Books of the Year Parents Magazine Best Books of the Year "Powerful... Johnson writes about the long shadows of the past with such ambition that any reader with a taste for mystery will appreciate the puzzle Candice and Brandon must solve... Their adventure is also a quest for dignity and justice and a journey to understand each other. In a novel marked by scenes of pain and rage, their friendship, genuine and sustaining, is a great achievement." -- The New York Times Book Review * "A candid and powerful reckoning of history." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review * "Johnson's Westing Game -inspired tale is a tangled historical mystery, a satisfying multigenerational family story, and an exploration of twentieth-century (and contemporary) race and racism." -- The Horn Book , starred review * "Part historical fiction, part critical problem-solving exercise, part suspenseful mystery, this story weaves through the past and present of one town's struggle with hatred and racism." -- School Library Journal , starred review * "Johnson takes his readers on a whirlwind expedition with two exceptionally bright kids as they connect the dots of this mystery and gain insights into their own families' secrets. The author flashes back to earlier eras to fill out the backstory of the town and the treasure, creating a vivid portrait of the cultural and demographic changes in a South Carolina town, and he creates a narrative that's both a compelling mystery and a powerful commentary on identity, passing, and sacrifice. Fans of The Westing Game , which gets several textual shoutouts, and other puzzling mysteries such as Balliett's Chasing Vermeer will appreciate the twists and turns of this meaningful tale." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books , starred review "A clever puzzle, a hidden treasure, and a couple of kids you'll wish were your friends... Dive in!" -- Sara Pennypacker, author of Pax "Varian Johnson delivers once again with this rewarding mix of relevant history and challenging mystery!" -- Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor-winning author of Hattie Big Sky "With a nod to The Westing Game , Varian Johnson has penned a smart mystery that deftly explores the history of racial segregation in the South, modern-day discrimination, friendship, love and bullying... beautifully written, this complex story will captivate an adult audience as well." -- BookPage "Realistic and complex." -- School Library Connection "A dazzling and emotional read that deals with serious topics such as bullying, racism, and divorce." -- Booklist "A gripping mystery." -- Publishers Weekly " The Parker Inheritance is a clever puzzle wrapped in an urgent and compassionate novel that will capture readers from the first chapter." -- Shelf Awareness, Awards and Praise for The Parker Inheritance: A Coretta Scott King Author Honor winner A Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor winner Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year BookPage Best Books of the Year Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of the Year NPR Best Books of the Year New York Public Library Top Ten Books of the Year Chicago Public Library Best Books of the Year School Library Journal Best Books of the Year Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year Boston Globe Best Books of the Year Parents Magazine Best Books of the Year "Powerful... Johnson writes about the long shadows of the past with such ambition that any reader with a taste for mystery will appreciate the puzzle Candice and Brandon must solve... Their adventure is also a quest for dignity and justice and a journey to understand each other. In a novel marked by scenes of pain and rage, their friendship, genuine and sustaining, is a great achievement." -- The New York Times Book Review * "A candid and powerful reckoning of history." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review * "Johnson's Westing Game -inspired tale is a tangled historical mystery, a satisfying multigenerational family story, and an exploration of twentieth-century (and contemporary) race and racism." -- The Horn Book , starred review * "Part historical fiction, part critical problem-solving exercise, part suspenseful mystery, this story weaves through the past and present of one town's struggle with hatred and racism." -- School Library Journal , starred review * "Johnson takes his readers on a whirlwind expedition with two exceptionally bright kids as they connect the dots of this mystery and gain insights into their own families' secrets. The author flashes back to earlier eras to fill out the backstory of the town and the treasure, creating a vivid portrait of the cultural and demographic changes in a South Carolina town, and he creates a narrative that's both a compelling mystery and a powerful commentary on identity, passing, and sacrifice. Fans of The Westing Game , which gets several textual shoutouts, and other puzzling mysteries such as Balliett's Chasing Vermeer will appreciate the twists and turns of this meaningful tale." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books , starred review "A clever puzzle, a hidden treasure, and a couple of kids you'll wish were your friends... Dive in!" -- Sara Pennypacker, author of Pax "Varian Johnson delivers once again with this rewarding mix of relevant history and challenging mystery!" -- Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor-winning author of Hattie Big Sky "With a nod to The Westing Game , Varian Johnson has penned a smart mystery that deftly explores the history of racial segregation in the South, modern-day discrimination, friendship, love and bullying... beautifully written, this complex story will captivate an adult audience as well." -- BookPage "Realistic and complex." -- School Library Connection "A dazzling and emotional read that deals with serious topics such as bullying, racism, and divorce." -- Booklist "A gripping mystery." -- Publishers Weekly " The Parker Inheritance is a clever puzzle wrapped in an urgent and compassionate novel that will capture readers from the first chapter." -- Shelf Awareness, Awards and Praise for The Parker Inheritance : A Coretta Scott King Author Honor winner A Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor winner Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year Bookpage Best Books of the Year Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of the Year NPR Best Books of the Year New York Public Library Top Ten Books of the Year Chicago Public Library Best Books of the Year School Library Journal Best Books of the Year Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year Boston Globe Best Books of the Year Parents Magazine Best Books of the Year "Powerful.... Johnson writes about the long shadows of the past with such ambition that any reader with a taste for mystery will appreciate the puzzle Candice and Brandon must solve.... Their adventure is also a quest for dignity and justice and a journey to understand each other. In a novel marked by scenes of pain and rage, their friendship, genuine and sustaining, is a great achievement." -- The New York Times Book Review * "A candid and powerful reckoning of history." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review * "Johnson's Westing Game -inspired tale is a tangled historical mystery, a satisfying multigenerational family story, and an exploration of twentieth-century (and contemporary) race and racism.... " -- The Horn Book , starred review * "Part historical fiction, part critical problem-solving exercise, part suspenseful mystery, this story weaves through the past and present of one town's struggle with hatred and racism..." -- School Library Journal , starred review * "Johnson takes his readers on a whirlwind expedition with two exceptionally bright kids as they connect the dots of this mystery and gain insights into their own families' secrets. The author flashes back to earlier eras to fill out the backstory of the town and the treasure, creating a vivid portrait of the cultural and demographic changes in a South Carolina town, and he creates a narrative that's both a compelling mystery and a powerful commentary on identity, passing, and sacrifice. Fans of The Westing Game , which gets several textual shoutouts, and other puzzling mysteries such as Balliett's Chasing Vermeer will appreciate the twists and turns of this meaningful tale." -- The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books , starred review "A clever puzzle, a hidden treasure, and a couple of kids you'll wish were your friends...Dive in!" -- Sara Pennypacker, author of Pax "Varian Johnson delivers once again with this rewarding mix of relevant history and challenging mystery!" -- Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor-winning author of Hattie Big Sky "With a nod to The Westing Game , Varian Johnson has penned a smart mystery that deftly explores the history of racial segregation in the South, modern-day discrimination, friendship, love and bullying.... beautifully written, this complex story will captivate an adult audience as well." -- Bookpage "Realistic and complex." -- School Library Connection "A dazzling and emotional read that deals with serious topics such as bullying, racism, and divorce." -- Booklist "A gripping mystery." -- Publishers Weekly " The Parker Inheritance is a clever puzzle wrapped in an urgent and compassionate novel that will capture readers from the first chapter." -- Shelf Awareness, Praise for Playing The Cards You''re Dealt: "Playing the Cards You''re Dealt, is a necessary tale about how some traditions are worth upholding, and others--especially those that harm people--aren''t. More importantly, Johnson with the deft hand indicative of all his work, gives us Anthony Joplin to show us there''s no such thing as "too young" when it comes to questioning big ideas like manhood, or even family." -- Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Look Both Ways and Stamped Awards and Praise for The Parker Inheritance: A Coretta Scott King Author Honor winner A Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor winner Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year BookPage Best Books of the Year Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of the Year NPR Best Books of the Year New York Public Library Top Ten Books of the Year Chicago Public Library Best Books of the Year School Library Journal Best Books of the Year Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year Boston Globe Best Books of the Year Parents Magazine Best Books of the Year "Powerful... Johnson writes about the long shadows of the past with such ambition that any reader with a taste for mystery will appreciate the puzzle Candice and Brandon must solve... Their adventure is also a quest for dignity and justice and a journey to understand each other. In a novel marked by scenes of pain and rage, their friendship, genuine and sustaining, is a great achievement." -- The New York Times Book Review * "A candid and powerful reckoning of history." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review * "Johnson''s Westing Game -inspired tale is a tangled historical mystery, a satisfying multigenerational family story, and an exploration of twentieth-century (and contemporary) race and racism." -- The Horn Book , starred review * "Part historical fiction, part critical problem-solving exercise, part suspenseful mystery, this story weaves through the past and present of one town''s struggle with hatred and racism." -- School Library Journal , starred review * "Johnson takes his readers on a whirlwind expedition with two exceptionally bright kids as they connect the dots of this mystery and gain insights into their own families'' secrets. The author flashes back to earlier eras to fill out the backstory of the town and the treasure, creating a vivid portrait of the cultural and demographic changes in a South Carolina town, and he creates a narrative that''s both a compelling mystery and a powerful commentary on identity, passing, and sacrifice. Fans of The Westing Game , which gets several textual shoutouts, and other puzzling mysteries such as Balliett''s Chasing Vermeer will appreciate the twists and turns of this meaningful tale." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children''s Books , starred review "A clever puzzle, a hidden treasure, and a couple of kids you''ll wish were your friends... Dive in!" -- Sara Pennypacker, author of Pax "Varian Johnson delivers once again with this rewarding mix of relevant history and challenging mystery!" -- Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor-winning author of Hattie Big Sky "With a nod to The Westing Game , Varian Johnson has penned a smart mystery that deftly explores the history of racial segregation in the South, modern-day discrimination, friendship, love and bullying... beautifully written, this complex story will captivate an adult audience as well." -- BookPage "Realistic and complex." -- School Library Connection "A dazzling and emotional read that deals with serious topics such as bullying, racism, and divorce." -- Booklist "A gripping mystery." -- Publishers Weekly " The Parker Inheritance is a clever puzzle wrapped in an urgent and compassionate novel that will capture readers from the first chapter." -- Shelf Awareness
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