Tell Me

Gr 4–6—A singing petunia, homeland security, the Rosemont Flower Festival, and much more create an unforgettable summer for Anna McConnell. Initially, Anna is downhearted about the summer she will spend with Mims, her grandmother, while her parents work on their troubled relationship. Anna is jolted from her emotional heartache by a peculiar incident at the local library. Her unyielding pursuit of minute details eventually leads her to uncover a human trafficking cohort. Along her journey, Anna also faces fears, family changes, and new challenges—while singing her way through it all. This novel soars through the everyday drama of a preteen, landing on the present day travesty of human trafficking. Bauer establishes a multi-faceted plot combining crime drama with a modern coming of age story. Anna's voice rings clear through first-person narration, allowing readers to sing, cry, and smell the flowers along with the protagonist. Short chapters and smart dialogue keep the pace moving. Ultimately, Bauer twists the widespread divorce issue into a lesson on empathy, inviting readers to keep their minds and eyes alert to worlds other than their own.—Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis School, Salt Lake City, UT