The Girl from Felony Bay

by J. E. Thompson

Overview

No Trespassing signs pop up all around Felony Bay on the eastern coast of South Carolina. Someone is poking around a mystery, maybe the same someone who framed Abbey Force's dad for a terrible crime he didn't commit. This adventure takes middle readers on a breathtaking ride that leads to a surprising betrayal.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455627455
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	06/19/2023
Series:	Pelican
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

J. E. Thompson began his career in finance and left Wall Street after catching the writing bug in 1994. He has written four successful adult thrillers, garnering much praise and recognition. When his daughter asked him to write something for her, Thompson began researching middle-grade fiction. His first foray into the genre, The Girl From Felony Bay, did well, earning status as the Winner Best Children's Book (Southern Independent Booksellers) and Finalist for Children's Best Book Award in SC, GA, ME, NE, KS, MD, Junior Library Guild Selection. He makes his home in South Carolina, a frequent setting for his books.

Editorial Reviews

Thompson's children's book debut offers mystery and adventure, while simultaneously exploring the far reach of history, justice, race, and family. Narrator Abbey Force begins the summer before seventh grade on Leadenwah Island, living with her conniving uncle and aunt, working on the horse farm her family used to own, and visiting her comatose father in a Charleston hospital. Determined to clear him of charges of malpractice and theft, Abbey finds an unexpected ally in Bee Force, the daughter of Reward Plantation's new owner and a descendant of slaves Abbey's family once owned. "Oh my gosh.... I'm sorry," Abbey says at their initial meeting, to which Bee responds, "It was a long time ago.... Had nothing to do with the two of us." Upon learning that her father had planned to deed Felony Bay to other descendants of Force slaves, Abbey discovers a motive for why someone might have framed him. The girls make clever sleuths, well-drawn supporting characters offer both farce and intrigue, and the snake- and alligator-infested swamps provide sultry local flavor in this ethically nuanced and suspenseful whodunit. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Foundry Literary + Media. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Thompson’s children’s book debut offers mystery and adventure, while simultaneously exploring the far reach of history, justice, race, and family. An ethically nuanced and suspenseful whodunit.” — Publishers Weekly

“A tale bursting with intrigue and adventure finds its setting deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry. A successful turn by a promising new author.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A character in itself, the South Carolina setting is fully realized with the danger and beauty of its swampy backwoods a factor in every chapter. Future fans of Grisham will find this immensely satisfying, as will readers who were enchanted by Turnage’s Three Times Lucky.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“The story never forgets that at its center is a little girl who has lost everything and is more determined than even Nancy Drew.” — Booklist

“Thompson takes Southern gothic tropes and incorporates them into a fast-paced mystery with subplots that tackle tough issues.” — School Library Journal

“The Girl from Felony Bay is a lovely story. J.E. Thompson has created a wonderful, honest character with a pitch-perfect young girl’s voice. Abbey Force’s tale will draw any reader in as she unravels long-buried mysteries and struggles to come to terms with the South’s dark past.” — Katie Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Girls in Trucks

“I was enthralled by this tale. It’s lyrical, touching, and beautifully written. A great debut.” — Bernard Cornwell, author of The Winter King

From the Publisher

I was enthralled by this tale. It’s lyrical, touching, and beautifully written. A great debut.

Bernard Cornwell

The Girl from Felony Bay is a lovely story. J.E. Thompson has created a wonderful, honest character with a pitch-perfect young girl’s voice. Abbey Force’s tale will draw any reader in as she unravels long-buried mysteries and struggles to come to terms with the South’s dark past.

Katie Crouch

A character in itself, the South Carolina setting is fully realized with the danger and beauty of its swampy backwoods a factor in every chapter. Future fans of Grisham will find this immensely satisfying, as will readers who were enchanted by Turnage’s Three Times Lucky.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

The story never forgets that at its center is a little girl who has lost everything and is more determined than even Nancy Drew.

Booklist

A character in itself, the South Carolina setting is fully realized with the danger and beauty of its swampy backwoods a factor in every chapter. Future fans of Grisham will find this immensely satisfying, as will readers who were enchanted by Turnage’s Three Times Lucky.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

The story never forgets that at its center is a little girl who has lost everything and is more determined than even Nancy Drew.

Booklist

A character in itself, the South Carolina setting is fully realized with the danger and beauty of its swampy backwoods a factor in every chapter. Future fans of Grisham will find this immensely satisfying, as will readers who were enchanted by Turnage’s Three Times Lucky.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A tale bursting with intrigue and adventure finds its setting deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Twelve-year-old Abbey Force has had a rough time of things lately. Her beloved father has suffered an accident and now lies in the hospital in a coma. Meanwhile, he has been accused of stealing from a client named Miss Lydia Jenkins, and his law firm, in an attempt to salvage its reputation, has sold the Force family home, Reward Plantation, in order to repay her. Abbey is forced to go and live with her good-for-nothing Uncle Charlie and his wife, Ruth. Her luck begins to change when the new owners, also named Force, well-to-do descendants of the slaves who once lived at Reward, take up residence at the plantation. She and new best friend and neighbor Bee Force stumble upon a mystery--someone is digging holes at Felony Bay, perhaps in search of buried treasure. Soon, they are neck deep in a dangerous mess involving Abbey's father's so-called crime, her Uncle Charlie, Miss Jenkins' riches and possibly the town sheriff. A predictable outcome, lengthy final explanations seeking to tie up loose ends and one too many subplots weigh this one down. Bee and Abbey are amiable protagonists, though, and their spunk and perseverance, combined with the realistic and richly developed setting, deliver considerable appeal. A successful turn by a promising new author. (Mystery. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews