The In-Between

by Rebecca K.S. Ansari, Andrew Eiden (Read by), TBD (Read by)

Overview

A dark, twisty adventure about the forgotten among us and what it means to be seen, from the acclaimed author of The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly.

Cooper is lost. Ever since his father left their family three years ago, he has become distant from his friends, constantly annoyed by his little sister, Jess, and completely fed up with the pale, creepy rich girl who moved in next door and won’t stop staring at him. So when Cooper learns of an unsolved mystery his sister has discovered online, he welcomes the distraction.

It’s the tale of a deadly train crash that occurred a hundred years ago, in which one young boy among the dead was never identified. The only distinguishing mark on him was a strange insignia on his suit coat, a symbol no one had seen before or since. Jess is fascinated by the mystery of the unknown child— because she’s seen the insignia. It’s the symbol of the jacket of the girl next door.

As they uncover more information— and mounting evidence of the girl’s seemingly impossible connection to the tragedy—Cooper and Jess begin to wonder if a similar disaster could be heading to their hometown.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781799947943
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	01/26/2021
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Rebecca K. S. Ansari is a former ER doctor. The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly is her first book. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, four sons, and some seriously massive pets. You can visit her online at www.rebeccaansari.com.

Editorial Reviews

"An intriguing mystery and a heartwarming tale of friendship wrapped inside a ghost story, this is a sure hit. With a memorable twist, this title is too good to be missed. Perfect for fans of Mary Downing Hahn and “Goosebumps” grads looking for something a little spookier." — School Library Journal (starred review)

"The supernatural storyline’s fear is juxtaposed with Cooper’s inner turmoil. The increasingly dangerous supernatural mystery (with an exceptionally well-described climax) is intriguing enough to make this a page-turner, but the characters and their powerfully thematic emotional journeys are what will make the book linger. Haunting, engrossing, and thoughtful."
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"With this eerie, expertly crafted tale, Ansari explores grief, loss, and trauma—both personal and familial. Heartfelt and genuine, this one will speak to readers who feel invisible or overlooked." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The pace is carefully measured, and there’s plenty of time for readers to sort out the clues and solve elements of the mystery themselves before all is revealed. Ansari never undercuts Cooper and Jess’ loss, either, instead offering an understanding that grief is not a limited resource." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Ansari  writes an engaging fantasy/mystery/family story." — The Horn Book

From the Publisher

"Ansari  writes an engaging fantasy/mystery/family story."

The Horn Book

"The pace is carefully measured, and there’s plenty of time for readers to sort out the clues and solve elements of the mystery themselves before all is revealed. Ansari never undercuts Cooper and Jess’ loss, either, instead offering an understanding that grief is not a limited resource."

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"The pace is carefully measured, and there’s plenty of time for readers to sort out the clues and solve elements of the mystery themselves before all is revealed. Ansari never undercuts Cooper and Jess’ loss, either, instead offering an understanding that grief is not a limited resource."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The pace is carefully measured, and there’s plenty of time for readers to sort out the clues and solve elements of the mystery themselves before all is revealed. Ansari never undercuts Cooper and Jess’ loss, either, instead offering an understanding that grief is not a limited resource."

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

★ 2020-10-27
Chicago siblings Cooper and Jess unravel a mystery involving Elena, their strange new neighbor, and a series of historical disasters.

Cooper’s been cold and withdrawn from family and friends alike ever since his parents’ marriage imploded and his father left them to start a new family. His younger sister, Jess, finds a nearly 100-year-old mystery—the Charfield railway disaster in England, where one of the dead was a boy, never identified, who was wearing a distinctive raven insignia that matches the one on Elena’s private school blazer. Digging into the raven emblem, they find it appears on items worn by unidentified bodies after disasters. The more Cooper and Jess investigate, the more impossible everything seems. Soon, the supernatural takes on a darker cast, as Jess and Cooper discover that they’re the ones in danger. The supernatural storyline’s fear is juxtaposed with Cooper’s inner turmoil. His intense emotional life is a constant grounding font of relatability, as he deals with anger, grief, and humiliation in the wake of his father’s abandonment. The increasingly dangerous supernatural mystery (with an exceptionally well-described climax) is intriguing enough to make this a page-turner, but the characters and their powerfully thematic emotional journeys are what will make the book linger. Absent most physical descriptors, characters default to White. Jess is diabetic, and their family deals with economic hardship and classism.

Haunting, engrossing, and thoughtful. (author’s note) (Supernatural mystery. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews