Review: Andi Unexpected by Amanda Flower

August 30, 2013

Title: Andi Unexpected
Author: Amanda Flower
Publisher: Zonerkidz
Pages: 224
ISBN: 978-0-310-73701-8
Publication Date: September 24th, 2013

Synopsis:
After the sudden death of their parents in the jungles of Central America, twelve-year-old- science geek Andora "Andi" Boggs and her diva teenaged sister, Bethany move to rural Killdeer, Ohio to live with their eccentric twenty-something aunt. And while the timeworn house has been home to the Boggs family for generations, Andi feels far from at home. Exploring the attic in her grief, she discovers proof of another Andora Boggs in the family tree hidden in a Depression-era trunk. Despite the meddling of the citizens of Killdeer, Andi and her new friend, Colin Carter, are determined to find out who this first Andora was, and how she vanished, and why no one in town wants to talk about her. As more and more unanswered questions pile up, Andi and Colin must decide who they can trust with their secrets and who is interested in Andora's story for the wrong reasons.
Review:
Andi Unexpected lived up to it's name, in a good way. I was expecting a fun kids adventure, but I got so much more. Andora "Andi" Boggs is a girl who has had her whole life turned upside down. She has lost her parents and her home. Everything that a child thrives on is gone. She and her older sister Bethany and relocated to Killdeer, Ohio, to their grandparents old house, that their aunt now lives in. Her sister is on the war path and Andi seems to always be in her sight for attack. Andi meets an unexpected friend, Colin, shortly after arriving. With his help, her adventures begin.

Andi and Colin are what you would consider the geeky kids, and I'm not knocking that because I myself am one and proudly proclaim it. Andi has such a passion for science. She took after her parents in that way. Colin is the kid that loves history and with Colin around offering up his knowledge, Andi soon starts expanding her reading into history. Andi also does her best to learn about her sister, knowing that her anger comes from losing their parents, and tries to giver her space and time to heal.

Amanda Flower presented a kids mystery that was fun to follow with an interesting insight into the Great Depression. She was able to make history come alive and kept the pages turning and my mind guessing where we were going to go next.

I will say, I would recommend this book to kids 12 and older. There are some heavy subjects presented, but not in a hard or harsh way. Andi and her sister have lost their parents so, there is talk about them being orphans. There is also talk about the financial issues in the Great Depression and the strain that it caused. Then how the financial problems affected families and the kids and the work that was required of them and the sacrifices that were made.

Too Read!
4 out of 5

About the Author:
Amanda Flower is an Agatha Award-nominated mystery author (Maid of Murder), who first caught the writing bug in elementary school. She is also the author of Andi Unexpected, the Andi Boggs series, Appleseed Creek and the India Hayes series. When she’s not writing, she works as a librarian at Ursuline College near her hometown of Tallmadge, Ohio. Visit her online at www.amandaflower.com and www.isabellaalan.com.





Thank you to Zonderkidz and DJC Communications, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest opinion.

2 comments

  1. I enjoyed this one too! I need to get my review up, but it was such a fun read!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jamie, I'm glad you liked it too! It was a fun read. :-) Can't wait to read what you have to say.

    ReplyDelete

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