Down the Rabbit Hole
The Echo Falls Series
Peter Abrahams

HarperCollins (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-06-073701-8 (0060737018)
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-073701-6 (9780060737016)
Publication Date: April 2005
List Price: $16.99

Review: Have you ever told a little white lie? Did it then grow so large that you’re caught lying to everyone until it all explodes in your face? So sets the stage for Down The Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams. After her appointment to the orthodontist, Ingrid Levin-Hill takes a ride from one of the odder residents of Echo Falls. The children even call her Cracked-Up Kate. Ingrid was told never to take rides from strangers, but in a crunch for time to get to soccer practice and thunder rumbling nearby, Ingrid agrees. After this, the events of Down the Rabbit Hole start to unfold.

Later after Ingrid finds that she left her shoes at Kate’s house, she must find a way to get them back alone. The only problem is that the next day, Kate is found dead! After she sneaks into the house she finds herself tangled up in the case. As her hero, Sherlock Holmes would do, she tries Even thought she doesn’t consider herself very smart, to solve this on her own. It gets more complicated as she balances soccer, school and the lead in Alice in Wonderland. As she struggles through the mystery without aid of any adults, her friends, or the curious Police Chief and his son. She must lie, sneak and snoop to solve who murdered Katherine Kovac.

This is Peter Abrahams' first children’s book, he is a popular writer of adult mysteries, and this novel follows a teen, Ingrid who tries to solve it herself instead of confiding in the adults in her life. One thing about Abrahams' novel that I enjoyed was character development, for example Ingrid becomes more brave, gains more confidence, and finds out that people are not always what they seem and that there is more to some people than what others think. I thought it was a great compelling novel, with good plot twist and at the end, the sub-plots tied together well. The plot of this book was enthralling and exciting, I couldn’t put it down. This mystery not only exceeded my expectations, but I am recommending this to any young adult looking for a great read. This incredible book was the 2006 winner of the Agatha Award, Best Children’s/Young Adult Fiction.

There is also another book in the series that I would also like to read, Behind the Curtain. This book was the finalist for the 2007 Agatha Award, Best Children’s/Young Adult Fiction.

Review written by Jonathan, Grade 6. Date of review: October 2009.

All student book reviews are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any manner, print or electronic, without the express written consent of the copyright owner. Reviews are published here with permission of the copyright owner.