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Description
Seventeen-year-old Robert "Cali" Callahan, gets swept up into the private-investigator business and must deal with the ramifications of looking for fellow runaways who may not want to be found. The plot contains violence and drug use.
Quick Summary
If you've ever wondered what it'd be like to be a teenage detective in Venice Beach, this one's right up your alley. Seventeen-year-old Cali stumbles into the private investigator world and ends up hunting for runaways which turns out to be way more complicated than it sounds, since some of these kids are actively trying to stay hidden. The setting is vivid and almost a character in itself, giving the story a gritty, sun-soaked vibe that sets it apart from typical teen mysteries. Kids who love fast-paced plots with actual stakes will zip through this, and it's a solid pick for readers who need something shorter than average but still meaty. Parents should know there's some violence and drug references woven into the plot, so it's probably better suited for older high schoolers rather than middle graders despite the accessible reading level. It's got that perfect balance of humor and real consequences that keeps you turning pages. Fans of something like "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" or gritty contemporary YA will find a lot to like here just maybe preview it first if you're sensitive about edgier teen content.