Carolyn R Russell

Q & A by Carolyn R. Russell has Quinn Bard getting involved in the Eco Troopers thanks to her mother. Quinn soon finds herself embroiled in a mystery with her sister, Arista, and two other Eco members. Q & A is a young adult mystery. I like the author’s friendly, chatty writing style. The characters are relatable. I could understand why Quinn was unhappy with her family’s move from Boston. I did feel that the characters were not fleshed out enough. They were a little flat. I liked that the teenagers are smart, adventurous, and resourceful. They have moments of insecurity which is normal for their age. I liked Quinn’s quirky family. I was not a fan of the food descriptions (veggie everything). I like that the Bard family were closeknit. The youngest son, Bub, though, needed a heaping dose of discipline. A younger audience will appreciate his antics. There is humor scattered throughout the story. The mystery was straightforward. I did not find it as intriguing because the bad guy is already known. The teens want to know what the leader of the Eco Troopers is up to. Her behavior is suspicious, and she is not above a little blackmail. The teens search for clues and find a way to expose the truth. I like that the story provides a lesson about not judging people. It is subtle while still getting the point across. Q & A is a cute, young adult mystery with a peculiar eco group, a despot advisor, intriguing test tubes, mystery mice, a busy Bub, and the veracity revealed.… (meer)