Andi Unexpected

By Amanda Flower

Book #1 in the Andi Boggs series

A girl uncovers a family mystery hidden in an attic, leading to secrets and intrigue.

5.0/7 Bookroo expert·4.1/5 Goodreads · 236 ratings

224 pages· 44,018 words· Est. 6 hour read

$10.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon.

Bookroo's summary

Twelve-year-old Andi Boggs, reeling from her parents' sudden death, moves to rural Ohio with her sister. In their aunt's old house, Andi finds clues about a mysterious ancestor, another Andora Boggs, who vanished during the Great Depression. With her friend Colin, Andi delves into the past, facing townspeople's secrets and uncovering hidden truths. As they piece together the puzzle, they must decide whom to trust and why this mystery has been buried for so long. What happened to the first Andora, and why is her story shrouded in silence?

From the publisher

The first in a new middle-grade mystery series, in Andi Unexpected, twelve-year-old Andi Boggs, discovers evidence of her forgotten namesake, a missing relative, which leads her into a family mystery rooted in the Great Depression.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 224
Words: 44,018
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: ~750L

Themes & topics

Books about names Books about family Books about detectives Books about listening Books about sleuthing

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Presence of Death

*Andi Unexpected* starts on the premise of Andi's parents having recently died in a plane crash.

Serious Subject Matter

Andi discovers that her great-aunt, Andora, was given to a factory owner and his wife, who lost their own child, during the Great Depression so Andora’s father could keep his factory job and receive an education to provide for his family.

After the last page

Talk about it together

Consider talking with your child about the history of their own name and the hardships of the Depression.

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.0

out of 7

5.0

“This story shows how grief is manifested in different ways, but how the two sisters and their guardian bonded together and strengthened one another in their difficult times. I also loved that the mystery was about Andi's family history and linked to the great depression, both of which are great topics for readers to learn about. I loved following along in their sleuthing and detective efforts to figure out the answer to their mystery. :)”

B is for Bookworm

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one