Ink and Ashes / Edition 1

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ISBN-10:: 1620142112
ISBN-13:: 9781620142110
Pub. Date:: 06/01/2015
Publisher:: Lee & Low Books, Inc.

ISBN-10:: 1620142112
ISBN-13:: 9781620142110
Pub. Date:: 06/01/2015
Publisher:: Lee & Low Books, Inc.

Ink and Ashes / Edition 1

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Overview

Claire Takata has never known much about her father, who passed away ten years ago. But on the anniversary of his death, she finds a letter from her deceased father to her stepfather. Before now, Claire never had a reason to believe they even knew each other. Struggling to understand why her parents kept this surprising history hidden, Claire combs through anything that might give her information about her father . . . until she discovers that he was a member of the yakuza, a Japanese organized crime syndicate. The discovery opens a door that should have been left closed. The race to outrun her father’s legacy reveals secrets of his past that cast ominous shadows, threatening Claire, her friends and family, her newfound love, and ultimately her life. Winner of Tu Books’ New Visions Award, Ink and Ashes is a fascinating debut novel packed with romance, intrigue, and heart-stopping action.

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620142110
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books, Inc.
Publication date:	06/01/2015
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	77,828
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.50(d)
Lexile:	HL740L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Valynne Maetanigrew up in Utah and obtained a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In a former life, she was a project manager and developed educational software for children with learning disabilities. Her debut novel,Ink and Ashes, is the winner of the 2013 New Visions Award and a Junior Library Guild 2015 selection. Maetani is a member of the We Need Diverse Books team and is dedicated to promoting diversity in children's literature because all children should grow up believing their stories deserve to be told.

From the B&N Reads Blog

Page 1 of

Those Pesky Kids: Our Favorite Sleuthing Teens

From Scooby Doo to Nancy Drew, mystery solving is something so many of us have loved since we were little kids. But we’re not wee ones anymore, and the bold, brave sleuths of YA lit face twists, turns, gore, betrayal, terror, and heartbreak as they embark on solving mysteries the pros in power won’t…or can’t. […]

06/22/2015
Maetani debuts with a tense thriller revolving around family secrets and betrayals. Claire Takata’s father died of a heart attack 10 years ago, or so the 16-year-old and her brothers have been led to believe. When Claire comes across a letter in her father’s journal, she learns that he knew the man her mother married after he died. Confused about why this information would have been kept secret, Claire and her brothers piece together clues that lead them to discover that their father was involved with the yakuza, and that his death may not have been quite so accidental. Meanwhile, Claire is being plagued by strange events at school and followed by a black SUV. Claire’s emotionally charged letters to her late father, written at various ages, appear throughout, providing an intimate window into her thoughts and fears. Capable and curious, Claire makes for an enterprising, resourceful young sleuth, and her changing relationship with her friend Forrest adds an enticing undercurrent of romance amid the growing intrigue and suspense. Ages 12–up. Agent: John M. Cusick, Greenhouse Literary Agency. (June)

Publishers Weekly

Claire Takata is a normal teenager living a normal life until unexpected secrets crawl out of the attic. When she discovers a picture of her deceased father posing alongside her stepdad, curiosity gets the better of her. Before long, the investigation of her family’s past turns into a chilling mystery. Along with her brothers, the Russo brothers, and her neighbor/boyfriend, Claire works to gather information that quickly reaches a frightening and deadly level. Claire’s father was a member of the Japanese mafia, the yakuza. The tattoos and missing fingers indicate that he was a high-ranking member. Is Claire’s stepdad also involved in the mafia? The teenagers track every clue as their world unravels. But when they believe they have solved the mystery, something even more sinister develops. Claire is the target, and a series of events puts her life in danger. Although Claire in under an enormous amount of pressure, she remains an unusually strong female YA character. She is determined not to quit until she solves this mystery, even if it costs her life—and it almost does. As the story peaks, Parker and Forrest may already be dead. Nicholas has been kidnapped and appears lifeless. Stuck in an abandoned warehouse that is on fire, Claire rises to the occasion and fights back. With this book, Maetani brings diversity to the genre of YA literature. The reader learns about Japanese culture through the narrative and glossary provided at the end. The author has ingeniously woven a mystery and love story together with on-the-edge suspense. Reviewer: Patricia K. Landy; Ages 12 up.

Children's Literature - Patricia K. Landy

05/01/2015
Gr 7 Up—Mystery lovers won't be able to put down Maetani's smartly written debut. Claire Takata hardly remembers her father, who died when she was a child, but when she finds an old letter of his, she realizes her mother and stepfather have hidden crucial details about their past. In digging for answers, she discovers her ordinary suburban Utah family may have yakuza ties that could put them all in grave danger. Suddenly, she's being trailed by an unfamiliar black SUV and receiving coded messages only understood by those who know Japanese customs—four white chrysanthemums signifying death and her name written in red ink. Claire also deals with more typical high school concerns as she faces growing feelings for her best friend, Forrest. Readers will fall for him too, as well as the rest of Claire's close-knit group of friends who bring humor and warmth to the suspenseful narrative. The authentic portrayal of Claire's Japanese American family, only partially in touch with their heritage, will resonate with many teens who straddle multiple cultures, and Claire herself is a breath of fresh air. Athletic and resourceful, she is determined to solve this mystery on her own terms, confronting her mother and stepfather directly with questions, reporting suspicious happenings to the authorities, and talking openly with her friends about her alarming discoveries. VERDICT This thoroughly engaging tale in the tradition of Nancy Drew or Veronica Mars ends on a satisfying note, but readers will hope for a sequel because it's just that good. Ed. note: See SLJ's Q&A with the author on p. 10.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

School Library Journal

★ 2015-04-01
Claire's parents are keeping secrets that could kill her. Sixteen-year-old Claire Takata is a spirited, inquisitive amateur locksmith and sleuth. Claire and her brothers have always believed their father died of a heart attack 10 years ago and that their mother met their stepdad after he died. But when Claire finds an old letter in her father's journal and pictures locked away in her stepdad's desk that reveal otherwise, she is determined to find out the truth. Why have her mom and stepdad lied to her? Why does her mom never want to talk about her father? And what really happened to him? Through letters Claire has written to him over the decade since his death, Claire's father has served as her confidant, an outlet for her grief, frustrations, and longings. The author also makes smart use of these letters, interspersing them between chapters to deliver important back story. Claire's grief and sense of loss are compounded when she eventually discovers that her father had been a member of the yakuza, transnational Japanese organized crime syndicates—and then her sleuthing attracts the attention of someone tied to her father's past....The romantic tension between Claire and her best friend, Forrest, plays out authentically in a subplot, and the novel's twists and turns will keep readers riveted and guessing even after they finish the book. This fantastic debut packs a highly suspenseful blend of action, intrigue, and teen romance. (Thriller. 12 & up)

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Ink and Ashes / Edition 1

Ink and Ashes / Edition 1

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