Absolutely Truly (A Pumpkin Falls Mystery)

After reading all of the books in the Mother-Daughter Book Club series, as well as other books by Frederick, I eagerly anticipated a new read from her. I wasn't disappointed. She realistically portrayed with compassion, humor, and insight the difficulties of a family adjusting to the changes in their lives after the father is wounded in war. Characters were well-developed and the plot held up throughout. I especially liked the dad's sister, who brings her own strengths to the new family dynamic. Discovering how to knit the family fabric anew after a very bad tear rends it is one of the good messages from the book. Told from the protagonist's viewpoint, the story is poignant but not sorrowful. Truly is in junior high school, and her insights are not all-knowing. She often doesn't completely understand what her father is facing, and she just wants her old life back, but in the course of the story, she matures quite a bit and her family heals as well. I also like how Frederick's description of Pumpkin Falls makes me feel as though I am living there. The book is good for ages 12-adult.

My 6th grader read it in 2 days! It grabs the readers attention, but isn't creepy or too dark like some mysteries. It's perfect for elementary to Jr. High.

What a fun read! I bought this for my daughter and I to read. I breezed through it excited for her to start. She is almost finished reading it. My son and husband were curious about our book chats and started reading it to. We have begun a book club with my children's tween friends and everyone is in love with this story. This book appeals to the whole family with relatable characters, mystery, and a good dose of humor. So happy to have discovered Heather Vogel Frederick and look forward to reading more of her stories.

A good fish-out-of-water story. As expected, the main character makes peace with the family's move but it is still an interesting read in getting there. The narrator is a tall swimmer who needs help with math, all while feeling unnoticed in a large family dealing with her father's battlefield injury.

This book was really good. I read all of Heather Vogel Frederick's Mother-Daughter Book Club books (which are also really good by the way), so when I found out Absolutely Truly was coming out, I was super excited! I got it for nine dollars, but me and my sister pretty much split every book we get on our kindles... but I don't think it's still nine bucks though, because we got it as soon as it came out. I'd recommend this book for girls around 9-13ish. I'm twelve and I just loved it. Oh, and if you like Heather Vogel Frederick's books then I'd also recommend the Willow Falls books by Wendy Mass. But overall Absolutely Truly was a very interesting book and I think you'll like it. It wasn't innapropriate or anything so mothers of younger kids, it's really good. It's so appropriate that an eight year old could read it!

This book is like a cup of cocoa on a cold winter day: comforting, satisfying, and cozy. I loved every page. It has a classic, old fashioned feel to it though it takes place in present day New England. If only real life could be so pleasant. I bought five copies for my elementary school library so I could share it with every reader who might be interested. Smart kids, a loving family, a mystery, a tiny bit of romance, a bookstore subplot, and a glorious winter setting made this book perfect for me.

I really liked it! But....I honestly expected a crime-like mystery. There was the missing book, but I thought there would be more... Danger I guess. Guess I didn't read the description well enough! 😅 but anyway, it was a really great book!

Read this story with my tween. She loved it and so did I! The characters were unique and realistic. The story was one that kept us both turning the page and wanting to know what was going to happen next to Truly and her family.