Tootsie Tanner, why Don't You Talk?

Patricia Reilly Giff — a two-time Newbery Honor author — knows how to hook young readers, and the dual-mystery structure gives Abby Jones two problems to unravel at once, which keeps the pages turning. The 1987 setting feels dated and the stakes are intentionally low, but for newly independent readers who love light mysteries and relatable kid detectives, this series delivers reliable, trusted fun. A solid library pick even decades later.