The Parker Inheritance

Candice finds a letter pointing to a fortune if the reader can figure out the clues. Her grandmother tried to solve the puzzle many years ago, but she mistakenly dug up the town’s tennis courts looking for the treasure. She lost her job as city manager and had to move away. Candice is determined to clear her grandmother’s name. She enlists the help of Brandon, a boy who lives across the street. Can they solve the mystery before the summer is over?

I love a good mystery, and this book has one. It also does a great job of weaving in history from the Jim Crow era and issues that African Americans and other groups face today. The book has a very positive message.

Most chapters are from Candice’s point of view. Other chapters give a glimpse from the past, following different characters whom the kids have been researching. This is done in a seamless way that adds a lot of depth to the story. Some scenes from the past are difficult to read because they show the injustice and the violence of the era, so I would recommend this book for kids ten and up. I was slightly let down by the last chapter, but overall I enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading other titles by this author.