I enjoyed getting to know Quinn and her family in Carolyn R. Russell’s Q&A. This adventure/mystery story has plenty going on, but it was the little details about the children that really made them come alive for me.
Quinn shares a home with her parents, her sister Arista, and her brother Bub. Arista looks like a princess, while Bub has a habit of collecting things everyone else holds dear. Then there is Quinn, who has one very particular problem: she is terrified of the Easter Bunny. Yes, the Easter Bunny. I have to admit, that made me smile because we all have those things that seem perfectly reasonable to us but might make absolutely no sense to someone else.
I especially liked learning about the books and shows the children enjoy. Quinn’s prize possession is Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, while Bub’s favorite is Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. I really like when an author includes details like these because they tell us something about the children without simply telling us who they are. Their favorite books, shows, interests, and little quirks become another way of getting to know them.
The Eco Troopers, led by Ms. Stent, add another interesting layer to the story. Ms. Stent has some rather bizarre projects planned for the group, and before long, the adventure takes on a more serious turn. Quinn’s family becomes caught up in a situation involving her dad, and suddenly there is more at stake than just the children's latest adventure. I won't say much more because discovering how the mystery unfolds is part of the fun.
Graham, Julie, and Danny add to the story as well, and I enjoyed the way Russell slowly lets us get to know them. The Bard family’s traditions, family projects, and movie nights—including Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory—also give the story a nice sense of family.
That is probably what I liked most about Q&A. It isn't just about solving a mystery or going on an adventure. It is about getting to know these children—their interests, their fears, their families, and the things that matter to them. Those details made me care about what was happening to them and kept me turning the pages to see where the mystery would lead.
I received a copy of this book from Carolyn Russell.
