This Mixes mystery, family dysfunction, first romance and general coming of age very nicely. I think almost every younger teen could find something about Phoebe to relate to. as you read, you begin to wonder who's the parent and who's the adult, given how her mother reacts to Phoebe's wants. Her attraction to Colin is deftly done, as is her friendship and empathy with Mrs. Tomblin. Too bad this delightful book didn't end up in more libraries. ( )

"Sometimes, the only way to get through life is to escape into a good book". When I read that first sentence in the description of this story, it certainly brought a smile to my face. Whenever you're going through a rough time or need an escape from reality, there is nothing better then to read a book and get lost within the story. Old Photographs was definitely a cute quick read that I would have loved to read during my early teen years. It had everything that would want in a nice story: A protagonist you might relate to, a setting during the summer, mystery, and a pinch of romance!

I loved Phoebe! She was down to earth and a bit bubbly. Definitely a cool protagonist that I'm sure many young girls would like to read about. Her determination to solve the mystery of the robbery really made me like her. Not to mention how she would stand up for herself throughout the story and state whatever she felt was on her mind. We need more girls who can fend for themselves in YA books!

Her relationship with Collin (her crush) was simply adorable! I loved how they got along with one another from the very beginning and how well mannered and sweet he was to Phoebe! Such a gentlemen! Not to mention he's Irish! And his accent could make any girl blush! His role in helping Phoebe solve the mystery was nice. Not only would he look out for Phoebe but he would also look out for Mrs. Tomblin. Like I said before, such a gentlemen!

The use of Photography as a theme for this book was simply nice. It's amazing how a picture can preserve a memory for such a long time and whenever you look back at that certain photo, you remember everything clearly. Detail for detail, which was the case for Mrs. Tomblin. Although she was having trouble remembering things of the present, she was able to clearly look back at certain memories from the past with no problem.

In short, I would recommend this book to pre-teen or early teen girls. Definitely would make a great read during summer vacation! ( )

Phoebe is your average girl–she does alright in school, enjoys sports, and has a terribly distracting crush on Colin, the top debater from the local boys school’s debate team. Trying to while away the summer months while her only friend, Yuri, spends the holidays in Tokyo, Phoebe passes the time cycling and reading Agatha Christie novels (Yuri’s favorites). One day, Phoebe spots a garage sale and decides to take a look around. Sure enough, she finds all kinds of treasures, but the best find of all is Mrs. Tomblin, the elderly woman running the garage sale. Noticing a couple trying to take advantage of Mrs. Tomblin’s too-trusting nature, Phoebe steps in to make sure she isn’t abused and soon learns why Mrs. Tomblin is being forced to leave the home she’s lived in since she was married. Taking to her, Phoebe starts to learn more about Mrs. Tomblin, offering her assistance whenever the happen to meet her. When Mrs. Tomblin becomes the victim of a crime, Phoebe wants her friend to receive the justice she deserves–the last thing she expects is to find herself caught up in a mystery the likes of which only Miss Marple can solve… Does Phoebe have what it takes to become the Toronto Miss Marple and solve the case?

—

Old Photographs was a treat to read. Phoebe comes across as a real teen with all the insecurities and idealism that comes with being a teen. She has a complicated relationship with her mother and new stepfather, she misses her family, and she wishes she could understand how to make things better for everyone involved, but she isn’t perfect and this isn’t a fairy tale. Family life is depicted in all its messy, irrational glory, as are the feelings stirred by poverty and privilege. Her crush on Colin is sweet and entirely understandable–smart boy with an Irish brogue, what girl wouldn’t crush on him? But what I found most thought-provoking and inspiring about the novel was its very real treatment of aging and Alzheimer’s. I haven’t read many Young Adult novels that touch on the subject, most being the sole territory of the young and adventurous; Phoebe’s relationship with Mrs. Tomblin illustrates all the frustrations that this terrible affliction causes. The only other YA novel I can think of at the moment that explores aging in such a manner is April and the Dragon Lady, but I think this is a topic that is relevant to many teens living with grandparents or near elderly neighbors (all the elders near me love to terrify me at least once a month by forgetting to turn their stoves off). I really enjoyed Phoebe’s transition from reader to sleuth, and couldn’t wait to see where her investigations would lead.

Gricel @ things she read ( )