PUZZLEHEART

A science-loving kid from Seattle tries to solve the puzzle of their family dynamics.

Twelve-year-old Perigee Clarke, who uses they/them pronouns, has a plan: They’re going to help their dad find his passion again by visiting Eklunds’ Puzzle House, the bed-and-breakfast in the mountains that their grandparents built but never opened due to Grandpa’s sudden death. When they arrive, however, Dad and Grandma immediately clash, and Grandma won’t allow Perigee and Lily Ishioka, a girl who’s staying with Grandma while her mom is on a search and rescue mission, to complete any puzzles. But the house starts acting up, throwing open windows and creating holes in the walls that let in the snow. Perigee and Lily conclude that the only way to stop this behavior is by solving the riddle left in the pocket of Grandpa’s coat. Short sections offer the House’s third-person perspective; it’s a surprisingly charming character. Perigee is an energetic and believable protagonist, and both their joy in solving puzzles and their despair at the rift in their family are palpable. The story balances the fun and adventure of navigating the anthropomorphic house with the seriousness of navigating fractured family relationships. Perigee makes plenty of mistakes along the way but learns from them, and their personal growth makes finishing the book as rewarding as solving the trickiest puzzle. Main characters read as white; Lily’s last name cues Japanese heritage.

Fans of escape rooms and family stories will find much to love in this heartfelt tale.