Studious, quiet seventh-grader Jun Li doesn't usually attract attention at school. That unexpectedly changes when he is accused of cyberbullying Kimmie, a popular and intimidating classmate, and he is given a week to either exonerate himself or face expulsion. As word spreads, Jun himself becomes the victim of bullying. Determined to find the real perpetrator and aided by best friend Chris o doesn't hesitate to use her words or imposing height to defend him n turns into a detective. However, clues are scarce, mustering the confidence to deal with others face-to-face isn't easy, and time's a-ticking. But over the course of the novel, Jun gains insight into a bully's motivations and discovers the lengths some will go to protect themselves and others. Jun is a well-written, engaging protagonist, and although side characters and events seem more representational than developed at times, readers will enjoy his lively, supportive friendship with Chris and find elements to empathize with and relate to throughout. The conclusion suggests further school-based detecting adventures to come.

After being falsely accused of cyberbullying, a seventh-grade computer whiz must find the culprit. Jun Li is short, smart and socially invisible. He believes in keeping his head down. He has one friend, his neighbor Chris Pine, a basketball player and the tallest girl in the class. He attracts attention when images of an eighth-grade classmate, a popular, model-pretty but tough and powerful girl named Kimmie Cole, are posted on the school's website trumpeting the information that she's bulimic. Since the pictures were sent from a library workstation and PC-savvy Jun was on the computer near the time of posting, he's now under suspicion. In a setup that's hard to buy but works anyway, Principal Hastings gives Jun one week to clear his name and find the real wrongdoer--or face expulsion. Aided by Chris, Jun begins to interview students and teachers. Suddenly, Jun is speaking to lots of people, and much to his surprise, he enjoys making social connections. The puzzle's solution is well-plotted, and author Lawlor concludes it with the classic gathering of suspects for the big reveal. Secondary characters, unfortunately, are mostly mouthpieces with traits rather than flesh-and-blood individuals. Despite the tepid characterizations and some stiff dialogue, a clever mystery. And the tag, in which Jun and Chris take on another case, signals more fun to come. (Mystery. 10-14)

Gr 6-8 In this mash-up of mystery and realistic fiction, a popular girl who has cyberbullied other kids gets cyberbullied herself and quiet, overachieving Jun Li is framed for the crime. The principal gives him one week to find the real culprit or be expelled. With the help of his friend Chris, the seventh grader must come out of his shell and talk to kids, parents, and teachers to clear his name. The middle school kids are nicely defined; the banter between Jun and Chris is realistic, and their fledgling romance is sweet. Adult characters feel less original. Too many implausible events undermine the mystery: the book is more successful as an anti-cyberbullying tale. Through talking to all the students involved in the bullying, Jun gains insight into their actions and helps readers understand why kids behave the way they do, even when they're behaving badly. Jun's parents read his email and monitor his online activities in a subplot that could spark a discussion of kid privacy vs. parent responsibility. Order where there is a need for bullying fiction. M. Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY