Iris Anderson and her father have finally come to an understanding. Iris is allowed to help out at her Pop's detective agency as long as she follows his rules and learns from his technique. But when Iris uncovers details about her mother's supposed suicide, suddenly Iris is thrown headfirst into her most intense and personal case yet. Gr 7-10-This sequel to The Girl Is Murder (Roaring Brook, 2011) finds Iris Anderson, a New York City teen circa 1942, both willing and unwilling to investigate her mother's death. It helps that her father and uncle work as private investigators, because from them she has learned things like how to pick locks. But when a safe left open accidentally reveals photographs of her mother that tell a different story from what the newspapers reported, Iris must confront truths and lies in her own Jewish family. She is plausibly misled by immature impressions of adults, which slow the plot down somewhat but are not distracting. Iris and Pearl build and test their friendship as other kids at their elite private school question their bond because Pearl is unpopular. Iris also gets close to an Italian working-class boy and school misfit, who may or may not become a love interest. These teens spy on one another, adding a layer of interest that draws readers in to more serious issues, such as anti-Semitism. The historical setting gives Iris's probing a certain edge; readers want to know what happened to her mom, but they'll need to understand the bigger picture of how Germans and Americans perceived one another leading up to and during the World War II. Pop is appealing as both a respectful father and grieving husband, but will he stay alive long enough to be there for his daughter? This absorbing novel works on three levels-as the story of the relationship between a daughter and parent, as a drama among teen peers, and as historical fiction.-Georgia Christgau, Middle College High School, Long Island City, NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. “Absorbbsorbing.” ― School Library Journal “...a nicely crafted mystery.” ― BCCB “Haines delves deeper into Iris' intriguing character in this compelling, self-contained sequel while doing a bang-up job of maintaining the ace period setting.” ― Kirkus “…this sequel's high stakes up the ante…” ― Booklist Kathryn Miller Haines is an actor, mystery writer, and award-winning playwright. Her debut YA novel, The Girl Is Murder, received an Edgar Award nomination and a starred review from School Library Journal as well as from Booklist , who called the book a “smart offering that gives both mysteries and historical fiction a good name.” Kathryn lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband and son and their dogs. The Girl Is Trouble By Kathryn Miller Haines Roaring Brook Press Copyright © 2012 Kathryn Miller Haines All right reserved. ISBN: 9781596436107 CHAPTER 1   “DO YOU SEE WHERE HE WENT?” asked Pop. “Not yet,” I said. We were uptown, trying hard to blend into the morning crowd. I had no idea it would be so hard to keep my eye on someone while trying not to be seen myself. “Look harder.” Boy, howdy—did Pop really think I wasn’t looking as hard as possible? I focused the camera on Sixth Avenue and scanned the shops on the first floor. I still didn’t see where the man we were tailing had gone, but a display that included a red book with a black swastika on the cover caught my attention. Another twist of the dial and the bold yellow text became clear: Germany Must Perish! Above the title, words teased emphatically that this was “The Book Hitler Fears the Most.” “Left, Iris. Look left,” said Pop. I swung the camera left, but it was too late: my mark was gone. Pop elbowed me in the ribs. “There he is, Iris—by the kiosk. Do you see him?” I trained Pop’s Leica on the newspaper vendor. The man in the black overcoat was flipping through a copy of that day’s Times . “I’ve got him,” I said. “Now what?” “When he moves, you move. Make sure there are always at least five people between you and him. Got it?” I nodded, excitement burning through me. This was it: Pop was finally letting me tail someone by myself. “Where will you be?” I asked. “The Automat. As soon as you get the picture, you join me. You’ve got fifteen minutes. If you’re not back by then—” “You’re calling the cops and my detecting days are over.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ve got it.” I slid the camera into my bag. St. Patrick’s Cathedral sounded the hour like the world’s most expensive starter pistol: ready, aim, follow that man! Pop splayed his fingers. “Five people, Iris. If you think he’s seen you, run in the opposite direction. Got it?” Another roll of my eyes. The man wasn’t going to eyeball me. I’d probably have the picture and be at the Automat before Pop reached it himself. Pop started across Fifty-sixth Street. He moved about as fast as you’d expect a man with a wooden leg to move