• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Shy thirteen-year-old Bree must channel her inner anime heroine to solve a crime at the Anime Expo.

Bree Wong and her best friend, Alix, are so excited to be at the anime fan convention. They’re dressed as the lead characters from their favorite anime series. Bree cosplays as Red Squirrel, the redheaded detective, and can’t wait to meet Midori, the Japanese voice actor for the character. But before she gets the chance, it’s announced that Midori’s signing event has been cancelled.

Bree is devastated. So when she overhears that a valuable original print of Red Squirrel belonging to Midori has been stolen, she decides to investigate and catch the thief. Maybe Bree can get a face-to-face with Midori if she recovers the stolen print. The only problem is the culprit was seen wearing a cosplay costume. Not just any costume, but one of the most popular characters at the convention. Bree must channel Red Squirrel and get to the bottom of this or lose her chance to meet her idol. What a tough nut to crack!

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Raised in Morinville—a small town north of Edmonton, Alberta—Marty Chan is a playwright, radio writer, television story editor, and young adult author. Marty graduated from the University of Alberta in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (English major/drama minor). He fell into improv comedy when he joined Edmonton Theatresports, but his paralyzing stage fright resulted in ”penguin arm“ acting, forcing him to abandon performing and take up writing. His signature play, Mom, Dad, I’m Living With A White Girl, has been produced across Canada, published three times, and broadcast as a radio drama. The stage play won an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Best New Work and the Adams Chinese Theatre Award at Harvard University. In October 2004, the play had a successful Off Broadway run in New York. Marty was a regular contributor to CBC Radio Edmonton from 1994 to 2000. His weekly commentary series, ”The Dim Sum Diaries,“ recounted his misadventures as the only Chinese kid in a small prairie town. These weekly commentaries were adapted into a half-hour television program (The Orange Seed Myth) which won a Gold Medal for Best Television Pilot at the Charleston World Film and Television Festival, and earned Marty a Gemini nomination for best writing in a children’s program. In 2004, Thistledown Press launched Marty’s first young adult novel, The Mystery of the Frozen Brains, which has become a hit with young readers across Canada. Resource Links magazine rated listed it as one of the Best Books of 2004 for grades 3 to 6. Marty was the first playwright in residence at the Citadel Theatre. He also served as the chair of the Edmonton Arts Council and taught playwriting at the U of A. He received an Arts Achievement Award and a Performance Award from the City of Edmonton. He also earned a Horizon Award from the university for his contributions to theatre. Currently, Marty resides in Edmonton with his wife Michelle and their two cats, Buddy and Max.

Marty Chan's profile page

“This book can be used in small group discussions on social anxiety and how to maintain individuality amid adversity. English teachers will enjoy the imagery of the gamers room. Furthermore, the short text will suit reluctant or striving readers…Anime and manga fans will appreciate the references to popular stories combined with sweet friendship and realistic mystery.”

School Library Journal (SLJ)

“Chan touches upon many societal issues, such as anxiety and gender identity, as well as friendship and acceptance...A good read, one hard to put down. Highly recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“Simple vocabulary and quick pacing make the story a good fit for struggling readers. Rife with references to anime and fan culture, a mystery sure to entice readers.”

Kirkus Reviews