The Neighbors' Secret is a fast-moving middle-grade book about Maddie, who has a much too active imagination! She still gets laughed at over the Yeti incident, but this time, she is sure about what she saw, and it makes a much larger mystery and problem. Maddie's best friend doesn't believe her and is far more concerned with makeup and boys nowadays.
Diana Sussman's portrayal of preteen conduct and dialogue is spot on. She perfectly describes the empty feeling of being left out, even by one's best friend. The book flows nicely and is a quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Everimagine Books(Harbor Lane Books, LLC). I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by Everimagine Books via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is a middle grade novel about a girl who thinks her new neighbors are spies. Maddie is very observant and believes that things are always more than they seem.

I liked this story! It had some fun detective parts and also some heartfelt relationship stuff. The friendship stuff and the new boyfriend stuff seemed very real.

I liked the mystery that unfolded and the resolution. I wonder if there will be more to this series.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book about spies or a mystery in general.

Thanks so much to netgalley and Everimagine books for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A crime fiction mystery, The Neighbors’ Secret (2024) by Diana Sussman is an engaging and lively tale. Maddie is in grade eight and is best friends with Rachel as their interest in boys begins to stir. Maddie is a top student and thinks the new neighbours moving in opposite may be spies. Her vivid imagination has led to trouble before but she is determined, assisted by Rachel, to find the truth. A delightful adventure unfolds as Maddie navigates friendship tensions, boys and satisfying her curiosity and active imagination. Whilst not in the demographic for this book, it’s an entertaining, insightful read that is a four and a half stars rating. With thanks to EverImagine Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

I thought The Neighbors Secret sounded like a super fun, middle-grade mystery!

I do think a couple aspects were a little silly such as breaking into her neighbors house because she though she saw a yeti. Maddie definitely isn't getting into enough trouble for the problems she causes. haha.

Very quick read. Fun! I'd recommend to those who love a cute, middle-grade, mystery solving book!

Thank you to NetGalley and EverImagine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"The Neighbors' Secret" by Diana Sussman is a delightful foray into the world of middle-grade mystery that captures the essence of adolescence with a thrilling espionage twist. The story revolves around Maddie, an eighth-grader whose life is upended by typical teenage tribulations and the arrival of mysterious new neighbors.

Maddie's character is relatable and well-crafted, embodying the curiosity and determination of a young detective. Her friendship with Rachel adds depth to the narrative, exploring themes of loyalty and the complexities of growing up. The inclusion of a mythical Yeti sighting and the suspicion of espionage injects a sense of wonder and intrigue that keeps the reader guessing.

Sussman's writing is engaging, with a pace that is brisk yet detailed enough to build a vivid world around Maddie's adventures. The plot is well-structured, with twists and turns that are both surprising and satisfying. The author does an excellent job of balancing the light-hearted elements of middle school life with the darker undertones of a spy thriller.

One of the book's strengths is its ability to address the emotional turmoil of adolescence—the feeling of being left out, the first crush, and the fear of losing a best friend. These elements are woven seamlessly into the fabric of the story, making Maddie's journey not just a physical one, but an emotional one as well.

The resolution of the mystery is clever and unexpected, leaving readers with a sense of closure while also reflecting on the lessons learned by the characters. "The Neighbors' Secret" is a testament to the power of friendship and the importance of trust, making it a must-read for young readers who enjoy a good mystery with a heart.

Overall, Diana Sussman's **The Neighbors' Secret** is a charming addition to the middle-grade mystery genre, offering a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It's a book that will resonate with its intended audience and leave them eager for more adventures with Maddie and her friends.

I let my 8th grade daughter read this book. She is not a huge reader but she absolutely loved this one! I am excited about more in the series coming out. So her love of reading can be sparked!

Great mystery novel for middlegraders and up who are fans of pre teen main characters dealing with relationship problems, solving clues, mysteries and saving the day.
My favoririte thing is that the author gives us a bit more than the usual format for simple mystery mglit, introducing the love/boys interest.
Loved the end. The mc starts from zero with no credibility and is constantly teased by her peers for making a couple of mistakes in her obsession to find a real mystery. She won't have to wait long. The character development is exciting to follow. Loyalty, friendship, confidence, wit and bravery to solve this mystery with classic influences.
Thank you netgalley and publisher for this e-arc.

Diana Sussman was a 2023 finalist for the Middle school section in the Tessa Waldron award for New Voices in Children’s Literature with this book.

The Tassy Walden Award was launched in 2001, and is “an annual competition that encourages and nurtures the creation of exceptional books for children by unpublished Connecticut writers and illustrators.”

Maddie is a young teen who is not coping with her best friend, Rachel, reaching puberty before Maddie, turning boy crazy and starting to mix with other girls who think this way. Maddie doesn’t get it, not when there are serious things going on in the world, like the possibility of Russian sleeper agents moving into the house across the road.

Trouble is Maddie recently broke into another neighbour’s house when she was certain she saw a Yeti moving around. Turns out there was a simple non-Yeti reason for what she thought she saw. But as a result she is a bit of a laughing stock amongst her peers.

So when the new neighbours pull into the driveway and she see’s a human hand push the taillight of their car. She is convinced they are kidnappers. Not wanting to make a mistake again she ropes Rachel into going with her over to the new neighbours place to snoop around. She is thwarted when they are sprung and meet the son, Alex. Alex is a teenage girl’s dream and both Rachel and Maddie instantly like him. While they chat, Maddie finds out Alex’s mother is going to work as a professor in the secret research facility at the nearby university. Surely something a Russian spy would do.

It’s a shame Alex seems to like her, because she is going to prove his mum is a kidnapper and spy. Only now she is in a precarious situation, if she proves his mum is a spy, Alex will hate her. If she finds out his mum isn’t a spy and dates Alex, Rachel will hate her. Can she save America, get the boy, and keep her friend? Or will her world come tumbling down?

I really enjoyed this coming of age story. Leaving your childhood and taking your first few steps towards adulthood is very confusing and kids progress at different times. Sussman has portrayed this very well. Maddie has to learn not to jump to conclusions at the same time she needs to follow her hunches. Something many adults can’t do let alone a young teen. But Maddie is stubborn, brave and loyal and her thoughts are easy to follow and seem reasonable considering the information she is working with.

The mystery is good, Maddie acts her age, and the danger is real. I have two grandchildren in the age bracket this book is aimed at and I will certainly recommend the book to them. And that is high praise indeed.

This is an engaging middle school book about Maddie, who is struggling not only with the relatively common issue of having a best friend who seems to be outgrowing her, but a rather less common preoccupation with the conviction that her new neighbours are spies...

The latter is particularly inconvenient, given that Maddie has developed a crush on the new neighbour's son, Alex! Now she faces a situation where the price of being right about the neighbours is the ruination of any chance for success wrt her romantic aspirations.

This is an imaginative and amusing story that will appeal to readers in the target age group and beyond. Maddie's vivid imagination, and her frustrations with her inability to persuade others to understand things in the way that she does, are relatable! I also liked Chloe as a character. A very enjoyable read.

"The Neighbors' Secret" by Diana Sussman is a middle-grade novel that delves into the complexities of friendship, crushes, and the allure of mystery. Maddie, the protagonist, finds herself in a whirlwind of trouble when her imagination leads her to believe in the existence of a mythical creature and suspect her new neighbors of nefarious activities.

While the premise is intriguing and promises a blend of adventure and coming-of-age drama, the execution falls short in some aspects. The plot feels somewhat predictable, and the characters, though relatable, lack depth. Maddie's internal conflicts and dilemmas are portrayed well, but the resolutions feel rushed and contrived.

However, Sussman's writing style is engaging, making the book a quick and enjoyable despite its flaws. The themes of loyalty, trust, and the consequences of jumping to conclusions are subtly woven into the narrative, providing valuable lessons for young readers.

Overall, "The Neighbors' Secret" offers a decent read for fans of mystery and friendship-focused stories, but it may leave some readers wanting more depth and complexity in its storytelling.

This had everything that I wanted from this type of book, it had everything that I wanted from the description. The characters were what I was hoping for from the description. It had that mystery element that I wanted and was glad it was so well done. Diana Sussman has a great writing style and I enjoyed the overall feel. I hope there is more in this series.

What a cute little story. I enjoy a good middle grade book every now and then and this one was so fun with the elements of mystery. I loved the surprise ending too. Maddie is such a smart girl!