I received a free copy of, Snowed, by Twist Phelan, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Seventh Grader Ophelia (Phee) is investigating her classmates who went missing on a school field trip, skiing. I could not imagine solving crimes at age 12, but we never had field trips to go skiing either. Phee is a great character, very brave for her age. A good read for middle schoolers.

This book is about a smart girl that struggles being heard at times, and tries to be resourceful while relying on herself, but is also stubborn and will do whatever it takes to get answers.
In general I think its a good middle grade book and the people from the target demographic will not have troubles relating to or liking Phee.

When it comes to the plot in itself it was fine for the most part but discovering what happened to her classmate what quite anticlimactic, there's not really a follow up to it.
Beyond that, the other "mysteries" of the story were just all stuffed into the last chapters and made it feel extremely rushed, she found Chord, a couple pages later she was kidnapped, which resulted in waking up hospital where she is drugged, then she's home a few pages later has a gun pointed at her?? (How is it possible that its mentioned Austin went outside for just a bit and then the bat shit woman shows up, and neither him or her brother go call her from the house or see them leaving ??)
Overall it just seemed way too farfetched taking into account the mc is in 8th grade

This novel offers a thrilling mix of middle school drama and mystery, with a brave young protagonist, Ophelia, at the center. The snowy setting adds atmosphere, and the mix of quirky, relatable friends makes for an engaging read. Perfect for young readers who enjoy sleuthing adventures and the challenges of growing up.

This was a quick and fun read. It is a great YA mystery novel for middle grade readers. I, as an adult, also found it engaging and fun. There were many twists and turns I didn't see coming

Snowed by Twist Phelan is an engaging middle-grade mystery that offers a good mix of suspense and lighthearted moments, though it doesn't quite reach its full potential. The protagonist, Phee Mahoney, is a likable and relatable character, and her determination to solve the mysteries in her small Colorado town adds a nice touch of adventure to the story. The snowy setting and the concept of a young girl taking on the role of detective create an appealing backdrop for the novel.

The plot, while intriguing, feels a bit too predictable at times. The mystery surrounding Phee’s classmate's disappearance and the hit-and-run incident unfolds in a fairly straightforward way, lacking the twists and turns that could have made it more compelling. The supporting characters, Joshua and Kimiko, are fun additions to the story, though they sometimes fall into stereotypical roles—Joshua as the brainy sidekick and Kimiko as the athletic friend—which limits their development.

The book's pacing is uneven, with some parts feeling rushed while others drag on longer than necessary. Additionally, the mystery's resolution, though satisfying, feels somewhat underwhelming. The stakes never feel high enough to create real tension, and the ending wraps up too neatly.

Overall, Snowed is decent for younger audiences who enjoy mysteries with a robust and resourceful protagonist. However, it may not leave a lasting impression on those seeking a more intricate and unpredictable mystery.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were very real. If I were in middle school, I would be screaming for the next one. As an adult who reads a lot of mystery novels, this was a tad predictable. I’m giving the high star rating because I will be buying this for all the middle schoolers in my life.

This was a great YA mystery with twists and turns that kept you guessing until the very end. Twist Phelan kept readers engaged the whole time with this quick easy read. Set in a ski resort town, our main character Phee has many mysteries in her life, all of which she's determined to solve. I would recommend this to younger teens and preteens. Its a gripping mystery with a great female lead who is quite easy to resonate with.

Welcome to Bristlecone, Colorado—home of skiing, snowboarding, and secrets. “Snowed” by Twist Phelan is a gripping YA mystery that follows twelve-year-old Ophelia (Phee) Mahoney as she navigates the treacherous terrain of eighth grade and a town full of hidden dangers. Phee, a spy aficionado, finds herself embroiled in a real-life mystery when a classmate disappears during a school ski trip, and a hit-and-run leaves her friend in a coma. The local sheriff, also the father of Phee’s crush, dismisses the hit-and-run as an accident, but Phee is convinced there’s a sinister motive at play. With the help of her Jeopardy!-obsessed friend Joshua and sporty Kimiko, Phee sets out to uncover the truth, putting her safety on the line to bring justice to Bristlecone.

This novel is a quick, easy, and thoroughly enjoyable read. Twist Phelan’s writing style is engaging, and the story is packed with suspense, mystery, and unexpected twists that keep readers guessing until the very end. The well-crafted characters and their dynamics add depth to the narrative, particularly Phee’s development as a strong female lead. “Snowed” deftly explores themes of friendship, self-worth, social responsibility, and the trials of growing up.

It’s an adventure-filled story that resonates with middle school readers and even adults who enjoy a good mystery. The book’s balance of thrilling action and important life lessons makes it a standout in the YA genre. I highly recommend “Snowed” for its captivating plot and relatable characters. This is a solid 4 out of 5 stars read, perfect for younger readers and a great pick for parents looking for a strong, empowering story for their daughters. Twist Phelan has delivered a well-paced, twisty mystery that is sure to entertain and inspire.

Snowed
I enjoyed this story a lot. There are so many mysteries in Phee’s life, I don’t know how she keeps track of them all and how she’s not a quivering bowl of jelly by the end of the story.
A boy from her class goes missing after a day on the mountain
Her mother is missing after a tsunami hits Australia where she’s gone in a business trip and there’s been no contact with her for days.
Her best friend is acting weird and avoiding Phee
Then there’s her elderly neighbor with a daughter determined to sell the house out from under her and put her in a care home.
And who ran her friend off the road leaving him paralysed?
Phee dons her beanie and is determined to solve as many of these mysteries as possible, putting herself in terrible danger.
I haven’t read many stories set in and around a snow town, so this was an interesting and refreshing change.
Highly recommend for ages 9+

A pacy, twisty upper-middle grade mystery, with some interesting middle-school issues in addition to the main plot. Well-drawn main characters with believable edge. Great snowboarding and mountain detail.

A thrilling, epic tale from a brave and wildly interesting protagonist. This story will keep you guessing, as each page turns and the narrative unfolds. I would recommend for any YA reader, who loves a good thriller story,

Decent YA thriller with the trials of growing up set alongside crime and deceit. Mix that up with a ski resort in the Colorado mountains and you get Snowed.
A couple of plot flaws which likely won’t get spotted by the books intended audience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

When a trip to the local school is sidelines by a snow storm, Plum and some other zoo friends have to spend the night alone at the school. Naturally trouble ensues. Plum is a little nervous but the other animals seem to be enjoying their adventure. Will the school's classroom pets lead them astray?

This is a mystery for middle school students that turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag for me. One of the book's strengths definitely lies in its quirky characters, as well as its occasionally snide humour.

Phee Mahoney's parents decided to name their four kids and household feline after their various literary phases, ending up with Zane (for westerns), Ophelia (for Shakespeare), Homicide the cat ( for crime fiction), and twins Brooklyn and Scout (your guess is as good as mine, but maybe Hubert Selby Jr and Harper Lee - though Phee does mention celebrity magazines, so maybe you can Blame It on Beckham, pun intended)!

Anyway, after being reluctantly dragged into attending a ski day through school, the decidedly non-athletic Phee ends up being the last person to interact with one of her schoolmates, a boy who goes missing after the school outing.

This, along with a suspicious accident and some very strange behaviour from next door neighbours, leads to Phee taking on the role of a detective-cum-spy.

A number of topics important for students are covered, including drug use, disability and bullying, and in the end - despite worrying about her mother who is missing on a work trip after encountering a natural disaster - Phee saves the day.

I think that the story delivered on a number of key elements, including the mystery aspect. And I liked the diversity of characters and issues, though the storytelling did not always hold my attention. Phee is a good MC, and her concern for Mrs Heckler was one aspect of the book I liked. So it was a mixed bag for me, as mentioned earlier.

A good, quick read. I loved the mystery and suspense! It surprised me and that hasn't happened in a long time

I don't really read a lot of mysteries, but this was pretty good.. mostly though, I t hink the rest of the stories and most issues were sounds when looking at the age of the friendgroup

This is a well-paced mystery, which swirls around themes such as friendship, responsibility, and snowboarding.

We meet Phee as she heads out on a school trip for skiing and snowboarding, something she is dreading since she claimed to be better at the sport than she is. While there, a fellow classmate disappears and the mystery begins.

The mystery is laid out with enough surprises to keep the reader guessing until the end. While Phee does have her hands full with figuring things out, the other drama also is nothing to ignore. I did find Phee a little harsh, at first, but she warms up as the story progresses. The friendships formed, mistakes made, and life lessons surrounding personal growth will ring true to readers of the age group.

An unpredictable YA mystery that kept me guessing with all the twists. A super quick and easy read-in-one-sitting, decently crafted novel with likable enough characters.

Snowed by Twist Phelan is a good YA mystery novel. The story's premise centers around Phee Mahoney, who's caught in an avalanche of trouble when she investigates a classmate's disappearance on a school ski trip and a hit-and-run that leaves a friend in a coma.

The story was well written and kept me guessing. I liked the author's writing style; it was engaging, and I liked how she portrayed the characters.

I would give this a solid 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book and this author. The story held my interest and was a quick, twisty read.

#Snowed #NetGalley @BronzevilleB

This book is meant for middle school/P7 and S 1/2. This book covers so many topics within a fun story of adventure and mis-adventure; friendship, self-worth, social responsibility, growing up, first crushes, possible family loss, and not least snowboarding. Well worth picking up for a younger reader, adults will enjoy but may have to suspend their belief. Thank you to Bronzeville Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given