Book Info
The Queen of Ocean Parkway by Sarvenaz Tash
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Publishing Date: September 3, 2024
Synopsis
An 11-year-old podcaster-turned-sleuth teams up with the new kid in the building to find their missing neighbor! A captivating adventure perfect for fans of When You Reach Me and Only Murders in the Building.
Eleven-year-old Roya is the superintendent’s kid in her regal Brooklyn apartment building, so she knows pretty much everything there is to know about its residents. An aspiring reporter, she even hosts a secret podcast about the lives of the building’s tenants. It’s a good distraction from the problems in her own life.
But when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite tenants, goes missing, Roya discovers an eerie connection to Grandmother’s Predictions, an antique fortune-telling machine at Coney Island. “Grandmother” has been linked to multiple disappearances in the Petrov family over the last century. Now, with the help of a new friend who’s just moved in, it’s up to Roya to make her own headlines as she searches for Katya and attempts to break the Petrov curse once and for all.
Book Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/137656633
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CS94ZG7D
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-queen-of-ocean-parkway-sarvenaz-tash/1144624035
IndieBound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-queen-of-ocean-parkway-sarvenaz-tash/21035249
About the Author
Sarvenaz Tash is the author of The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love (an Amazon Best Book of the Year, YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers), Virtually Yours, Three Day Summer, The Mapmaker and the Ghost, and co-author of Ghosting: A Love Story and Hollywood Ending. She was born in Tehran, Iran and grew up on Long Island, NY. She received her BFA in Film and Television from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, which means she got to spend most of college running around and making movies (it was a lot of fun). She has dabbled in all sorts of writing including screenwriting, copywriting, and professional tweeting for the likes of Bravo and MTV. Sarvenaz currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her family.
Author Links
Website: https://www.sarvenaztash.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4687526
Why Should You Read It?
- Engaging Mystery with a Unique Twist
Roya, an 11-year-old podcaster, embarks on a thrilling mystery to solve the disappearance of her neighbor, Katya. The plot takes a captivating turn with its connection to an antique fortune-telling machine, adding a layer of eerie intrigue. - Only Murders in the Building Vibes
Fans of the Hulu show will love the parallels—Roya’s mother is the building’s super, just like in the show, and Roya’s secret podcast mirrors the sleuthing podcast element, making this a fun read for mystery lovers. - Heartwarming Family Dynamics
Roya’s parents, especially her mother, are supportive, caring, and play important roles in the story. It’s refreshing to see a family that’s both loving and integral to the plot while still allowing Roya her independence. - Relatable Protagonist with Big Dreams
Roya is an aspiring reporter who’s clever, determined, and relatable. Her love for storytelling and uncovering secrets resonates with young readers, especially those who dream big and are curious about the world around them. - Perfect for Middle-Grade Readers
With adventure, friendship, and a dash of mystery, this book strikes the perfect balance for middle-grade readers. It’s exciting, yet wholesome, and provides a fun journey into Brooklyn life with relatable and diverse characters.
These elements make The Queen of Ocean Parkway a must-read for fans of sleuthing adventures, relatable characters, and stories filled with heart and suspense.
Favorite Quotes
Siblings seemed like built-in friends.
Yet had always been one of Baba’s favorite words.