Bibliographic Information:
Title: The Inheritance Games
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
ISBN: 9781549160462
Publisher: Little, Brown
Copyright Date: 2020
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Format: print book
Awards or Honors: Teen Buckeye award winner, Edgar award nominee, one of Kirkus Review’s Best Books of 2020 and YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
Reading Level/Interest Level: 13+
Plot Summary: Avery Grambs is shocked when she turns out to be the beneficiary of a billionaire’s fortune, one she never met or even heard of. But to receive her inheritance, she must move into his sprawling, riddle-filled house, which is also filled with his disinherited and bitter family. And those four handsome, extremely charming grandsons? They might have had something to do with a girl who died a year ago. Suddenly, she realizes that it’s not just about money; it’s about survival. Avery’s fortunes have turned, but it might not be for the better.
Author Background: Jennifer Lynn Barnes (aka Jen) has multiple advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry and cognitive science from Cambridge University and Yale University (Barnes, n.d.). She has written more than a dozen young adult novels with wide acclaim, the first five while she was still in college. She teaches both psychology and professional writing at the University of Oklahoma.
Critical Evaluation: This is one fast-paced, funny, clever mystery. Avery is driven and whip-smart; she can easily handle whatever Tobias Hawthorne roped her into, but it’s still fun watching the story unfold. Which of the handsome grandsons will she fall for? What happened to Emily?? What happened on her birthday??? I will say the ending fizzed a little bit given the build-up, but I suspect Barnes is saving further reveals for the next books in the series.
Creative Use for a Library Program: Time to pull out the riddle books! Have an evening of riddles, math games, word challenges and more. Have participants dress up for a gala, or in prep school chic for extra credit.
Speed-Round Book Talk: An inheritance, a riddle, and a family set on revenge. Will Avery Kylie Grambs be able to untangle the secrets of Hawthorne House before it’s too late?
Reason for Inclusion: While there isn’t a great deal of diversity in the cast (most characters are White, although there is one Black and one multiracial character, and there is an ancillary romantic relationship between two young women), it’s a fun, very engaging read. YALSA recommends it for reluctant readers and I agree (Wikipedia, n.d.).
Want more? Here’s a compilation of BookTok responses to the book:
References
Barnes, J. L. (n.d.) Bio. Retrieved from http://www.jenniferlynnbarnes.com/bio.html
Beach, A. (n.d.) The inheritance games [review]. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-inheritance-games-book-1
Kirkus (July 27, 2020). The inheritance games [review]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jennifer-lynn-barnes/inheritance-games/
Wikipedia (n.d.). The Inheritance Games. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inheritance_Games
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