Twelfth

Written by Janet Key

Narrated by Janet Key

People aren't always what they play.

Twelve-year-old Maren is sure theater camp isn’t for her. Theater camp is for loud, confident, artsy people: people like her older sister, Hadley—the last person Maren wants to think about—and her cinema-obsessed, nonbinary bunkmate,
Theo. But when a prank goes wrong, Maren gets drawn into the hunt for a diamond ring that, legend has it, is linked to the camp’s namesake, Charlotte “Charlie” Goodman, a promising director in blacklist-era Hollywood.

When Maren connects the clues to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, she and her new friends are off searching through lighting booths, orchestra pits, and costume storages, discovering the trail and dodging camp counselors. But they’re not the
only ones searching for the ring, and with the growing threat of camp closing forever, they're almost out of time.

In her compelling debut, Janet Key crafts a heartwarming mystery about finding your people and accepting others as they are.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705074336

Reviews for Twelfth

[Alexis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed listening to this cozy little theatre camp based mystery which explored deeper topics of LGBTQ+, gender identity, mental health, and self acceptance while keeping the overall tone of the mystery itself light and enjoyable. Coming of age novels are some of my favorites. I think that the author managed to strike a good balance between writing something fun and poignant. I would highly recommend it!

[karensiddall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Easy to read and with a satisfying storyline, I was delighted, inspired, and still very entertained.Twelfth, a reference to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and the play the campers are to perform at the end of camp, is a unique middle-grade novel of mystery, suspense, self-awareness, and the need each person has to be seen for who they are. Told in dual timelines, one set in the summer of 2015 and the other beginning in the early 1940s and continuing into the 1950s, two distinct plots wend their way toward each other until they come together in one remarkable story. I was completely immersed in both tales and appreciated how the characters from each one experienced similar struggles. I was gripped by how each set of characters chose to handle being outside societal norms and the impact on their choices that a 60-year separation in time had.Maren and Theo are great characters. Maren arrives at the camp in a total funk, but she is actually pretty game to get things going and the summer done. She’s never sullen or whiny, just really disappointed, confused, and torn about what is going on with her family. She’s ready just to endure it all and surprises herself with what a good time she has as she works through the mystery and her personal feelings. Theo is so upbeat and delightfully driven to follow their dreams. I loved their daily vests and quest for extras in the cafeteria. I admire anyone who can take on the opinions of others like they did and come out on top. Allegra is perfect as the pair’s antagonist; we all know THAT girl.Most of all, I loved the twists and turns the story makes. Just when I thought I knew where things were going (and they eventually do get there), the author threw a fantastic curveball. Easy to read, with a satisfying conclusion, I was delighted, inspired, and very entertained. Diverse and well-drawn, the characters in Twelfth felt realistic. I thought they could easily match the random makeup of people and personalities one finds in real life. The exciting story held my attention; I would have happily read the book in one sitting, and I feel even reluctant readers would stick with it. I recommend TWELFTH to readers who enjoy a fun and exciting mystery with true-to-life personal issues complicating characters’ lives and those who want some insight into the hearts and minds of someone who doesn’t fit society’s gender molds.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the publisher through TBR and Beyond Tours.