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Simon's family is always on the move. Every few months, they load up their van, "Vincent Van Go," and set off for a new adventure. According to his dad, you can't live an extraordinary life by staying in one place. But all Simon wants is to settle down, so he's hatched a plan: to make their latest apartment in the Tangerine Pines building his forever home.
When a priceless necklace is stolen, clues indicate the thief might actually be another neighbor. Simon worries he'll have to move again if the thief isn't caught. He usually doesn't go looking for trouble, but if retrieving the necklace means establishing home, Simon is willing to risk it. With the help of his neighbor Amaya, pet sitter, plant-waterer, and podcaster extraordinaire, Simon is determined to crack the case and finally put down roots.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
April 2, 2024 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781547611027
- File size: 134614 KB
- Duration: 04:40:26
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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February 5, 2024
Eleven-year-old Simon Hyde’s parents’ nomadic lifestyle, and yet another move across the country in their “Vincent Van Go,” has made him risk averse. Having lived in 27 places, Simon has made up a fool-proof plan: Code Name Chameleon. Part one is to blend in with his new
surroundings, and part two—perhaps
the most imperative of the pair—is to
not be weird. Though Simon loves collecting rocks and reading fantasy novels, he can’t chance revealing his true self, especially since there’s been so little stability in his life to begin with. But maybe this time will be different: implementing steps one and two of Operation Rigsby, his new, top-secret scheme, Simon has been researching the best home for his family and has successfully led them to Tangerine Pines. He immediately meets cheery, idiosyncratic neighbors and, upon feeling a spark of “a forever home,” enacts step three: “Stay there forever. This was the most important part—and also the most complicated.” When his neighbor’s necklace is stolen, Simon and his new acquaintance is on the case—and he’ll
do anything to prolong their stay. In
this quiet story of hope, belonging, and adventure, McDunn (When Sea Becomes Sky) presents Simon’s sincere worries and charming schemes with a humorous, lighthearted approach. Simon reads as white. Ages 8–11.
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