First published 1970
Randy and Oliver Melendy face their first winter alone together while their older siblings attend boarding school. The house feels empty without Rush and Mona, but the two youngest Melendys discover they have their own adventures waiting. When cryptic messages begin appearing around their home and neighborhood, Randy and Oliver must work together to decode the puzzles. Each clue leads to another mystery, drawing the siblings deeper into an elaborate game that someone has designed just for them. The coded messages take them on expeditions through snow covered landscapes and into unexpected corners of their familiar world. As Randy and Oliver follow the trail of clues, they learn that being the youngest doesn't mean being left out of excitement. Their partnership grows stronger as they tackle each puzzle, proving that two can have just as much fun as four. The winter that seemed lonely at first becomes filled with discovery and the special bond between the two remaining Melendys.
Genres: family-life, adventure, mystery
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, sibling-dynamics
Setting: Neighborhood
Period: Winter
174 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books Ltd.