First published 2015
Lizzy Kennedy wants to assist her doctor father with his patients, not learn proper manners from Aunt Hortense. When plague rumors spread through San Francisco in 1900, the city quarantines Chinatown and traps Jing, the Kennedy family's housekeeper, inside. Lizzy refuses to abandon Jing despite the warnings. She discovers Noah, a mysterious boy claiming to be Jing's son, hiding in their house after escaping quarantine. Noah cannot leave without risking capture. Lizzy begins investigating the plague rumors and the meaning behind references to a "monkey," but her questions anger the adults around her. She must determine whether plague actually exists in the city, understand the connection to Chinatown's residents, and solve the puzzle of the monkey's identity. Lizzy relies on her intelligence and determination to protect Jing and Noah while uncovering the truth behind the fear gripping San Francisco.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: San Francisco
Period: 1900
249 pages · Paperback · Hot Key Books