My Review: I just finished the first two books in the Boarding School Mysteries series by Kristi Holl. It has been awhile since I had a child in the house the proper age for these books but in my estimation, the subject matter is quite appropriate for the target age group. These books would appeal to girls who love the Nancy Drew mysteries. There is just the right amount of mystery and suspense interspersed with issues and interests so important to this age group. Each book illustrates the impact of personal choices and the importance of faith and prayer in every situation. The books are long enough to tell the whole story well but short enough to hold a young person’s attention. I would recommend this series for middle school girls in particular.
FADING TRACKS – Book 1 in the Boarding School Mysteries – Back Cover 
The Boarding School Mysteries series challenges twelve-year-old Jeri McKane, a sixth grader at the private Landmark School for Girls, to trust God’s Word and direction as this amateur sleauth searches for clues in the midst of danger.
“I can’t take it anymore!” Lonely and a long way from home, 12 year-old Jeri McKane wonders whether the scholarship to prestigious Landmark School was worth it. Just when she thinks things can’t get worse, her Mom cancels out on parents’ weekend, and the school bus carrying her roommate Rosa, disappers. But this reporter for the sixth-grade newspaper has an eye like Nancy Drew, and more faith and courage than she realizes.
Join Jeri and her friends on this adventurous ride through danger and mystery as they learn to trust God when the world doesn’t make sense.
SECRETS FOR SALE – Book 2 in the Boarding School Mysteries – Back Cover
“I thought I could trust you!” With those ugly words hanging in the air, Jeri McKane is crushed. Rosa, her best friend and roomate, is being blackmailed – and blaming her. What’s going on? Unless the evil blackmailer can be nailed, Rosa could be expelled from Landmark School and her starring role in Cinderella given to a snobbish seventh grader. And worse yet, Jeri could lose her best friend just when things with her own absentee father are heating up.
Can faith, courage, and the truth win out? Join Jeri and her friends as they sort through this dark and threatening mystery and learn to trust God and each other in a brand new way.
About the Author
Kristi Holl is an award-winning author of 34 books for children, one nonfiction book for writers, and over 150 stories and articles for children and adults, as well as conference speaker and web editor. Her stories and articles have appeared in Jack and Jill, Child Life, Hi-Call, Your Life & Health, Touch, The Writer, Children’s Writer, and the SCBWI Bulletin, among others. She also wrote a mystery column and self-coaching column for the magazine Once Upon a Time.
Kristi Holl was born in Iowa, graduated from Marshalltown High School and has lived in Mason City, Cedar Falls, Red Oak, Knoxville, Conrad, and Story City (all in Iowa). In July 2003, she moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she and her husband live near two of their daughters and their families.
Kristi started as an elementary teacher after graduating from the University of Northern Iowa in l974, and began writing as a hobby when staying home with her children. She has taught writing for children for the Institute of Children’s Literature since l983. In l998 she created and became Web Editor for the Institute’s web site at www.institutechildrenslit.com where she monitored Open Forums, wrote articles for the Writer’s Support Rooms and Writing Tips, and moderated online interviews with editors and writers. In 2000 she added web editing for the Long Ridge Writers Group web site at www.longridgewritersgroup.com. She retired as web editor in 2002. She now spends the majority of her time writing books. She also has a small number of Institute students, does freelance editing for Zonderkidz/Zondervan Publishing, does manuscript critiques, and speaks at writers’ conferences.
