The Haunted Studio

May 1, 2022
Grades 3-6 Thirteen-year-old Hayley and her best friends Aubrey and Cody are excited to film the second season of Sadie Solves It, a TV show where Hayley stars as young detective Sadie, and Aubrey and Cody play her closest friends. The show has moved its filming to stage five of Hollywood's Silver Screen Studios, home to many famous productions. After the group hears the rumor of a ghost haunting the set, strange things begin happening, scaring some of the actors and delaying filming. Worried that the show will be canceled, the three friends work, alongside Hayley's on-screen little sister, Amelia, to uncover the truth. Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, this fast-paced mystery introduces a clever girl detective, inviting readers onto the set of a TV show while also pulling them into the search for clues. Likable characters, solid friendships, and a fun and spooky story line make this a solid choice for middle-grade gumshoes.

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May 15, 2022
Things take an eerie turn when the production of a TV show moves onto a purportedly haunted stage. Hayley LeBlanc (depicted on the book's cover as light-skinned with brown hair), who shares the same name as the book's author, teen actress and social media personality LeBlanc, is the star of Sadie Solves It, a TV show about a young amateur sleuth. She and her castmates Aubrey Rivera (who has brown skin and dark hair) and Cody Smith (who has blue eyes and blond hair) learn that years ago, an up-and-coming teen star named Betty died on Stage 5 in an accident; rumor has it that her ghost sabotages Stage 5 productions. Though Aubrey is excited to meet the ghost and Cody believes there is an explanation for the odd occurrences, Hayley is uncertain how she feels. On the first day of filming, Amelia Hart (who has brown pigtails and gray eyes), who plays Sadie's younger sister, Pepper, faints, and when she comes to, she claims she saw a ghost. As ghostly encounters, stage accidents, and production delays mount, Hayley begins to wonder if Betty has it in for the show or if someone else could be to blame. This first book in a trilogy starts off well. The mystery unfolds nicely, with just enough exposition to introduce the characters but not bog down the pace. Hayley and her character, Sadie, both encounter mysteries, which blend together well, leading to a satisfying conclusion. The characters are especially interesting and likable. A fun Hollywood-set mystery. (Fiction. 8-12)

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July 25, 2022
This light mystery, teen actor LeBlanc’s debut, offers a behind-the-scenes look at film production. Starring cued-white 13-year-old Hayley as a quick-witted amateur sleuth, the second season of hit program Sadie Solves It is about to begin production on Silver Screen Studios’ Stage Five. After filming at a soundstage in the Valley, Hayley and her two best friends and costars—adventurous Aubrey Rivera, who’s 13 and portrayed with brown skin, and kindhearted 12-year-old Cody Smith, who reads as white—are excited about their new shooting location, “right in the center of Hollywood.” They’re just as thrilled by the presence of an award-winning producer who’s consulting on set, and rumored to be scouting for a new film. But work has hardly begun when the studio lights go out, plunging everyone into darkness and precipitating a reveal: the stage is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a teen starlet once allegedly killed by a rival actor. When a cast member spots an apparition and dangerous accidents befall others, Hayley, Aubrey, and Cody, like the level-headed characters they play, resolve to solve the mystery, searching for the culprit before they—and their show—are canceled. With its action-packed plot, mild thrills, and amiable leads, LeBlanc’s series opener offers an enjoyable Scooby-Doo vibe. Trunfio’s occasional b&w art spotlights character action. Ages 8–12.