Nan Willard Cappo
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Nan Willard Cappo (photo: Phfleck Photo)
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Unaccounted For (2011)
The auto companies are sinking faster than an SUV off Luna Pier and the Michigan job scene is the worst in America. But since his father hired on at Wolverine Motors, Milo Shoemaker feels like a winner. Until his dad drives over a cliff in the fog, and thieves rob their house during the funeral. Did his father die by accident? Or did his past catch up with him? To find out, Milo takes a job at Wolverine--even if it means he, too, could die…unaccounted for. (Watch book trailer below. For excerpt, click on title, right.) In the News...PRESS RELEASE"Zombie-Free Young Adult Novel Mixes Suspense and Corporate Fraud"
24-7 Press Release Service What reviewers are saying about UNACCOUNTED FOR:KIRKUS REVIEWS
Another teen dealing with consequences of dishonesty and cover-ups from Cappo (Cheating Lessons, 2002),though the stakes are higher in this murder mystery set in a small, blue-collar Michigan town. We first meet Milo Shoemaker, an upstanding high school senior, the day of his father’s funeral. Milo’s dad was an accountant at Wolverine Motors, manufacturers of fire trucks in the town of Valeene, and the company prides itself on not having taken a government bailout like the big three automakers. The circumstances surrounding the death of Milo’s father are suspicious—was it an accident, suicide for insurance or, worse, murder? Clues pop up that lead Milo to finagle a job at the plant where he can snoop out the truth. Did his dad cook the books to pay off a gambling debt? Or is it something more sinister? Proving his dad’s innocence could take down the town’s biggest employer and tarnish the reputation of its president, a hero of sorts that Milo holds in high regard for hiring his father when he was down on his luck. Milo is a teen with character and morals; he helps out around the house and takes care of his younger twin siblings...when Milo’s best friend—the athletic, charming Zaffer, whose summer job in security and grounds keeping at Wolverine gives him access to off-limit areas of the building—and the boss’ attractive daughter, Ellie, join in on the sleuthing...the plot moves along at a brisk pace with plenty of action,romance and intrigue. Milo’s unyielding determination to discover the truth and expose corporate fraud will likely make Cappo’s page-turner a hit... AMAZON CUSTOMERS
Solid mystery for teens and adults
...clues emerge, the tension builds, and the story's complexity is increased by Milo's blossoming friendship with the boss's daughter, Ellie, who is dealing with complicated father-child issues of her own. Unaccounted For is rich with a well-paced story, continuing suspense, and an unexpected ending...that can satisfy both teens and adults alike. (10-31-11) Even Better Than You Expect
Unaccounted For was a pleasant surprise...It starts with a coming of age story, adds mystery, sex, violence, and fire trucks in the Michigan heartland, and weaves ethical dilemmas into the plot so nimbly that they don't slow down the action.... The writing is clean and well constructed, with each chapter pulling you into the next. It feels like real people, not a formula. Well worth reading! (11-17-11) Well-done who-done-it
...The book offers an array of suspicious characters: the owner of the company, Alf Farnon, the chief controller, Gordon/George Pearce, the owner's beautiful daughter, Ellie. There are stake-outs, chases, and a thrilling show-down. The ending is unsettling: it is difficult to tell the good guys from the bad guys. (11-28-11) Book Trailer, UNACCOUNTED FOR (60 seconds).
. Cheating Lessons (2002)
When her quiz bowl team lands in a lucrative Michigan championship match, Bernadette is ecstatic, if shocked. Who’d have guessed they were so smart? But an incriminating proof of cheating that she was never meant to see compels her to act--even if it costs her every friend she has. What reviewers said about Cheating Lessons:“[Readers will] be frantically flipping the pages to see what Bernadette decides to do.”
--Twist “Cappo tells an absorbing—and sharply funny—story…” --Horn Book, starred review “[Teens will] enjoy the great quotes and the witty talk, and they’ll be caught up in the Jeopardy!-like tension as well as the mystery of who’s cheating and why.” --Booklist “…a very exciting book with lots of plot twists…Suspense! I’d recommend this book to all teens.” --VOYA “This lively first novel dramatizes moral issues that are close to home…the humor and characterization are well developed…this enjoyable story will be popular [with] talented students.” --School Library Journal • Edgar Award Nominee for Best YA Mystery, 2002 • ALA Best Books for Young Adults Nominee, 2003 • Teacher Magazine Recommended Review May 2002 • Junior Library Guild selection 2002 • Nebraska Golden Sower Nominee for Young Adults 2004-2005 • Volunteer State Book Award Nominee 2003-2004 . |
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