Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco by Richie Narvaez

The novel alternates between Holly’s and Xander’s perspectives as the danger mounts and the two investigate the case in parallel. “A teen mystery set in an elite public school in 1970s New York City. VERDICT: A complex, exciting mystery that will leave readers hoping for a sequel.”- School Library Journal Readers will appreciate the detailed world created, enriched by the addition of appendices following the story which give additional insight to some of the characters. The 1979 setting–with the absence of current technology such as cell phones and laptops, sets a refreshing stage where the characters use other methods to uncover information. “Readers will find plenty of action and suspense, a complex mystery, as well as humor and a slew of interesting characters. Winner of the 2020 Agatha Award for Best Children’s / YA Mysteryįinalist, 2012 Latino Book Award for You Don’t Have a Clue: Latino Mystery Stories for Teens (Piñata Books, 2011).

Could it have been a disgruntled student? Ultimately, a trophy for a disco-dancing contest leads the intrepid young detectives to the Mission Venus nightclub and a murderer intent on killing again!Ĭlick here to read A Day in the Life – Holly Hernandez blog post by Richie Narvaez. As they race to solve the case, their separate investigations lead to a slew of suspects, including another teacher seen arguing with Friedman and a mysterious person named Steve who met with him several times before his death. He hates perky people!Įventually cleared of the crime, Xander is determined to find the killer before Holly. To Xander, Holly is the overly enthusiastic student who always sits in the front row and answers all the teachers’ questions-correctly. She is intent on exonerating him-but he wants nothing to do with her.

The tall, awkward boy is socially inept, but Holly doesn’t think he’s a murderer. One of her classmates, Xander Herrera, quickly becomes the primary suspect. But her dreams of a normal school life disappear when her mother, a homicide detective, has to investigate the murder of Mr. Holly Hernandez, voted “Miss Bright of ’79” and valedictorian at her previous school, is excited to start fresh at Flatbush Technical High School, one of the most competitive public schools in New York City.

Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco by Richie Narvaez