The Pear Affair

March 15, 2022
Grades 4-7 Life has been bleak for Nell since her horrid so-called parents packed her off to boarding school at the age of seven and dismissed Pear, her beloved au pair, who left England and returned to France. Accompanying her parents to Paris, 12-year-old Nell is determined to find Pear, who has mysteriously disappeared. Uneasy but not disheartened, Nell strikes out on her own, hoping to move in with Pear. Along the way, she befriends several French children who introduce her to the maze of dark tunnels beneath the city. Meanwhile, a second mystery arises: who is behind the inexplicable outbreak of spores that are ruining the city's famous bread and shutting down one small, family-run bakery after another? Set in 1969, the engaging story revolves around Nell and her new allies, who recognize a kindred spirit and try to help her, just as she extends herself to help them. An assortment of villainous adults and several kind ones round out the cast of characters while occasional black-and-white drawings illustrate this fast-paced, enjoyable mystery.

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Starred review from February 1, 2022
In the summer of 1969, 12-year-old Nell confronts confounding, confusing mysteries that intertwine in unexpected ways. She accompanies her abusive parents on a business trip from their home in Kent to Paris, determined to find her former nanny, Pear, a loving, kind, young Frenchwoman. Pear was abruptly dismissed before Nell was sent to boarding school. They corresponded regularly for five years, but Pear's letters from Paris stopped six months ago, and Nell's went unanswered. Nell sets out on her quest, navigating the underground tunnels of Paris with the help of new friend Xavier and other children for whom they are playground, sanctuary, and even home. But strange events are affecting the city: Boulangeries are closing at an alarming rate due to contamination of baked goods by the Thing, while locations of the new Pain-tastique chain are opening. The two are connected and involve high-level greed, corruption, secret codes, and formulas. Self-doubting Nell is prone to paralyzing fears, but she is braver than she knows as she overcomes setbacks and real dangers. Eagle masterfully maintains suspense, dispensing new clues as the events escalate, with twists and turns galore and a cast of charming, loyal friends, all set against the special atmosphere of Paris. Soft, full-page, pencil-and-ink illustrations highlight key events. A satisfying conclusion finds the villains punished, bakeries restored, and a whole new life for Nell. Most characters present White; there is a Tunisian family in the supporting cast. A tour de force. (Mystery. 10-14)

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