The Ambrose Deception, Paperback

Melissa is a nobody. Wilf is a slacker. Bondi is a show-off. At least that's what their middle school teachers think. To everyone's surprise, they are the three students chosen to compete for a ten thousand-dollar scholarship, solving clues that lead them to various locations around Chicago. At first the three contestants work independently, but it doesn't take long before each begins to wonder whether the competition is a sham. It's only by secretly joining forces and using their unique talents that the trio is able to uncover the truth behind the Ambrose Deception--a truth that involves a lot more than just a scholarship.
With a narrative style as varied and intriguing as the mystery itself, this adventure involving clever clues, plenty of perks, and abhorrent adults is pure wish fulfillment.

Emily Ecton is the author of seven middle grade books published under the names Emily Ecton and Emily Fairlie. She is also a former writer and producer for Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!, the Peabody Award-winning comedy news quiz on NPR. Her books have been nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award, the Massachusetts Children's Book Award, the Pennsylvania Young Rader's Choice Award and the Sunshine State Young Reader's Award. After years of living in Chicago, she now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her dog, Binky. For more information, visit her online at emilyecton.com.