Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Modern-day Nancy Drew solves brainy map-theft mystery.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
INTO THE LION'S DEN begins with a chase: Twelve-year-old Devlin Quick tries to follow a man her friend, Liza, suspects of cutting a page from a rare book in the library. They lose the man but stay on his trail, diving deep into the world of rare maps and the thieves who steal them. Devlin, Liza, and their friend Booker piece together clues with help from Devlin's connections at the NYPD (her mom is the commissioner). The kids find the mystery intriguing -- but it turns out to be more excitement than they bargained for.
Is It Any Good?
Crime novelist (and former prosecutor) Linda Fairstein makes the leap to mysteries for young readers with a smart, dogged female sleuth and a whodunit involving stolen library treasures. Into the Lion's Den introduces Devlin Quick, an updated Nancy Drew who can't let a good mystery go. There's a lot to love here, especially for kids who love books and history: Fairstein's page-turner showcases some of the treasures in the New York Public Library and revels in literary history.
Devlin is a great role model, but unfortunately she isn't very relatable. Not only is she exceptionally privileged -- from a wealthy family with powerful connections who send their kids to elite private schools -- but she doesn't sound or act like a believable 12-year-old much of the time. Her close friends provide some welcome, if slight, diversity, but one of the real pleasures here is the intimate, mutually admiring relationship between mother and daughter.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Devlin's distinction between "fiblets" and lies in Into the Lion's Den. Do you think it's OK to tell fiblets? Would you mind if someone told you a fiblet?
Do you often find that adults, like the librarian, don't take children seriously? How do you handle it?
Liza observes that Devlin's mom has created a close family for her. Are there people in your life who may not be blood relatives but who feel like family?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dial Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : November 15, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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