The Tiara on the Terrace (27 page)

Authors: Kristen Kittscher

Acknowledgments

A
rousing Winter Sun Festival cheer for the parade of people who helped me bring this story to the page: Annie Berger, who warmly welcomed Young & Yang and lent such patience, enthusiasm, and insight as we shaped their story; Rosemary Brosnan, whose confidence in me bolsters my own; Andrea Martin, my sleuths' original champion, who made sure their second adventure was the best it could be; andâof courseâthe excellent team at HarperCollins Children's who labor with love to bring my stories to young readers. The Royal Court queen of agents, Jennifer Laughran, deserves a diamond tiara for making it all possible in the first place.

A Coral Beauty rose for McCormick Templemanâgenius, guru, dear friendâwho ensured I finished this book sometime within the twenty-first century, and who reminds me daily about what really matters.

I'd like to raise my glass to the James Thurber House for their generous support. If living in a Victorian mansion for a summer weren't already inspiring enough, the always-effervescent Pampleton-Thurbers and the ghost made it twice so. Thank you.

A special Royal Court wave to my fan Ali Flynn, who wisely suggested this story needed a little dogâand to Penny Cummins Dorfman, Pomeranian extraordinaire, in memoriam, for inspiring me with her unparalleled joie de vivre.

I wish I could host a Beach Ball for all who offered me their expertise as I was writing: many thanks to Marc Fiedler for police procedure tips, to Andrew Koenig for his “pretty perfect” cosmetics know-how, to my students at Westridge Schoolâespecially Hannah Kimâfor coining some classic awkward slang, and to Emily Pipes, Bridget McDonald, and Maureen Sprunger for enriching the Winter Sun Festival with their fond Tournament of Roses memories.

I'm showering my friends and fellow writers with buckets of confetti and gratitude. Thanks to Melanie Abed, Tania Casselle, Cecil Castellucci, Alison Cherry, Brandy Colbert, Hilary Hattenbach, Kara LaReau, Cindy Mines, Elizabeth Ross, Sarah Skilton, and Claire Wright-Coleman for their tireless encouragement and guidance, not to mention to
Melle Amade, Ingrid Sundberg, and Hayley Finn for early inspiration.

The booksellers, librarians, and teachers who connect kids to books deserve their very own parade of appreciation.

Lastly, a standing ovation for my momâeagle-eyed proofreader, patient listener, and confidanteâand to my husband, Kai: a marching band serenade, fireworks display, jet flyover, full-stadium
Ola
, and chorus of vuvuzelas still wouldn't be enough fanfare to express my gratitude. Ich liebe dich, mein Schatz. Danke.

Back Ad

About the Author

Photo credit Konrad Tho Fiedler

KRISTEN KITTSCHER
is a former middle-school teacher and the author of
The Wig in the Window,
which garnered a starred review from
School Library Journal
and was hailed by
Kirkus
as a “thrilling debut mystery.” The 2014 Thurber House Children's Writer-in-Residence and a graduate of Brown University, Kristen lives with her husband in Pasadena, Californiaâhome of her inspiration, the Rose Parade. You can visit her online at
www.kristenkittscher.com
.

Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at
hc.com
.

Books by Kristen Kittscher

The Wig in the Window

The Tiara on the Terrace

Credits

Cover design by Angela Navarra

Copyright

This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales are intended only to give the fiction a sense of reality and authenticity, and are used fictitiously. All other names, characters, and places, and all dialogue and incidents portrayed in this book, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real.

THE TIARA ON THE TERRACE
. Copyright Â© 2016 by Kristen Kittscher. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

www.harpercollinschildrens.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kittscher, Kristen.

Â Â Â The tiara on the terrace / Kristen Kittscher. â First edition.

Â Â Â Â Â Â pagesÂ Â Â cm

Â Â Â Sequel to: The wig in the window.

Â Â Â Summary: Best friends and amateur pre-teen sleuths Sophie Young and Grace Yang go undercover at their town's annual festival and parade to catch a murderer before he or she strikes again.

Â Â Â ISBN 978-0-06-222798-0 (hardback)

Â Â Â EPub Edition Â© December 2015 ISBN 9780062228000

Â Â Â [1. Mystery and detective stories. 2. MurderâFiction. 3. FestivalsâFiction. 4. FriendshipâFiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.K67173Ti Â Â 2016	Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2015015555
[Fic]âdc23	Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â CIP
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â AC

15Â Â 16Â Â 17Â Â 18Â Â 19Â Â Â Â
CG/RRDH
Â Â Â Â 10Â Â 9Â Â 8Â Â 7Â Â 6Â Â 5Â Â 4Â Â 3Â Â 2Â Â 1