Behind the Screen

By: Israel Keats

Narrated by: Intuitive

Hannah's sister, Alexis, has been acting different lately. For one thing, she's constantly on her phone when she never used to care that much about it. But after Hannah discovers that Alexis has developed a relationship with a boy she met online, her strange behavior starts to make sense. What's worse, Alexis plans to skip out on college to run away with this guy. Hannah teams up with her best friend to find out more about the online stranger. What if he isn't who he says he is?

©2019 Israel Keats (P)2019 Lerner Digital ™

Critic reviews

"This action-packed new series tells the stand-alone stories of teens living in the fictional Mason Falls who solve various mysteries. Hannah gets Behind the Screen when her older sister begins texting with a guy who does not seem to be who he says he is. Each story takes a realistic perspective and deals with real-life issues such as online scams and fighting with parents. VERDICT These books, written at a fourth grade reading level, are fast-paced with clear-cut resolutions to each case that will resonate with mystery and suspense fans." (School Library Journal)

"The town of Mason Falls, though unassuming on the surface, holds no shortage of mysteries for its teenage sleuths to solve. In Behind the Screen, computer-savvy Hannah notices her older sister, Alexis, spending far more time on her phone than usual. Through a little conversation and investigation, Hannah learns her sister is involved with a boy whom she has yet to meet in person and becomes immediately suspicious. With the help of her best friend, Jacob, Hannah sets out to discover if her sister's online boyfriend is truly who he pretends to be.

The stories of the Mason Falls Mysteries series are short and straightforward. Character development is limited by the low page count. Instead, the books focus on relationships and how the teenage characters work together to solve problems. Finally, the mysteries themselves are well selected, as they are within the abilities of high school students to solve with little assistance from adults. This series could be a strong choice for English language learners, middle grade readers, and reluctant older readers." (VOYA)

"When Hannah's sister starts texting with a stranger and sneaking around, it is up to Hannah to find out if the guy is for real or just catfishing in this hi-lo mystery. Just months from graduating high school and with a scholarship to her dream college, Alexis should be thrilled, but Hannah cannot help but think something dangerous is going on with her older sister. Deciding that Alexis' safety is more important than respecting her privacy, Hannah enlists Jacob, a tech-savvy friend, to help her investigate, but the deeper they dig, the more convoluted the scheme seems to be. This modern mystery will capture the imaginations of readers as they try to stay one step ahead of the teen sleuths, and the messages about internet safety and the dangers of cyberstalkers are timely." (Kirkus Reviews)