Mixed Up

May 8, 2023
Two white-cued tweens who have never met mysteriously begin swapping memories in this suspenseful novel by Korman (The Superteacher Project). Twelve-year-old Reef Moody is grieving his mother’s death more than a year ago when he realizes that he can’t recall certain memories of her. Instead, he has begun remembering events that he’s sure he’s never experienced. Meanwhile, Theo Metzinger, also 12 and living in another district, has begun recollecting images of a woman he’s never seen and things he’s never done; the memories are welcome if bizarre distractions from his father’s overwhelming future expectations. When the two boys meet serendipitously, it doesn’t take long for them to realize their connection. Together, they resolve to figure out what’s happening and reverse it, but the solution turns out to be potentially life-threatening. Via Reef and Theo’s earnest alternating POVs, Korman crafts an intricate mystery and a gripping adventure grounded by high-stakes emotional conflict. If the mythos surrounding the memory swap is somewhat contrived, the boys’ creative brainstorming evokes classic Hardy Boys detective work, and they each emerge as bighearted, sympathetic heroes whose individual courage and support for one another is palpably rendered. Ages 8–12.