Found Sound

Every summer, Felix's family swaps the clamor of New York City for the hush of Blissfield, Massachusetts, and he has always looked forward to it. This year feels different. His older brother has left home, the vacation just isn't the same without him, and Felix is convinced it will be the dullest summer yet. Then he comes across a box with OPEN ME scrawled on the lid. Inside are an audio recorder, a pair of headphones, and a list of timecodes. Nothing explains what any of it is for, and Felix can't resist finding out. With Marigold, a quirky neighbor who joins him, Felix follows the trail of clues around town, listening for answers in the sounds that surround them. The puzzle keeps building toward its finale, and the more he uncovers, the more Felix wonders who is behind it and why they went to such lengths to set it up anonymously. This is a fast-moving mystery and scavenger hunt built around sound, with themes of family and of friendships lost and found. It was written by Meg Wolitzer together with her son, Charlie Panek, a sound editor and music producer, and it invites readers to pay closer attention to the noises of the world around them.