The Secret in the Old Scrapbook

Across the street, Beans' neighbors are recovering from a partial fire that damaged their living quarters and their business right after Thanksgiving. The smoke-ridden Meyer's Bakery, however, will be ready in another two weeks, just in time for Christmas. In the meantime, Hank and Ida have been living at Granger's house. Still heartbroken by their devastating loss, the couple ask Beans and Booger to recover their property once the fire department clears the building for safe reentry. Beans heads into the attic while her buddy examines the basement. Among her neighbors' personal effects, Beans discovers an old scrapbook and a few unusual artifacts that give rise to questions about her friends.

When an unexpected fire devastates Meyer's Bakery across the street from Beans' house, her heart aches. As she witnesses the blaze and the firefighters battle, Beans takes note of the people gathered outside. Immediately wondering if the fire was set by someone, Beans begins to ask questions. Once the Meyer's relocate temporarily to Granger's house, Booger's old babysitter, Beans sets out to investigate and find clues to the fire's cause. She turns to her neighbor Booger and forensic scientist / football quarterback, Vito Rusamano, to find answers. The path leads to unexpected discoveries of historic artifacts in the Meyer's home. Suspecting her neighbors of hidden secrets and other neighbors of collusion in a fire cover-up, Beans gets bogged down by worries about friendships and loyalties.

AUTHOR Ali LaVecchia is the author of the MG (Middle Grade) Booger and Beans Mystery Series. Her first book The Case of the White Knight received "5 Stars out of 5 Stars" on Good Reads followed by Mystery at Mill Creek Bridge and A Zombie on Peacock Hill, respectively. Ali continues the series with A Treasure in Satan's Knoll, The Case of the Mascot's Missing Fire, Voices Beyond the Hidden Staircase and The Ghost on the Front Porch. For thirty-two years, Ali worked as a high school and middle school English, Acting, Public Speaking, Creative Writing and Film teacher. She also served as a department facilitator and Director of Curriculum and Instruction in NJ public school districts. During those years, Ali directed over sixty-one plays and musicals and served as advisor and coach of Drama Club, Peer Leadership and World AIDS Alliance. Since 1991, Ali presented several writing projects at the National Council Teachers of English (NCTE) conventions and appeared in the organization's publications. Her poetry has been showcased at the annual Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, too. She is a New Jersey native who lives in a suburb of Philadelphia with her husband John. Her days are filled with teaching in the Master of Arts in Teaching program for Fairleigh Dickinson University (mentoring, training and field supervising new as well as veteran teachers, K-12), acting in regional films and television, and, of course, writing more mysteries, starring Booger and Beans. Currently, Ali is also seeking publishers for three children's picture books, two women's fiction novels and a nonfiction MG book on Dr. James Still, historic black doctor of the Pines. With any extra time, Ali enjoys worldwide travels, countryside bike rides and time with her adult children and granddaughters Evelina and Fiona plus grandson Cameron.