As Ronnie Willow begins her freshman year at a new high school on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, she finds a mysterious diary in the hold of an old sailboat. Her search for clues about the author leads to the cold case of a missing person. Suddenly, she and her friends must scramble to solve the rapidly warming puzzle before getting scorched themselves. As she searches for answers, Ronnie also searches for herself and her place in her new community.

Author W.S. Childress understands the adolescent heart-where being with friends and facing a grand adventure pack every moment with drama.

Who is diarist Ruth Gardner? What was her tragedy? And why are the community's adults desperate to keep Ronnie Willow from learning more? The answers reveal more than a scandal; they put the protagonist and her friends in peril.

In this novel populated by memorable characters, the adults of Cape Cod aren't the only characters with secrets. There's hunkster Bailey Prince, exuberant Sophie, attention-starved Kota, and bubbly Bridget. Is the gifted and mysterious Ms. Eldwyn an ally or adversary? Why is Mrs. Coggeshall so brusque? And what inner battle is Ronnie's mother fighting?

This Cape Cod adventure and clue-solving takes place amidst sand dunes, kettle ponds, birch trees, schooners, and skiffs. Other locations include Barnstable Harbor, Saddle Rock, Hoxie Academy, Colonial-style homes, and Sandy Neck. With this vivid backdrop, Ronnie follows the clues, even while negotiating an awkward crush and showdown with the principal.

If you want to fall in love with a place, characters, a hair-raising plot, and adolescence itself, Ronnie Willow and the Silver Mask is a great hang.