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Life tends to take us in unexpected directions at the most unexpected of times. And in the Young Adult adventure Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao, a desperate young woman sets out in search of what she hopes will be a valuable treasure—only to discover so much more than she’d hoped to find.
The story follows Gemma Sun in chasing a family mystery. When she learns about the recent death of the grandfather she was told died years ago, she realizes that there’s so much about her family that her mother has kept from her. The will comes with what seems to be the first clue in a treasure hunt—and Gemma hopes it will lead to an inheritance that she desperately needs to cover her college tuition. But in order to follow the clues, she’ll have to travel to Taiwan—and she’ll need the help of her obnoxious ex, Xander.
After begging Xander to allow her to enroll in his Taiwanese cultural program, Gemma finds herself in a strange and completely unfamiliar new place. While other kids in the program grew up with the language and the culture, Gemma’s mom turned her back on both her father and his culture long ago—so everything about Taipei, its traditions, and its food is foreign to Gemma. And though she came to Taiwan with one specific goal in mind, she often finds herself caught up in the sights and smells and tastes of the city—and the author depicts it all in a way that will have readers feeling as though they’re experiencing it all with her.
When Gemma isn’t exploring her cultural roots, she’s following her grandfather’s clues, which seem designed to introduce her to the family she never knew. The more she learns about her grandfather—about his personality, his passions, and his great heartbreak—the more she understands him. Gemma’s adventure is full of clever puzzles that send her (and, much to her annoyance, Xander) on a journey through Taiwan that changes everything she once believed about her family, herself, and even her ex. It’s not always an easy journey for Gemma, but it’s one that’s full of surprises.
Ex Marks the Spot takes readers on the journey of a lifetime with a lovably naive young character. It combines challenging puzzles and vibrant cultural touches with romance, mystery, and a whole lot of family drama for a read that’s fun-filled and entirely satisfying.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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