I think what I loved most about this mystery is how very real and achievable it felt. A lot of mysteries for younger readers rely on pretty improbable clues/scenarios (which is fine! That's engaging and interesting) but this felt like exactly the amount of detective work that a 12-year-old with internet access and the ability to sneak off to the Harvard campus (and later get in trouble by getting home late due to MBTA issues) could do. Similarly, when she gets her "internship" at the bakery and is disappointed because she has to just fold boxes because the owner doesn't trust her to actually make cupcakes is like...yeah, you're twelve, that sounds right.

Also Zoe's level of naivete + righteousness is, again, perfect.

This is a really fun, relatable book that also serves as a good introduction for how fucked up the American justice system is.