An exciting mystery is always a winner, and Hannah’s Winter blends an exotic location, ghosts, floating objects, and enough intrigue to lure the most jaded sleuths. All disbelief in supernatural elements is willingly suspended because of the author’s superb setup: Hannah rationally and disgustedly details her mother’s crazed, over-the-top behavior before they ever arrive in Japan. The strange events begin soon after: Hannah and Miki—the Japanese daughter of her mother’s friends—discover a puzzling riddle stuck to a box of antique books. Suddenly, as the bizarre events accu mulate, it is obvious that the enigmatic riddle must be solved. 2010 USBBY Outstanding International Books List. lmp

Originally published by Penguin Group Australia, in 2001.

When her mother decides to take her to Japan, Hannah realizes that she would much rather be home in Australia, starting Secondary School with her friends.But her stay turns out to be nothing like she could have imagined and when she and Miki find an ancient message in Miki's family's stationary shop, they are drawn into solving an ancient, mysterious riddle.Why do the beans go berserk at the bean festival? Who is the evil woman at the Sarumaru Shrine? Why is Hannah always being hit by donuts? Is someone trying to tell her something?