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Latitude Zero

Author Diana Renn
Ebook
Penguin Young Readers | Viking Books for Young Readers
On sale Jul 03, 2014 | 448 Pages | 9781101629772
Grade 7 & Up
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When a bicycle racing champion dies suddenly, a teen sleuth travels to Ecuador to solve the mystery.

“I have to run,” said Juan Carlos. “You will call? Please? It is very important.”
“Yes. I will call. Definitely. At two.”
 
That’s what Tessa promises. But by two o’clock, young Ecuadorian cycling superstar Juan Carlos is dead, and Tessa, one of the last people ever to speak to him, is left with nothing but questions. The media deems Juan Carlos’s death a tragic accident at a charity bike ride, but Tessa, an aspiring investigative journalist herself, knows that something more is going on. While she grapples with her own grief and guilt, she is being stalked by spies with an insidious connection to the dead cycling champion. Tessa’s pursuit of an explanation for Juan Carlos’s untimely death leads her from the quiet New England backwoods to bustling bike shops and ultimately to Ecuador itself, Juan Carlos’s homeland. As the ride grows bumpy, Tessa no longer knows who’s a suspect and who is an ally. The only thing she knows for sure is that she must uncover the truth of why Juan Carlos has died and race to find the real villain—before the trail goes cold.
© Nicole Lewis Photography
Diana Renn grew up in Seattle and now lives in Boston. She has taught ESL and writing, most recently at Boston University. She has published numerous short stories and essays, and she is also the Fiction Editor at YARN (Young Adult Review Network), an award-winning online magazine featuring short-form writing for teens. She is the author of several ESL textbooks, as well as the YA mystery novels Latitude Zero and Tokyo Heist. She is an avid traveler. View titles by Diana Renn
Excerpt from Latitude Zero

The two of them peered into the container, as if scanning the bikes.
“It’s good,” the guy muttered. “Let’s get out of here.”
Then they both jumped off the back of the container.
SLAM. The door closed.
SCREECH. The metal bar outside the door slid across the latch.
“Hey!” I shouted. “Let me out!”
CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. The tumblers in the padlocks turned.
I squeezed out of the tangle of bikes I’d wedged myself into, and made my way to that space by the doors. I banged on the doors. “I’m trapped in here! Let me out!” I cried.
Then I was thrown against the doors, as the truck went into reverse.
Copyright © 2014 by Diana Renn. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Praise for Latitude Zero:

“Twisty, inventive, and fast-paced suspense.”—Nancy Werlin, author of the Edgar Award winner The Killer’s Cousin

“Diana Renn spins a deadly web of danger, intrigue, and romance in this international cycling investigative thriller. Latitude Zero will lead you on a wild ride!”—Julie Berry, author of the Edgar Award nominee All the Truth That’s in Me

"The book’s premise is clever, and the Ecuadorian setting is unusual and nicely realized. Cycling and mystery fans will doubtless enjoy the ride."—Booklist

"A great deal of exciting action and tension that keep readers turning the pages."—Kirkus Reviews

"[A] twisty thriller . . . it evolves from murder mystery to globe-trotting intrigue, with plenty of false leads and red herrings to keep readers guessing."—Publishers Weekly

"This book fills a niche for people seeking mystery stories with strong female protagonists."--VOYA — Praise for LATITUDE ZERO

About

When a bicycle racing champion dies suddenly, a teen sleuth travels to Ecuador to solve the mystery.

“I have to run,” said Juan Carlos. “You will call? Please? It is very important.”
“Yes. I will call. Definitely. At two.”
 
That’s what Tessa promises. But by two o’clock, young Ecuadorian cycling superstar Juan Carlos is dead, and Tessa, one of the last people ever to speak to him, is left with nothing but questions. The media deems Juan Carlos’s death a tragic accident at a charity bike ride, but Tessa, an aspiring investigative journalist herself, knows that something more is going on. While she grapples with her own grief and guilt, she is being stalked by spies with an insidious connection to the dead cycling champion. Tessa’s pursuit of an explanation for Juan Carlos’s untimely death leads her from the quiet New England backwoods to bustling bike shops and ultimately to Ecuador itself, Juan Carlos’s homeland. As the ride grows bumpy, Tessa no longer knows who’s a suspect and who is an ally. The only thing she knows for sure is that she must uncover the truth of why Juan Carlos has died and race to find the real villain—before the trail goes cold.

Author

© Nicole Lewis Photography
Diana Renn grew up in Seattle and now lives in Boston. She has taught ESL and writing, most recently at Boston University. She has published numerous short stories and essays, and she is also the Fiction Editor at YARN (Young Adult Review Network), an award-winning online magazine featuring short-form writing for teens. She is the author of several ESL textbooks, as well as the YA mystery novels Latitude Zero and Tokyo Heist. She is an avid traveler. View titles by Diana Renn

Excerpt

Excerpt from Latitude Zero

The two of them peered into the container, as if scanning the bikes.
“It’s good,” the guy muttered. “Let’s get out of here.”
Then they both jumped off the back of the container.
SLAM. The door closed.
SCREECH. The metal bar outside the door slid across the latch.
“Hey!” I shouted. “Let me out!”
CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. The tumblers in the padlocks turned.
I squeezed out of the tangle of bikes I’d wedged myself into, and made my way to that space by the doors. I banged on the doors. “I’m trapped in here! Let me out!” I cried.
Then I was thrown against the doors, as the truck went into reverse.
Copyright © 2014 by Diana Renn. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Praise

Praise for Latitude Zero:

“Twisty, inventive, and fast-paced suspense.”—Nancy Werlin, author of the Edgar Award winner The Killer’s Cousin

“Diana Renn spins a deadly web of danger, intrigue, and romance in this international cycling investigative thriller. Latitude Zero will lead you on a wild ride!”—Julie Berry, author of the Edgar Award nominee All the Truth That’s in Me

"The book’s premise is clever, and the Ecuadorian setting is unusual and nicely realized. Cycling and mystery fans will doubtless enjoy the ride."—Booklist

"A great deal of exciting action and tension that keep readers turning the pages."—Kirkus Reviews

"[A] twisty thriller . . . it evolves from murder mystery to globe-trotting intrigue, with plenty of false leads and red herrings to keep readers guessing."—Publishers Weekly

"This book fills a niche for people seeking mystery stories with strong female protagonists."--VOYA — Praise for LATITUDE ZERO

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