Ali Cross by James Patterson centers on Ali, the son of Metropolitan Police Department detective Alex Cross. When his best friend Gabe goes missing, Ali realizes that he might be the only one who can find Gabe. While Ali struggles to find his friend, his father’s trial for assault looms closer and closer. At school, Ali tries to defend his father against the biases toward police officers, yet he only manages to worsen the situation. As robberies crop up in his neighborhood, Ali wrestles with how to help and who to tell about his suspicions. Ali Cross has a relatively simple but interesting plot, and although it is described as a YA book, I would recommend it for younger readers. James Patterson is famous for his adult mystery series about Alex Cross, Ali’s dad. He may have intended the Ali Cross series as an entry-level alternative for younger readers who might not be ready for the violence or darker thematic content of his original Alex Cross series. Ali Cross has an intriguing story set neatly in the lines of a marginally predictable mystery. For younger readers, Ali Cross presents an accessible way to engage with social issues, specifically those surrounding police brutality and bias. However, if you are looking for a more nuanced treatment of these subjects, I would advise you to search elsewhere. Ali Cross is a solid contribution to the mystery genre, even if its target audience of middle-grade readers inclines it toward the conventional. With a suspenseful start, engaging action, and gratifying ending, it was a quick and satisfying read.
Anaïs T.
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