Figgs & Phantoms

This Newbery Honor book introduces Mona Lisa Figg Newton, a teenage girl surrounded by her highly eccentric family, including a tap-dancing mother and various unusual uncles. The family's unique concept of 'Capri,' a family heaven, drives much of the narrative, as Mona Lisa grapples with the fear of losing her beloved Uncle Florence to his own quest for Capri. The novel cleverly weaves in literary, historical, and musical clues, inviting astute readers to solve a subtle mystery that deepens the understanding of Florence's journey. It's a humorous yet poignant exploration of family, belonging, and the search for meaning, best suited for the older end of its stated age range.