Tracy Tam: Santa Command

It isn’t that 10-year-old Tracy Tam doesn’t believe in Santa—she just doesn’t believe in magic. With a cousin in need of an operation that her family can’t afford, Tracy is determined to win science-fair prize money by uncovering the rational and scientifically demonstrable truth behind how Santa does what he does. Questions of science versus magic and doubt versus belief run throughout this fast-paced, entertaining, and occasionally bittersweet novel, Drown’s first for middle-graders, which sees the driven and ultra-capable Tracy infiltrating Santa Command, the global network responsible for making sure Christmas runs smoothly. SF technowizardry combines with somber realities of absent parents and guilt over past wrongdoings as Tracy makes new friends, tries to fix a computer virus she accidentally unleashes, and begins to question if, just maybe, there are things that science can’t explain. Ages 9–12. (Oct.)