FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
“An entertaining mystery featuring kids who readily outsmart all the adults; what could be better?”
—Kirkus Reviews
Bestselling Author Kristen Kittscher Releases Sequel to Popular
Middle Grade Mystery Debut, Inspired by Tournament of Roses
It’s no mystery why celebrated author Kristen Kittscher’s middle grade debut, The Wig in the Window, was an
Indie Bestseller, celebrated by School Library Journal (starred review), Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly, and was
named to ten Best of Year lists, including “Best Books of the Year” by “A Mighty Girl.” Now Kittscher is back
and better than ever with her next novel following tween sleuths Sophie and Grace, in a new (mis)adventure
inspired by The Tournament of Roses, The Tiara on the Terrace (HarperCollins, $16.99 Hardcover, 388 pages,
Ages 8-12, January 5, 2016).
Get ready for parades, pageantry, suspense, and a hefty dose of hilarity as seventh grade spies Sophie Young and
Grace Yang trade their high tops for high heels to investigate a deadly crime in this clever Miss Congeniality set
in middle school! Back by popular demand, this funny, fast-paced follow up to Kittscher’s acclaimed The Wig in
the Window will thrill fans of the funny, clever humor and suspense in
Pseudonymous Bosch and Gordon Korman’s books. A “Hitchcock meets
Harriet the Spy” set in California, the mystery turns deadly in this new
adventure featuring our favorite savvy, spunky, wise-cracking sleuths!
When a mysterious murder rocks The Winter Sun Festival (a town tradition
featuring floats, a parade, and a “royal” court), Sophie and Grace must go
undercover as helpers to the Royal Court girls. But as the girls go deeper into
the world of the festival, their friendship is tested—and as they get closer to
solving the case, their search for the truth becomes more dangerous than they
ever could have imagined…
Kristen Kittscher is a graduate of Brown University and former 7th grade
English teacher who wrote the book with her former students in mind.
“Alliances were always shifting as girls vacillated between wanting to be more
mature and trying to hang onto their childish innocence a little longer. I wanted
to try to capture that,” she said. A self-proclaimed “childhood spy,” she also
drew on her memories of playing spy games as a kid to write the books.
Combining rollicking humor with daring adventure and fun plot twists, this page-turner realistically explores the
ups-and-downs of tween friendship—and it’s a wholesome read for precocious young readers who crave highstakes and sophisticated plots but aren’t ready for the themes and content of books for teens.
THE TIARA ON THE TERRACE by Kristen Kittscher
Harper Children’s Division, HarperCollins, Publishers, January 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0062227980  $16.99  Hardcover  388 pages  Middle-Grade Mystery 
-12
HarperCollins Children’s Books  harpercollins.com  195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Olivia Russo  212-207-7911  olivia.russo@harpercollins.com
About
The Author
SUPER SHORT BIO:
KRISTEN KITTSCHER is the author of bestselling tween mystery The Wig in the Window (Harper
Children’s, 2013) which garnered a starred review from School Library Journal and was on ten Best of the Year
lists. A graduate of Brown University and a former middle school English teacher, Kristen was named the
James Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence in 2014. She lives with her husband in Pasadena, home of
the Rose Parade—the inspiration for her latest novel, The Tiara on the Terrace. Visit kristenkittscher.com or
follow her on Facebook and Twitter (@kkittscher).
SHORT BIO
KRISTEN KITTSCHER is the author of bestselling tween mystery The Wig in the Window (Harper
Children’s, 2013) which garnered a starred review from School Library Journal and was on ten Best of the Year
lists. A graduate of Brown University and a former middle school English teacher, Kristen was named the
James Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence in 2014. She presents frequently at schools, libraries, and
festivals, and is active in promoting community literacy initiatives in Southern California, where she lives with
her husband, Kai. When Kristen is not reading, writing, or teaching, you’ll find her spending time with friends
or hiking in the foothills near Pasadena with her dog, Mabel. Visit kristenkittscher.com to investigate more
about her and Young & Yang's next adventure, The Tiara on the Terrace or follow her on Facebook and Twitter
(@kkittscher).
LONG BIO:
KRISTEN KITTSCHER is the author of bestselling tween mystery The Wig in
the Window (Harper Children’s, 2013) which garnered a starred review from
School Library Journal and was named to ten Best of the Year lists. Hailed by
Kirkus as “a thrilling debut” and by Publishers Weekly for its “perceptiveness,
honesty, and well-targeted humor,” The Wig in the Window was an Indie bestseller
and garnered a starred review from School Library Journal. Audiofile Magazine
awarded the audiobook with an Earphones Award, and Kristen was named the
James Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence in 2014.
A former seventh grade English teacher and self-proclaimed “childhood spy,”
Kristen drew upon her memories of playing spy games as a kid to write The Wig
in the Window and her new release, The Tiara on the Terrace, which recounts the
adventures of Sophie Young and Grace Yang, two twelve-year-old best friends,
neighbors and sleuths who go undercover in their town parade to solve a deadly
crime.
Officially a native of Pittsburgh, Kristen grew up in over 13 cities—including San Francisco, Reno, London,
and Dallas. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in Comparative Literature and worked as a
story editor in Hollywood before becoming a teacher. A contributor to the Los Angeles Review of Books and
The Rumpus, Kristen is a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and festivals and is very active in promoting
community literacy initiatives in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, Kai.
When Kristen is not reading, writing, or teaching, you’ll find her spending time with friends or hiking in the
foothills near Pasadena with her dog, Mabel. Visit her online at www.kristenkittscher.com or follow her on
Facebook and Twitter (@kkittscher).
HarperCollins Children’s Books  harpercollins.com  195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Olivia Russo  212-207-7911  olivia.russo@harpercollins.com
Praise for
The Tiara on the Terrace
“An entertaining mystery featuring kids who readily outsmart all the adults; what could be better?”
—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for
The Wig in the Window
Earphones Award Winner: AudioFile Magazine (Audiobook)

“This fast-paced, action-packed romp has all the ingredients of a great mystery…Readers will have
trouble tearing themselves away.”
—School Library Journal, starred review

“Ample red herrings keep young sleuths and readers guessing in this thrilling debut mystery.
Reminiscent of the ever-compelling Rear Window, this appealing and often spine-tingling tale will
leave its audience wishing for more.”
—Kirkus Reviews


“Kittscher's debut novel addresses the inevitable rocky periods in middle-school friendships with
perceptiveness, honesty, and well-targeted humor”
—Publishers Weekly

“Wow. It’s hard to believe that The Wig in the Window is Kristen Kittscher’s debut novel because
this book is fantastic. Part spy-mystery (in the vein of a young Nancy Drew), part contemporary
middle grade novel about friendships, change, and consequences, The Wig in the Window is a smart,
fun read that is as powerful as it is witty.”
—The Book Smugglers.com

“A witty, weird and wonderful book, The Wig in the Window’s trouble-making detectives kept me
laughing—while the suspense had me inching towards the edge of my seat. It’s a perfect middle
grade mystery!
—Kirsten Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Nightmares! and the Kiki Strike series.

“This book is funny, realistic, and suspenseful—a pitch-perfect mystery for the tween set.”
—Kate Messner, author of Capture the Flag
HarperCollins Children’s Books  harpercollins.com  195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Olivia Russo  212-207-7911  olivia.russo@harpercollins.com
About the Book
January 5, 2016
Tween sleuths Sophie and Grace trade their high tops for high heels and go undercover in
their town parade to solve a deadly crime…
Sophie Young and Grace Yang have been taking it easy ever since they solved the crime of the
century…well, at least the biggest crime Luna Vista has ever seen. But things are getting
exciting again now that everyone is gearing up for the 125th annual Winter Sun Festival—a
town tradition that involves floats, a parade, and a “royal” court made up of local high school
girls.
When Festival president Jim Steptoe turns up dead on the first day of parade preparations,
police blame a malfunctioning giant s’more feature on the campfire-themed float. But the two
sleuths are sure the mysterious death wasn’t an accident. Teaming up with their everresourceful friend, Trista Bottoms, the girls trade their high tops for high heels and go
undercover as helpers to the snooty Royal Court girls.
They’ve got plenty of suspects: Barb Lund, angry that her daughter didn’t make the Royal
Court; bitter Luna Vista Middle School Principal Katz, who was passed over for Festival
president; and Festival vice president Lee, whose business would have benefitted from an
unexpected change in leadership.
But as the girls go deeper into the world of the Winter Sun Festival, their friendship is tested—
and as they get closer to solving the case, their search for the truth becomes more dangerous
than they ever could have imagined…
HarperCollins Children’s Books  harpercollins.com  195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Olivia Russo  212-207-7911  olivia.russo@harpercollins.com
Sleuthing Kit:
Enter Sophie and Grace’s world with these fun, interactive tools!
Interview with the Author:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3NHHiX9XHo&list=UUBTeCHmWyv8ro1EkhbaXewg&i
ndex=5
Author Page:
http://www.kristenkittscher.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/kittscher
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/kkittscher
GoodReads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5267305.Kristen_Kittscher
Playlist: The Tiara on the Terrace
https://play.spotify.com/user/kkittscher/playlist/10ubwNOg2DKPTjELmSWntx
Live Action Book Trailer: The Wig in the Window
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3NHHiX9XHo&list=UUBTeCHmWyv8ro1EkhbaXewg
&index=116
Animated Book Trailer: The Wig in the Window
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9UezzKbyCA
Online Scavenger Hunt
http://www.kristenkittscher.com/fun-games/
Classroom Resources for Teachers – Discussion guides, programs, and more!
http://www.kristenkittscher.com/for-teachers/
HarperCollins Children’s Books  harpercollins.com  195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Olivia Russo  212-207-7911  olivia.russo@harpercollins.com
An Interview with
Kristen Kittscher
1. We loved getting to know Sophie and Grace in The Wig in the Window. How have the girls
changed and developed as they head into this next exciting (and dangerous) adventure in The
Tiara on the Terrace? How have their adventures in the first book prepared them for new
challenges?
As town heroes with one case under their belts, Sophie and Grace are heading into this next
adventure with more skill and confidence—at least when it comes to investigating. They’ve got
tactics, strategy—and more advanced secret codes! It’s a good thing, too: with a larger cast of
suspects and a parade setting, they have to pull off some risky operations.
Along with the higher mystery stakes come new challenges in Young & Yang’s friendship,
though. Homeschooled Grace is dazzled by the new social opportunities that taking part in their
town parade presents; Sophie isn’t sure she’s ready to grow up as fast as Grace seems to want to.
As the mystery heats up, the two must find a way to stay true to themselves and each other, while
still finding their place within a larger group.
They’re still the same wise-cracking, fun sleuths – just learning more about themselves along the
way!
2. The Rose Parade in Pasadena, where you live, inspired “The Winter Sun Festival” in The
Tiara on the Terrace. Why did The Rose Parade become the inspiration for Sophie’s and
Grace’s next mystery?
Pasadena transforms each year for “the Tournament,” as we call it. The excitement is palpable as
nearly 1,000 Tournament volunteers prepare to don their white suits and show off our city to the
hordes traveling in for it. Students from all over the area sign up to decorate the many floats. High
school seniors converge on the Wrigley Mansion grounds to try out for a spot in the Royal Court.
It’s impossible not to be inspired by the display of civic pride.
From years of watching my students fill with excitement, I knew the parade would make a great
setting for a middle school adventure. It’s a larger-than-life backdrop for a mystery, but it also
offers the perfect environment to explore the tensions inherent in navigating the tween social
world. I had so much fun trying to convey a little of “the Tournament’s” spirit on the page.
{Continued}
HarperCollins Children’s Books  harpercollins.com  195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Olivia Russo  212-207-7911  olivia.russo@harpercollins.com
3. The Tiara on the Terrace ups the stakes with the murder of Festival Director Jim Steptoe.
When writing for middle graders, do you think are there any topics that should be avoided?
Are there limitations to what you can or should write for young readers, or do you share an
“anything goes” perspective?
I’m a fan of high-stakes, thrilling stories for kids that nevertheless respect where kids are
developmentally. The Tiara on the Terrace may be a (potential!) murder mystery, but its focus is
on the curiosity, wit, and courage of my sleuths – as well as their friendship and antics. I take an
absurdist, over-the-top approach, too. After all, the victim in The Tiara on the Terrace appears to
have been struck by a giant dancing animatronic S’more on the Girl Scouts’ campfire-themed
float.
Since I write for kids from the part of my imagination that I share with them, I feel fully immersed
in a twelve-year old worldview when I’m drafting. That doesn’t mean that world is magically
scrubbed of all hard realities. It does mean that friendship trouble can seem as monumental as
other tragedies---and that a fair amount of absurdity, hyperbole, and silliness is involved. I think
that humor gives kids room a way to step back and explore some of their worries about darker
truths they see—but that adults don’t often acknowledge.
4. What are some of your favorite books, for young readers or adults?
I have so many! I’m such a fan of Kirsten Miller’s smart, intricate, hilarious KIKI STRIKE:
INSIDE THE SHADOW CITY as well as old favorite mysteries from childhood like The Westing
Game and From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. As far as reading for adults
goes, I’m a big fan of Sarah Waters. Her Victorian mystery Fingersmith is one of my absolute
favorites.
5. You are a self-described childhood spy, and you spy experiences influenced Sophie’s and
Grace’s adventures. Tell us about some of your best spy adventures.
I’ve realized that my spy games as a kid were just another form of inventing and writing! My
childhood spy friend and I were (wisely!) risk-averse, but we created an elaborate alternate reality
for our neighbors—a good portion of whom we suspected were secretly mafiosi. We had a hideout
in a loft above her garage and would concentrate mostly on creating spy badges and Most Wanted
posters of our main invented suspects. So, even then, my best spy adventures were fictional.
{Continued}
HarperCollins Children’s Books  harpercollins.com  195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Olivia Russo  212-207-7911  olivia.russo@harpercollins.com
6. You’ve created an amazingly interactive world for Sophie and Grace, both on your website
and at your events. What are some of your favorite online elements, products, or event
activities that you’ve created to date?
Thank you! One of the great thrills of writing for kids is that I have the opportunity to create so
much more beyond the books for them to enjoy. While I love putting together creative writing /
spy workshops and doing school visits, I think I’ve enjoyed playing movie producer most.
Collaboration is so fun for me! I worked with the husband of my childhood spy friend to make the
animated trailer for The Wig in the Window, so it’s particularly special to me. The little funny
shorts for both books are also favorites—especially because I had the chance to create something
with book fans I met at events.
7. In what ways were Sophie and Grace inspired by girls you knew, like your former students?
In what way do you hope they’ll inspire middle grade kids?
I’m so lucky: working with fun, smart, hilarious students has made up most of adult life. Their
worries, wise-cracking, friendship troubles, hopes, and all-around spirit infuse everything I write—
even if I’m also tapping into my own memories of being twelve. I hope their curiosity, smarts, and
verve inspire kids to trust themselves—whether solving mysteries or trying to navigate the ups and
downs of middle school friendship.
HarperCollins Children’s Books  harpercollins.com  195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Olivia Russo  212-207-7911  olivia.russo@harpercollins.com