"Breezy, compelling mysteries that can be read as stand-alone titles. More interesting, though, are the deeper identity struggles of the likeable sisters who cherish their New York Jewish roots even as they try to live (and fall in love) while masquerading as young Midwestern gentiles."
- Booklist (starred review)
"Two well-read Jewish girls from Queens who run away from home and embark on a series of crime-solving adventures in America's heartland... Aside from being sprightly, humorous romps, the books touch on serious themes as well."
"This fast-paced book is filled with humor. Teens will identify with the characters. The story is fun and entertaining with the added appeal of a twist of mystery."
- School Library Journal, review of The Rose Queen
"Sweet, wry, and entertaining…this lighthearted novel is bound to please mystery fans and reluctant teen readers alike."
- School Library Journal, review of The Chocolate Lover
"Readers will be drawn into the small Midwestern world in which the girls find themselves…and there is even a little romance in the air to spice it up."
- VOYA
"Five stars. A wonderfully light investigative tale…quite a feat."
"This whodunit makes for an entertaining read... Hilarious."
- Publisher's Weekly
"Unlike many mystery series, these characters have substance. Sophie narrates—and she's a hoot. But she also feels grief and longing for her parents and her home; she reads great books; she loves her sister; she adores fashion, old movies and gossipy TV shows; she's an excellent friend; and she can examine a suspect's room but has a hard time learning to ride a bike. This fast-paced book is pure pleasurable entertainment. Lucky us! THE ROSE QUEEN is number one in a series of Missing Persons mysteries from M.E. Rabb – long may those Shattenberg sisters run."
"Move over Nancy Drew. Eat your heart out, Hardy Boys. Here come the Shattenberg sisters... Though the series is aimed at readers ages 12 and up, adults will also find these deliciously witty mysteries a satisfying read."
"Samantha and Sophia Shattenberg share a kinship of sorts with fictional icon Nancy Drew. The sisters follow her lead, as they become upbeat teen crime-fighting characters in Missing Persons. There’s no ethnic kinship with Nancy, however, because the Shattenbergs reference their Jewish heritage in the young adult series. The Shattenbergs make a niche for themselves in a small Indiana town very different from their native New York City. They set up a household and find work with a private detective, who escorts them into the adventurous worlds of other missing persons."
"Like real adolescents, Rabb's two teenage heroines inhabit a world that is simultaneously superficial and profound. A writer who deals with something as nuanced as cultural identity in a young-adult series is unusual. A writer who attempts to explore death in the genre, without softening or trivializing it, is even more so."
- The Globe and Mail
"Recently I discovered a fabulous new series by author M.E. Rabb that has me contacting every young girl I know and insisting they read these books. While Nancy will always have a special place in my heart, I think that the Shattenberg sisters may have just usurped her as my detectives of choice. Move aside Trixie Belden, Judy Bolton and even, dare I say, Nancy Drew, for the next big thing has finally arrived! Now get yourselves a nice big sandwich, some chips and tall glass of ice tea and settle in to enjoy an afternoon with Sam and Sophie and all their friends in Venice."
"Nicely paced and interesting...well-written and absorbing."
"Sassy and hip, but with emotional depth, fans of Jacqueline Wilson will adore this."
Check out the top ten authors from Queens!
Queens
Tribune