Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet

About this book

When a stock-pile of confiscated classroom items go missing, (self-appointed) seventh grade PI Maya is on the case. From the New York Times bestselling author of Kill the Boy Band comes a whip-smart middle grade debut and the start of a sharp cul-du-sac crime-solving series. 9:48 AM. Math class. Marlowe Middle School. Life isn't easy on the streets, er, hallways of Marlowe Middle School. Luckily, private eye Maya Mendoza never stops paying attention. She knows who is passing notes in class. Spots which teacher wore shoes a half-size too tight. And she certainly notices when her former best friend Jordan suddenly stops talking to her. Then, the legendary Contraband Closet is robbed. Every Hotwheels car, spray paint canister, bouncy ball, and other prized possession teachers have collected s

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Why widely assigned

This Juvenile Fiction title, typically at grades 4–5. Published in the canon; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Great Lakes Great Books Award

  • recommended·4th grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — 4-5 division
  • recommended·5th grade · Michigansource: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award 2026-27 nominee (official GLGBA nominee press release + nominees list, announced March 7, 2026 at the MRA Annual Conference; Michigan students vote through January 9, 2027) — 4-5 division

Common questions

What grade level is Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet?

Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–5. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet?

It takes about 4h 25m to read Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet (241 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 265 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet?

Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet appears on reading lists for Great Lakes Great Books Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet banned in schools?

Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.