Kid Review: Marya Khan and the Abominable Ski Trip (Marya Khan #6) by Saadia Faruqi

Marya has warmed to her neighbor Alexa a little bit after seeing how much Alexa’s parents ignore her, but she is still not thrilled to find out that her parents have accepted an invitation for her to spend five days of winter break with her frenemy! She was supposed to hang out with Hanna having the Winter Break of Fun, drinking hot chocolate and reading books. Marya’s Dadi tells her that the trip to a ski resort sounds like a lot of fun, and that Marya will still be able to have a good time, since Hanna was invited, too. Alexa’s Aunt Maryann is accompanying the girls, since her parents are going to Tokyo instead of hanging out with their daughter. Marya thinks that there might be some good points to the trip, especially when her older sister tells her about the Abominable Snowman. Marya, who likes nothing better than a good “operation” decides that she will have “Operation Catch a Monster” on the trip, to distract herself from having to be with Alexa and from missing her parents. This doesn’t go as planned, since Alexa maintains there is no such thing as the Abombinable Snowman! Marya researchers how to catch animals on the hotel’s computer, and has a plan, but Hanna and Alexa foil it by wearing red jackets that can be seen against the snowy landscape, and even Marya herself makes too much noise after she steps in animal poop on a trail walk. The girls have plenty to occupy themselves at the resort, but do sneak out at night to try to catch the monster. Eventually, they decide that the monster is probably just misunderstood, just like everyone else.