I Know You Started It by Daphne Benedis-Grab

What worked:

The main characters represent the kinds of students readers encounter every day in school. Gabe is always angry and in trouble, but he’s promised himself that he’s going to change. He fears he’ll be accused of arson, and public opinion will find him guilty. Gabe, Liam, Dani, and Kate are the first witnesses called to the principal’s office, and Gabe is convinced that makes them look like suspects. Kate’s on the school newspaper, and she used to be best friends with Dani. Now, they don’t talk anymore, and readers are left to wonder what happened. Liam is new to the school, and no one has taken an interest in him. Maybe helping to find the arsonist will finally make classmates notice him. The chapters alternate the focus among these four characters, revealing their individual struggles.

Rumors, gossip, and cyberbullying are major issues. It’s what motivates Gabe, Liam, Dani, and Kate, and they think they must solve the arson case before the end of the school day. Classmates’ gossip will find them guilty if they wait for the principal to finish her investigation. Jonathan’s locker was the arsonist’s target, but he’s one of the most popular kids in school. Does Jonathan have a secret, unsavory side that makes someone hate him? As it turns out, identifying the fire-starter doesn’t end the story. Additional planning is needed before justice is served.

What didn’t work as well:

The synopsis says the setting is in a middle school, but it’s actually a combined middle school and high school. The high school characters make the book appeal to a more mature audience, but the narrative's vocabulary and sentence structure are appropriate for younger readers. It’s also unrealistic to think the entire story takes place between homeroom and 2:00 PM in one school day.

The final verdict:

The issues and characters are probably most relevant to teens, but the reading level is appropriate for mature middle-grade readers. I recommend you try this book for yourself.