Precious’ keen sense of right and wrong will inspire readers; her powers of observation may inspire budding detectives.
Young Precious Ramotswe again shows why she eventually grows up to be the founder of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
Aunty Bee has invited Precious to visit her in the beautiful Okavango Delta. The little detective arrives at Eagle Island Camp to discover that a film company is making a movie there. Precious makes friends with Khumo, and together they follow the crew. The star of the movie is a trained lion named Teddy, and soon Khumo and Precious find themselves part of the film crew by making animal noises to prompt Teddy to act. But though Teddy is a trained lion, the allure of the bush proves too tempting, and he disappears. The owners fret over the loss, and everyone is worried about his ability to survive in the bush. Precious’ powers of observation, spectacular guinea-fowl impression and sense of doing the right thing come to the rescue again. McIntosh’s detailed, black-and-white illustrations add an old-fashioned air to the story. The straightforward plot, easy vocabulary and compelling setting make this a perfect step up from early chapter books. That McCall Smith brings a great sense of fun to his prose heightens the appeal: Precious’ guinea-fowl impression sounds “a bit like the noise a hen makes, only it was a bit more…well, spotted.”
Precious’ keen sense of right and wrong will inspire readers; her powers of observation may inspire budding detectives. (Mystery. 7-11)Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8041-7327-8
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Anchor
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A clever mashup of crime drama and magical realism makes for an auspicious series start
When a mysterious explosion closes his boarding school early, 12-year-old Danny Woo accompanies his journalist aunt to Hong Kong.
In spite of Danny’s persistent questions, Aunt Laura refuses to talk about her story. But when Aunt Laura is abducted, all clues point to the Black Dragon, a Chinese organized crime syndicate. Together with his godfather, Major Zamora, a dwarf circus strongman, Danny is determined to rescue his aunt and bring down the people responsible. To succeed, Danny must draw upon the skills he learned from his late parents, circus performers. Mind control, lock picking, magic tricks, and the ability to master the high wire all come into play. But what chance do an inexperienced kid and one strongman have against a ruthless gang? While Danny’s skills at mind reading, palming cards, and hypnotism are exceptional, his success is unpredictable. It is in these moments of failure that he shines. He recognizes that thoughtful problem-solving and dedicated effort are superior to any magical ability. This depth makes him a laudable and likable hero. The unusual location, intriguing characters, and a fast-paced plot further set this series opener apart.
A clever mashup of crime drama and magical realism makes for an auspicious series start . (Adventure. 8-11)Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4677-7567-0
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Carolrhoda
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A shelf below Blue Balliett’s art- and code-themed mysteries, but Encyclopedia Brown fans will enjoy following the detective...
In his third caper, a young New York sleuth with a photographic memory finds himself a target for revenge.
The appearance of fake bombs with cryptic—encrypted, as it turns out—messages for him at landmarks around the city tells Eddie that Lars, the international art thief stymied in Mystery on Museum Mile (2014), is back for a new heist and a spot of payback. And, rather than keeping Eddie in the loop, both his gorgeous new FBI bodyguard and surly police contact are steadfastly stonewalling him in order, they insist, to keep him safe. It doesn’t work, as, enlisting his ADHD computer-whiz sidekick, Jonah, to hack police files, Eddie gathers clues, solves codes, and by the climax has sketched out photorealistic portraits (supplied by Calo) of Lars and his entire gang. As with Volume 2, Mystery in Mayan Mexico (2015), Wells spins both a heavily contrived body of evidence and a coincidence-driven plotline. Since both the theft and subsequent arrests take place offstage, the actual crime fighting seems almost incidental to Eddie’s personal dramas. Still, the lad uses skills and smarts in credible ways to nab the bad guys, and the climax’s drama is enhanced by some narrowly averted violence. A new character, possibly Lars’ daughter, slips through the net to set up future cases.
A shelf below Blue Balliett’s art- and code-themed mysteries, but Encyclopedia Brown fans will enjoy following the detective work. (cryptography note) (Mystery. 9-11)Pub Date: April 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-58260-6
Page Count: 208
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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