Packed with laughs and branching paths: perfect fuel for lively engagement.
In this illustrated mystery, you, the reader, can solve the mystery of Dr. Franklefink’s stolen Monster Maker.
In his latest, award-winning British author Jones addresses readers directly. You’re the new assistant to yeti Klaus Solstaag, a private investigator with a beloved car named Watson, which used to be his dog (Watson has fleas and leaves “oil puddles at the bottom of trees”). The theft happened at a party for Monty, the mad scientist’s “masterpiece” of a monster—and everyone present had a motive. Was it ones of the guests, like young werewolf Huey, Lana the “pretty transparent” ghost, or Bobby, a young vampire? How about Deadzo, the zombie clown entertainer, or one of the witch caterers? You follow clues, jump around in the story Choose Your Own Adventure style, and ultimately pick from one of three endings. Jones’ witty, fast-paced writing puts readers in control, and the likable characters come to life vividly in Forshaw’s entertaining grayscale illustrations. Jones weaves in poignant themes of self-acceptance and belonging that will resonate with young readers. When Bobby criticizes Huey as being “ordinary,” Klaus responds with a gentle rebuke: “there’s no such thing as ordinary.…we’re all unusual enough to be interesting.” This clever story also encourages readers to reflect on and come to peace with how things turn out rather than ruminating excessively over past decisions.
Packed with laughs and branching paths: perfect fuel for lively engagement. (suspect case file) (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
ISBN: 9798217143313
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Contagiously goofy and fun.
Area 51 gets its first new resident in 5 years—and a new mystery.
When her grandma moves into a kid-free retirement home, 12-year-old orphan Priya “Sky” Patel-Baum and Spike, her pet hedgehog, relocate to Area 51 to live with Sky’s eccentric Uncle Anish. At 51, humans and Break Throughs (government-speak for aliens) live together off-grid in harmony. Unfortunately, several Zdstrammars (one of many Break Through species) mysteriously disappear, disrupting the base’s harmony and contributing to feelings of suspicion. Despite being deputy head of the Federal Bureau of Alien Investigations, Uncle Anish becomes a prime suspect. Can Sky and Elvis, her alien classmate, prove Uncle Anish’s innocence and find the missing Zdstrammars before it’s too late? YA author Buxbaum’s middle-grade debut is a rip-roaring series opener complete with over-the-top characters and jokes galore. Naidu’s black-and-white cartoon illustrations extend the comedy with ongoing commentary that smartly interacts with the prose. The cast of Break Through species—like Audiotooters, Galzorian, and Sanitizoria—have hilariously creative on-the-nose names with illustrations to match. Sky is coded biracial, with a White dad and Indian mom. Aliens appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors; Elvis shape-shifts but looks like a brown-skinned boy to Sky. Though the main mystery is neatly wrapped up, the cliffhanger ending promises more laughs.
Contagiously goofy and fun. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-42946-4
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
Delightful fun for budding mystery fans.
Only children, rejoice! A cozy mystery just for you! (People with siblings will probably enjoy it too.)
Debut novelist Cornett introduces the One and Onlys, a trio of mystery-solving only kids: Gloria Longshanks “Shanks” Hill, Alexander “Peephole” Calloway, and narrator Paul (alas, no nickname) Marconi. The trio has a knack for finding and solving low-level mysteries, but they come up against a true head-scratcher when the yard of a resident of their small town is covered in rubber ducks overnight. Working ahead of Officer Portnoy, who’s a little on the slow side, can Paul, Shanks, and Peephole solve the mystery? Cornett has a lot of fun with this adventure, dropping additional side mysteries, a subplot about small businesses, big corporations, and economics, and a town’s love of bratwurst into the mix. Most importantly, he plays fair with the clues throughout, allowing astute readers to potentially solve the case ahead of the trio. The tone and mystery are perfect for younger readers who want to test their detective skills but are put off by anything scary or gory. The pacing would serve well for chapter-by-chapter read-alouds. If there are any quibbles, it’s the lack of diversity of the cast, as it defaults white. Diversity exists in small towns, and this one is crying out for more. Hopefully a sequel will introduce additional faces.
Delightful fun for budding mystery fans. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-3003-6
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
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