The historical information is a bit flimsy, but deduction and slick detective work save the day.
In their latest caper, four young sleuths (counting the hamster) not only uncover a hidden treasure, but foil its theft.
Edinburgh museum director Magda Gaskar summons the Museum Mystery Squad—narcoleptic genius Laurie Lennox, quick thinker Kennedy Kerr (both white), and tech whiz Mohammed “Nabster” McNab (evidently a Muslim Scot)—to the museum’s Egyptian Zone to watch (supposed) Egyptologist Peter Gyptex at work. (Colin the hamster consults from his cage at home.) They arrive just in time to see some newly exposed “hieroglyphics” (actually rebuses) on a pharaoh’s casket that turn out to lead to a long-lost jeweled bracelet. Piecing together sharp observations, solving anagrams, and learning bits about ancient Egyptian burial practices and hieroglyphics (“A bit like telling a story using only emojis, no words,” explains Kennedy vividly if inexactly), the MMS winkles out the bracelet’s hiding place just in time to nab the “expert,” who turns out to be a wanted thief with a penchant for disguises, as he’s trying to sneak it out of the building. Nicholson slips in fact boxes and a miniquiz as well as some red herrings to confuse matters. Phillips adds coded messages, screen shots, and diary pages to cartoon views of the squad in action. A final word-search puzzle (with answers) serves as both brain teaser and review. Companion adventure Museum Mystery Squad and the Case of the Moving Mammoth publishes simultaneously.
The historical information is a bit flimsy, but deduction and slick detective work save the day. (Mystery. 7-9)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-78250-362-0
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Floris
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2017
Delightfully smart and deliciously funny—don’t miss it.
The Dunderheads are back in another amusing caper that’s sure to please fans of their earlier exploits (The Dunderheads, 2009).
Once again, Einstein narrates with tongue-in-cheek, deadpan humor. Along with his friends, he expects the last day of school to mean that they are rid of their nemesis/teacher, the evil Miss Breakbone. Sadly, they are wrong. Children and teacher alike try out for roles as extras in a film and find themselves together again. Worse, Miss Breakbone fingers Spider as a thief when a cat burglar strikes. Einstein, of course, comes up with the perfect plan to capture the real thief, capitalizing as before on his friends’ varied interests and abilities. Unfortunately, his plan falls through, and all of the kids wind up in the poky. How they succeed in solving the crimes and turning the tables on their arch enemy, Miss Breakbone, strains credibility but entertains all the same. It's not as though credibility is the point, after all. At least half the fun comes from Roberts’ clever illustrations, created in watercolor, pen and ink. As before, each Dunderhead’s appearance reveals his or her individuality; new characters are equally clearly limned. Some sly references might go over the heads of the intended audience (don’t miss Liza as Sally Bowles in the line-up of aspiring extras), but readers of all ages will enjoy poring over the pages to find the hidden humor.
Delightfully smart and deliciously funny—don’t miss it. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4543-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2012
Readers will enjoy following Myron's developing, appealing voice as much as they do following clues.
Elementary school detectives put their (neurodiverse) heads together to investigate the case of a stolen robot.
When his doorbell rings on a Friday morning, Myron knows something is afoot; his autism makes him sensitive to changes in his routine. He's right; Jordan, a classmate from his special needs classroom, is calling on him and his friend Hajrah—aka the West Meadows Detectives—to find out who stole his robot for the upcoming Maker Faire. Logical, white Myron and hyperenergetic, Middle Eastern Hajrah brave the bullying Smasher McGinty and follow clues to find a plausible, lightly foreshadowed culprit. Myron and Hajrah's friendship is delightfully fleshed out through their bickering and understanding of each other's respective quirks—and quirks they are, free of medicalization. Myron's autism is quickly explained but is just as quickly understood as intrinsic to his personality, buzzing brain and all. While his literal thinking is sometimes unintentionally humorous, it doesn't preclude his own sense of humor—in fact, his awareness of it allows him to laugh at himself, and others laugh with him rather than at him. Nor does his logic preclude empathy; in fact, it aids in deducing others' emotions. Grand's friendly illustrations also offer glimpses of Myron's personality, from his detective posters to the pencil mug that reads, "The truth is out there." Jordan is depicted with East Asian features; Smasher is a white girl.
Readers will enjoy following Myron's developing, appealing voice as much as they do following clues. (Mystery. 7-9)Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-77147-070-4
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2016
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