Vraiment, another standout.
A 10-year-old who’s “mainly interested in murders. Solving murders, that is” finally gets a crack at a mystery that unfolds in a classic country house setting.
In this third series entry, Bonnie Montgomery arrives at Adderstone Manor disguised as pint-size detective Montgomery Bonbon, complete with a “wobbly” foreign accent. She’s accompanied by Grampa Banks and her friend Dana Hornville. Infamous criminal Fergus Croke, who owns the manor, invited Monsieur Bonbon to referee a game—the prize is a diamond and the chance to be named Fergus’ heir. His apprentices, notable for their dubious talents, will participate in the scavenger hunt: pickpocket Daniel Devant, picklock Frankie Novak, and bank robber Naomi Igarashi. When Fergus is found murdered in the monkey house, the housekeeper calls the police, but Bonnie is sure they’ll botch the investigation. There’s monkey business afoot, but the exotic pets loved Fergus and shouldn’t take the fall for the murder, no matter what Bonnie’s rival, Inspector Prashanti Sands, believes. Meanwhile, the apprentices want that diamond! Powell’s lively illustrations capture key moments in the story, and humor, misdirection, and explosions add color. The girls’ friendship endures a blowup, too, when Bonnie feels threatened by Dana’s intellect. The answer? Working together. Between Grampa’s crime-scene photos, Dana’s undercover work, and Bonnie’s deductions, the murderer—and the diamond—are soon in hand. Bonnie and Grampa present white, and the supporting cast contains racial diversity.
Vraiment, another standout. (map, cast of characters, author’s note) (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781536241686
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A page-turner with striking characters and a satisfying puzzle at its heart.
A boy who visits a little free library gets more than he bargained for when he becomes a sleuth caught up in the middle of his town’s most enduring mystery.
Ever since a tragic fire destroyed the Martinville Library, the town has been left without a place to borrow books. That is, until a little free library suddenly pops up, guarded by a fluffy orange cat named Mortimer. Fifth grader Evan McClelland selects two books from its shelves. Inside them he finds puzzling clues that lead him to chase down the real story behind the library fire. The book is told from multiple perspectives, including those of Evan, Mortimer, and ghost librarian Al, who perished in the blaze and is responsible for the upkeep of the little free library. Evan’s tenacious and curious character is relatable. His relationship with likable best friend Rafe, a brave, kind boy with overprotective parents, is easily one of the most endearing parts of the story. The puzzle over the library fire, a secret involving Evan’s family, a popular writer’s connection to Martinville, and the supernatural elements are presented in ways that are just right for middle-grade readers. The pacing is strong, and the twists and turns are satisfying even if perceptive readers may catch hints of the ultimate truth along the way. Physical descriptions of the human characters are largely absent.
A page-turner with striking characters and a satisfying puzzle at its heart. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2023
ISBN: 9781250838810
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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