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"Canadian author Scrimger (The Nose from Jupiter) makes his U.S. debut with this stylized mystery laced with humor, centering on Charlie, a perceptive, blind 14-year-old, whose feisty best friend, Bernadette, willingly acts as his eyes. The novel's third-person narrative unfolds in theatrical scenes and constantly shifts perspectives, yet the primary player is Charlie, whose 'point of view depends mostly on hearing, touch, smell, and imagination.' As he and Bernadette ride the bus on their first day of school, she spies a person in a stocking mask running out of a bank. Could it be the Stocking Bandit who has been robbing cash machines throughout the summer? Their tardy, slick teacher explains 'there was a holdup' and later, while giving his students a writing assignment, urges them to 'Learn to lie!' Thus the author plants the clues to his guilt. Yet when Charlie's father is accused of being the Stocking Bandit and the boy, Bernadette and a likeable, rather nerdy classmate set out to find the real culprit, his identity appears to be someone other than the smooth-talking teacher. Scrimger fills his plot with creative cues, clues and coincidences (the latter involving a guardian angel-type character) and adds some affecting scenes with the three youngsters' families. But a surfeit of extraneous detail and protracted conversation diffuse the suspense. Readers will nonetheless find the finale worth the wait, as the author satisfactorily ties together the story's strands as the curtain falls. Ages 10-up. (Aug.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Synopsis:
When blind teenager Charlie Farimiles dad is accused of bank robbery, its up to Charlie to find the real criminal--and fast. With the help of his best friends and his guardian angel, Charlie sets out to solve the mystery.
baby_gyal14, May 17, 2006 (view all comments by baby_gyal14)
I really think that this book is very interesting.
I love reading about mystery stories and this one is a real eye catching one because of how charlie is blind and how him and his friends help him get through life.
The best part about it is the part when they seach for the real bandit and try to prove innocence to charlies dad and that it all turns out to a mystery it gets more and more exciting along the way.I would recomend this book to alot of juivenille readers to read.
I love this book it is one of my favorites.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No (11 of 22 readers found this comment helpful)
"Publishers Weekly Review"
by Publishers Weekly,
"Canadian author Scrimger (The Nose from Jupiter) makes his U.S. debut with this stylized mystery laced with humor, centering on Charlie, a perceptive, blind 14-year-old, whose feisty best friend, Bernadette, willingly acts as his eyes. The novel's third-person narrative unfolds in theatrical scenes and constantly shifts perspectives, yet the primary player is Charlie, whose 'point of view depends mostly on hearing, touch, smell, and imagination.' As he and Bernadette ride the bus on their first day of school, she spies a person in a stocking mask running out of a bank. Could it be the Stocking Bandit who has been robbing cash machines throughout the summer? Their tardy, slick teacher explains 'there was a holdup' and later, while giving his students a writing assignment, urges them to 'Learn to lie!' Thus the author plants the clues to his guilt. Yet when Charlie's father is accused of being the Stocking Bandit and the boy, Bernadette and a likeable, rather nerdy classmate set out to find the real culprit, his identity appears to be someone other than the smooth-talking teacher. Scrimger fills his plot with creative cues, clues and coincidences (the latter involving a guardian angel-type character) and adds some affecting scenes with the three youngsters' families. But a surfeit of extraneous detail and protracted conversation diffuse the suspense. Readers will nonetheless find the finale worth the wait, as the author satisfactorily ties together the story's strands as the curtain falls. Ages 10-up. (Aug.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Synopsis"
by Ingram,
When blind teenager Charlie Farimiles dad is accused of bank robbery, its up to Charlie to find the real criminal--and fast. With the help of his best friends and his guardian angel, Charlie sets out to solve the mystery.
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