Synopses & Reviews
Anna and her brother, Tom, have always wanted a pet. And after their latest pestering campaign, their mother finally gives in and lets them choose a pair of hamsters from the local pet shop. But their happiness soon turns to horror when the hamsters are found mysteriously dead in their cage. Anna and Tom launch a full-scale investigation to determine whoand#8212;or whatand#8212;is behind the hamster homicides. Can they solve the case of the Great Hamster Massacre? andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Katie Daviesand#8217; irresistibly funny mystery and Hanna Shawand#8217;s spot-on illustrations combine for a quirky, delightful read that is part detective tale, part diary, and altogether hilarious.
Review
"Inspired use of simple words, straightforward syntax and effective repetition make this a top pick for slow or reluctant readers...Under the plotand#8217;s frothy surface lie serious depths...An auspicious debut."--andlt;iandgt;Kirkus Reviewsandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"A flippy, fun and extremely fast-paced journey into the world of a very likable brother and sister--and their amusing family and friends. Intermittent silly pencil sketches fill the pages diary-style, creating a whimsical mood and adding comic relief.... Giggles are frequent among the kids in this book, and they will infect readers as well."andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;iandgt;BookPage, andlt;/iandgt;May 2011
Review
"This British import is an interesting mix of British humor with serious issues interspersed.andlt;BRandgt; Whimsical, cartoonish pen-and-ink illustrations accompany the story and help lighten the seriousness....This is the first in a series that will appeal to fans of Roald Dahl and Dick King-Smith."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;Iandgt;Booklist, andlt;/Iandgt;July 1, 2011
Review
"For young readers who can handle a bit of the macabre with their giggles, this strange little tale will be perfectly appealing."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;iandgt;Bulletin of the Center for Children's Booksandlt;/iandgt;, July/August 2011
Review
"An interesting take on how children deal with grief and shock.... Annaand#8217;s voice is engaging, and portrayals of various pets and neighbors (with accompanying hand-drawn side notes and cartoons) will entertain...give this dark comedy to reluctant readers, mystery lovers, and fans of narrator-illustrated fare like Jeff Kinneyand#8217;s and#8220;Diary of a Wimpy Kidand#8221; books or Tom Anglebergerand#8217;s andlt;iandgt;The Strange Case of Origami Yoda andlt;/iandgt;(2010, both Abrams)."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;Iandgt;School Library Journal, andlt;/Iandgt;September 2011
Synopsis
Anna and her brother Tom have always wanted a pet. After their latest pestering campaign, thier mother finally gives in and lets them choose a pair of hamsters from the local pet shop. But their happiness soon turns to horror when they discover the hamsters mysteriously slaughtered in their cage. Anna and Tom begin an investigation into the hamster homicides. Can they solve the case of the Great Hamster Massacre?
About the Author
Katie Davies knows a thing or two about animal disasters. She is the author of The Great Dog Disaster, The Great Cat Conspiracy, The Great Rabbit Rescue, and her first book, The Great Hamster Massacre, which was inspired by true events—when she was twelve years old, after a relentless begging campaign, she was given two Russian Dwarf hamsters for Christmas. She has yet to recover from what happened to those hamsters. Katie lives with her family in North London. Visit her at KatieDaviesBooks.com. Hannah Shaw was born into a large family of sprout-munching vegetarians. She lives in a little cottage in the Cotswolds with her husband, Ben the blacksmith, and her rescue dog, Ren. She finds that her overactive imagination fuels new ideas, but unfortunately it keeps her awake at night!