Synopses & Reviews
"The most winning junior detective ever in teen lit. (Take that, Nancy Drew!)" —Midwest Children's Book Review
When Sammy finds out that her mother has changed her name, dyed her hair, and shaved ten years off her age, she knows it's time for Lady Lana to get reacquainted with reality.
Sammy hops a bus to Hollywood and finds her mother in deeper trouble than she imagined. Lana's phony persona is crumbling just as she is being considered for the part of a lifetime. So when one of Lana's competitors for the big role is found dead in the room next door, Sammy can't help wondering: Is her mother the next likely victim . . . or the prime suspect?
The Sammy Keyes mysteries are fast-paced, funny, thoroughly modern, and true whodunits. Each mystery is exciting and dramatic, but it's the drama in Sammy's personal life that keeps readers coming back to see what happens next with her love interest Casey, her soap-star mother, and her mysterious father.
Synopsis
The elusive Lady Lana (a.k.a. Sammys mom) ran off to Hollywood nearly a year ago to get “discovered.” But when
Sammy discovers that her mom has changed her name, dyed her hair, and told everyone shes only 25, she decides Lana needs a little reality check. I mean, its one thing to have her mom ditch her. But its another to find out shes created a life for herself where Sammy cant possibly exist.
But Hollywood is a shock. Everyone is pretending here. No one is who or what they seem in this starlet-eat-starlet world. So when a woman is killed in the room next door, Sammys hard-pressed to find someone who doesnt have a motive . . . including her own mom.
Synopsis
Sammy's mom ran off to Hollywood nearly a year ago to get "discovered." But when Sammy discovers that her mom has changed her name, dyed her hair, and told everyone she's only 25, she decides Lana needs a little reality check. Everyone pretends in Hollywood. So when a woman is killed in the room next door, Sammy's hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't have a motive . . . including her own mom.
Synopsis
Ten exciting new adventures for the famous boy detective!
Everyone's favorite fifth-grade gumshoe is back on the case! Following the classic Encyclopedia Brown formula, this installment presents ten mysteries, complete with answers at the end of the book that allow the reader to solve the cases along with the boy detective. Join Encyclopedia Brown as he takes on cases of giant diamonds, lazy lions, a country singer, and of course a trip to the carnival.
About the Author
Wendelin Van Draanen actually hopped a bus to Hollywood and climbed out a window on a rope made of clothes to make sure she got all the details right for this book.