Synopses & Reviews
"The most winning junior detective ever in teen lit. (Take that, Nancy Drew!)" —Midwest Children's Book Review
It's Sammy's birthday, which should be a good thing, except that Dorito, Sammy's cat, is missing, and while Sammy's searching for him, she finds three dead cats in dumpsters around town. Worse still, Miss Kitty, a psycho cat lady, blames Sammy when it turns out one of the dead cats belonged to her. As if Sammy didn't have enough on her hands investigating these furry felonies, her mother has a confession to make: she lied about Sammy's age so she could start her in school a year early. So—surprise!—Sammy isn't turning 14 at all, she's going to be unlucky 13 for another whole year.
Better luck next year, Sammy. . . .
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
Sammys never been what you might call lucky. But finding a dead cat on her birthday? That ranks up there in her top-10 unluckiest moments. And not just because it was the ugliest dead thing shed ever seen. No, it was more the chain of events that happened after.
Like getting hosed down by a crazy cat lady who blames Sammy for her pets violent end. And being chased through an alley by a guy with a cleaver. And being thrown in the ring by a cranky pro-wrestler called
El Gato—oh, no wait, that was the good part of her day.
Synopsis
Sammy's mom comes to town with a birthday bombshell... "A strong female character looking for more than just a boyfriend. Highly recommended." --Children's Literature
It's Sammy's birthday, which should be a good thing, right? Not when her mom lets her cat out and now he's missing. Not when Sammy finds three dead cats while she's looking for him. And not when a psycho cat lady blames Sammy because one of the dead cats belonged to her.
Add a suspicious pro-wrestler named El Gato, a public cat-fight with her arch-enemy Heather, and a bombshell of a secret from her mom, and you've got a recipe for Sammy's worst birthday ever.
Better luck next year, Sammy.
Synopsis
The boy detective is back with ten new exciting adventures Since 1963, when Dutton published Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, the first book in the series, the brainy crime-stopper has been a favorite character among middle-grade readers. Following the classic formula, this new installment presents ten new 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 as he takes on cases of an African killifish, a library book vandal, and a nail-biting soccer game.
Synopsis
Sammys never been what you might call lucky. But finding a dead cat on her birthday? That ranks up there in her top-10 unluckiest moments. And not just because it was the ugliest dead thing shed ever seen. No, it was more the chain of events that happened after.
Like getting hosed down by a crazy cat lady who blames Sammy for her pets violent end. And being chased through an alley by a guy with a cleaver. And being thrown in the ring by a cranky pro-wrestler called
El Gato—oh, no wait, that was the good part of her day.
About the Author
Donald J. Sobol was the author of the highly acclaimed Encyclopedia Brown series and many other books. His awards include a special Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his contribution to mystery writing in the United States, and the Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Readers' Choice Award for Encyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace.