by N Griffin (Author) Kate Hindley (Illustrator)
Who stole the hamster from Room 11?
A once-happy class is set on edge in this humorous, highly relatable mystery perfect for middle-grade readers.
The day the hamster disappears from Smashie McPerter's class begins like any other. Well, except for the fact that the teacher is out sick and Smashie's class is stuck with Mr. Carper, the worst substitute in the world. And except for the mysterious business with the glue. And except for the fact that Smashie is wrestling with a terrible problem, which only partly stems from her extreme aversion to hamster feet. As the peaceable and productive days of Room 11 turn into paranoia-fueled chaos, as natural suspects produce natural alibis and motives remain unmotivated, Smashie and her best friend, Dontel, are forced to the limits of their parlor-room detecting to set things right.
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Third-grader Smashie McPerter faces the wrath of her classmates when Patches, their beloved class hamster, goes missing, in this lively, funny mystery. Mr. Carper, the students' ridiculous substitute teacher, who has a hilarious penchant for nicknames (Athletic-Looking Boy, Girl with the Socks, etc.), loathes thinking, and cares only about his aspiring modeling career. When Smashie--eccentric, spontaneous, and the only student who doesn't like Patches--is blamed for the hamster's disappearance, she knows she must solve the mystery, aided by Dontel, her best friend. Griffin (The Whole Stupid Way We Are) uses humor to tackle issues most children grapple with at some point, and Hindley's (How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth) loose b&w sketches play up the madcap energy at Rebecca Lee Crumpler Elementary School. Smashie's earnestness is sometimes absurd ("We have to question me closely"), but her positive energy and determination are impressive. Readers will be learning and laughing heartily as Smashie dons her "Investigator Suit" and uses "thinking power" to try to prove herself. Ages 7-10. Author's agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. Illustrator's agent: Jodie Hodges, United Agents. (Feb.)
Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Gr 3-6—Meet Smashie McPerter. She's not your average third grade student by any stretch of the imagination. Overly dramatic, extremely independent, and opinionated to a fault, Smashie will endear herself to many readers because she can make even the most outlandish people feel rather normal. Incredibly precocious, Smashie and her friend Dontel often use vocabulary far beyond their years. As a result, the characters do not come across as authentic nine-year-olds, and some readers may find the language challenging. Aside from this, the story is well written and evenly paced, with great supporting characters to root both for and against. The main story centers on trying to solve the mystery of the missing class pet; a plot line most elementary-aged students will find familiar. Readers learn about investigative principles and how to use organization and the process of elimination. A gentle and humorous mystery for younger middle grade readers.—Chad Lane, Easton Elementary, Wye Mills, MD
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.