Cody and the Mysteries of the Universe

Reviewed by: Phyllis Fuchs, retired librarian - Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 21, 2016

Review

First, there is the pleasing writing style, direct, often funny, and full of details about insects, microscopes, brothers and sisters, teen romances, threesomes, bullies. Second, there is not a lot of plot in this story of a best friendship between a girl named Cody who is white and Spencer, a boy who is black and living with his grandmother right around the corner. There is spying on neighbors, on grownups, the opening of a new school year, being bitten by yellow jackets, listening to how a violin sounds when it is played well, when bullies need to be confronted. The book is also full of both wise remarks, most are about friendship, and amusing pen and ink drawings. The book is recommended to middle-grade readers of both sexes who aren't in too much of a hurry to read carefully all of the story's one hundred and thirty seven pages and maybe discover some of those mysteries of the universe.

Overall Book Score: excellent

About the Book

Author:

Springstubb, Tricia

Illustrator: Wheeler, Eliza

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780763658588

Price: 14.99

The Case of the Feathered Mask Book 4

The Case of the Feathered Mask Book 4

Reviewed by: Phyllis Fuchs, retired librarian - Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 21, 2016

Review

Twelve year old Maisie enjoys using her detective skills. Living in her grandmother's boarding house in 19th century London gives Maisie many opportunities to do just that. Book 4 of this series has Maisie in search of the thief of a rare mask from the Amazon rain forest and the story can be read independently of the three that preceded it. Readers may notice some differences in Victorian London such as the absence of cell phones and of cars and the presence of horse droppings in the streets, but the book's nine chapters are offered in reader friendly type size in less than two hundred pages. That leaves little room for much character or time period development. The book is recommended as plot-filled, entertaining, and a fast moving read for nine to twelve year olds, largely girls. They will easily discover some of the plot details from the frequent, amusing pen and ink drawings even if all the faces do look very much alike!

Overall Book Score: good