June 1, 2008
Gr 5-8-In her third appearance, 13-year-old Minerva Clark investigates a fire at a small family-owned grocery store in her hometown of Portland, OR. The blaze killed a tenant in an upstairs apartment. The police think it's an accident, but Angus Paine, the owners' teenage son, is convinced it is arson so he calls on Minerva for help. Unfortunately, she has no idea how to investigate this type of crime. Also complicating her life is her mother's second marriage. Several false leads confuse the young sleuth for a time and it is only after another fire erupts at her school and she discovers that Angus has some deep secrets that the truth comes out. Minerva is an interesting characteran electric shock has enabled her to solve crimes and endowed her with plenty of self-esteem. Readers who like Sammy Keyes will enjoy getting to know her. A subplot concerns her first venture into boyfriend/girlfriend status and the confused feelings that such a relationship engenders."Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA"
Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 15, 2007
In her third adventure, Oregonian Minerva Clark, now 13, is contacted by a boy who wants her to investigate an arson at his familys grocery storea store that is on Portlands haunted house tour because of a supposed ghost in the walk-in freezer. Minerva also has to contend with her mother, who left the family to marry her yoga teacher, but has returned pre-wedding to ensure that Minervas sleuthing days are over. As a mystery, this doesnt quite gel; what will appeal to readers, however, are Minervas irreverence and chutzpah.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)