A fun and fast minimystery for young readers.
A middle school sleuth must clear a new classmate’s name in Fink’s novel for preteens.
McKinney—Mickie McKinney, to be exact—takes his gig as a gumshoe very seriously. Wearing his signature hat and blowing bubbles from his pipe, he’s highly in demand at Maple Ridge Middle School, decoding mystery meatloaf ingredients and locating lost felines for his classmates in exchange for candy bars and other treats. He even has a staff member: child genius Jamie “Burners” Burns, who can always be found in the science lab. One morning, it’s business as usual for Mickie until a tall blond girl stomps into his classroom wearing fatigues and heavy boots. New to the small town of Maple Ridge, Vermont, by way of Fort Carson, Colorado, the girl doesn’t talk much, but Mickie is intrigued, especially after she rescues him from the clutches of school bully (and Cheese Nubs lover) Tommy Tubbins. The next day, the kids’ teacher Miss Caverly finds missing test answers in the new girl’s backpack—and immediately sends her to the principal’s office. Mickie knows something’s up: Why would a brand-new student, especially one with zero tolerance for bullies, immediately make major trouble for herself? Can the brainy Burns help? Or will this mystery be too much for the wily young Mickie? This is the first of Fink’s Mickie McKinney series, with a second due out this summer, and its mystery is simple and on target for its audience without talking down to them. Mickie, the first-person narrator, has a funny, distinctive voice (though the author repeats his signature catchphrase a bit too often) as well as secrets of his own that may be revealed in later volumes. Discussion topics and comprehension questions at the end—and illustrations throughout—make this an excellent choice for school libraries and reading programs.
A fun and fast minimystery for young readers.Pub Date: May 27, 2022
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 50
Publisher: Faux Fiction Audio
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A snappy mystery that’s full of heart.
A group of bright friends tackles the puzzle of their lives.
Elmwood, New Hampshire, 11-year-old Gina Sparks is small in stature but big on reporting ongoing dramas for the local newspaper with support from her journalist mom. When an unbelievable scoop comes her way, Gina must rely on her tightknit crew of sixth grade best friends whose initials happen to spell GEEK, a label they choose to proudly reclaim. She and science-minded prankster Elena Hernández, theater kid Edgar Feingarten, and driven math genius Kevin Robinson decide to get to the bottom of things when they learn that the Van Houten Toy & Game Company heir made elaborate plans to leave everything to the town of Elmwood before her death—but only if a member of the community could solve an intricate multistep puzzle. Gina hopes that deciphering the clues and finding the missing fortune will be just the thing to revitalize the down-on-its-luck town and bring the Elmwood Tribune back into the black, saving her mom’s job and Gina’s passion project. The GEEKs work together, using their individual talents and deductive reasoning skills to unravel the mystery. Infused with media literacy pointers, such as the difference between fact and opinion and reminders to avoid bias when reporting, the story encourages readers to think critically. Gina and Edgar read as White; Elena is cued as Latinx, and Kevin is implied Black.
A snappy mystery that’s full of heart. (Mystery. 9-13)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-37793-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A page-turner with striking characters and a satisfying puzzle at its heart.
A boy who visits a little free library gets more than he bargained for when he becomes a sleuth caught up in the middle of his town’s most enduring mystery.
Ever since a tragic fire destroyed the Martinville Library, the town has been left without a place to borrow books. That is, until a little free library suddenly pops up, guarded by a fluffy orange cat named Mortimer. Fifth grader Evan McClelland selects two books from its shelves. Inside them he finds puzzling clues that lead him to chase down the real story behind the library fire. The book is told from multiple perspectives, including those of Evan, Mortimer, and ghost librarian Al, who perished in the blaze and is responsible for the upkeep of the little free library. Evan’s tenacious and curious character is relatable. His relationship with likable best friend Rafe, a brave, kind boy with overprotective parents, is easily one of the most endearing parts of the story. The puzzle over the library fire, a secret involving Evan’s family, a popular writer’s connection to Martinville, and the supernatural elements are presented in ways that are just right for middle-grade readers. The pacing is strong, and the twists and turns are satisfying even if perceptive readers may catch hints of the ultimate truth along the way. Physical descriptions of the human characters are largely absent.
A page-turner with striking characters and a satisfying puzzle at its heart. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2023
ISBN: 9781250838810
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
