The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Title: The Great Shelby Holmes 
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg 
Series: Trilogy
Next Book in the Series: The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match 
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Pages: Print 243
Rating: ★★★★

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I checked out a copy of this book from my local library. The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or the publisher.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Meet spunky sleuth Shelby and her sports-loving sidekick Watson as they take on a dog-napper in this fresh twist on Sherlock Holmes.
Shelby Holmes is not your average sixth grader. She’s nine years old, barely four feet tall, and the best detective her Harlem neighborhood has ever seen—always using logic and a bit of pluck (which yes, some might call “bossiness”) to solve the toughest crimes.

When eleven-year-old John Watson moves downstairs, Shelby finds something that’s eluded her up till now: a friend. Easy-going John isn’t sure of what to make of Shelby, but he soon finds himself her most-trusted (read: only) partner in a dog-napping case that’ll take both their talents to crack.

Sherlock Holmes gets a fun, sweet twist with two irresistible young heroes and black & white illustrations throughout in this middle grade debut from internationally bestselling YA author Elizabeth Eulberg.

Favorite Quotes:

“I observe. Then I assemble all my observations into several different theories and pick the on with the likeliest narrative. It’s called deductive reasoning. I don’t understand why others don’t do  it. I realize some people find my observations rude, but I don’t know when to stay quiet.” -Shelby-

Final Thoughts: 

This book is filled with a set of diverse characters. We follow the story of Shelby Holmes and John Watson, two unlikely friends who grow to learn something new from each other. John is new to the busy New York City, and he is looking for someone to guide him around his neighborhood. Shelby seems like a nice person who looks to be about his age, so why not follow her around for a bit. Shelby is not too excited about her new follower. Shelby is a smart, outspoken, seven year old who solves mysteries in her neighborhood. She doesn’t have friends she has contacts. Watson just moved to the community with his newly divorced military doctor mother. He is slowly adapting to his new neighborhood and trying to find his motivation to write again. The two unlikely pair are approached by Tamra after her prized show dog goes missing. Shelby and Watson search through clear clues while Tamra and her family argue over which one of them stole the dog. Will Shelby and Watson solve the mystery? Will Shelby accept Watson as a friend?

This is my first middle-grade mystery novel involving a stolen dog. The book was fascinating, but the idea of the family arguing with each other over who took the dog was a bit far-fetched. I also did not like the part in the story where Shelby was interacting with a “sketchy” character. I thought that part of the story was wholly inappropriate and should not have been included in the book. I could not believe this was in there. I also thought two young children exploring the streets of New York unsupervised was a bit unlikely in today’s society. I would have liked that part to be a little more realistic. I did like the idea of freedom of expression and the mystery solving tactics in this book. Some tactics were unnecessary but comical. The author did a great with this book by capturing the attention of the reader, and it makes me want to read the second one in this series. I thoroughly enjoyed each character, and I am hoping to learn more about Shelby Holmes’ family. I recommend this book to middle-grade students in the earlier grades. It is on the Texas Bluebonnet List.

Have you read any good mysteries lately?

Share them in the comments below!

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com

ARC Review: Sneaking Out

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

img_2534Title: Sneaking Out 
Author: Chuck Vance
Genre: Young Adult Mystery
Pages: Print 384
Release Date: March 3,2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of this book from @KidLitExchange #partner in exchange for my honest review. Thanks again to @KidLitExchange  #partner for access to review a free copy of this book! The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or KidLitExchange. The  copy used in this review is an uncorrected copy from Dunemere Books. 

Goodreads Synopsis:

Could you sleep next to a murderer?

Luke Chase—yes, that Luke Chase, a modern hero ripped from the headlines—didn’t mean to get caught up in Mrs. Heckler’s murder. He just wanted to hook up with the hot new British girl at St. Benedict’s, and if that meant sneaking out to the woods after hours, then so be it. But little did he know someone would end up dead right next to their rendezvous spot, and his best friend and roommate Oscar Weymouth would go down for it. With suspects aplenty and a past that’s anything but innocent, Luke Chase reluctantly calls on his famous survival skills to find the true killer.

Favorite Quotes:

“You refuse to acknowledge your  heroics. Now you can’t deny them. You can now know that you are truly special.” 

“Ever since he had been in captivity he had learned to play game where he had tried to pick up on small clues from the small things people said about themselves. Sort of like honing his powers of inference, Sherlock Holmes style. He had started it because he never wanted to be surprised by people he thought he knew.”

Final Thoughts:

First off, Chuck Vance did a great job capturing my attention this entire novel. This young adult fiction book provides a thrilling mystery between these pages. The begins with a group of four students at a boarding school all deciding to sneak out one evening. They have no idea what awaits them in the woods on that starry night. Luke, Oscar, Kelsey, and Pippa all decide they want to take a break from the dorms and head into the woods for a midnight stroll. Luke is hoping to get closer to Pippa, the new student from England with a hard personality. The story begins to unravel when the students hear a noise out in the woods hoping they are alone they remain quiet while Oscar ventures out to investigate. Luke hears Mrs. Heckler arguing with a man in the woods but who is that man? Everyone assumes that Luke is paranoid because of the things that occurred in his past. The four start to head back towards their dorms hoping not to get caught and put the chilling night behind them. The following day the entire school gets word that Mrs. Heckler was found murdered in the woods the same night those four were out there. Luke, Oscar, Kelsey, and Pippa must decide to either share the information about that night and risk expulsion or try to solve the mystery on their own. Luke must decide who to trust as he watches his roommate and best friend get framed for murder. Everyone has something to hide including Oscar, Kelsey, and Pippa. As Luke starts investigating her begins to uncover many secrets about his friends, his teachers, and even the late Mrs. Heckler.  Can the Kidnapped Kid use his survival skills to locate the real murderer?

This book is well written, and the plot twist was fantastic. The entire novel I thought one character killed Mrs. Heckler, but in the end, it was someone else. I was extremely confident in my detective skills, and I was on the edge of my seat. I prevented myself from looks to the end of the book to ease the pressure of finding out who did it. In this “whodunit” novel it is hard not to love the writing style and the cliffhanger at the end. Sneaking Out is book one of the Chased Series, so I am curious to see what other things Chuck Vance has up his sleeves. I recommend this book to any young adult or adult looking for a great mystery novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com

ARC Review: Lou Lou and Pea and The Bicentennial Bonanza

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

img_2084Title: Lou Lou and Pea and the Bicentennial Bonanza
Author: Jill Diamond ; Pictures by Lesley Vamos
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary, Realistic
Pages: Print 251
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of this book from @KidLitExchange #partner in exchange for my honest review. Thanks again to @KidLitExchange  #partner for access to review a free copy of this book! The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or KidLitExchange. 

This Middle-Grade contemporary novel provides a realistic view of two friends, Lou Lou and Pea. This book is the second book written by this author about these two friends who seem to have an eye for solving mysteries. Lou Lou and Pea are incredibly excited about their neighborhood hosting the two hundred year anniversary of the town. The Flyers have both their names showcased. Lou Lou is a horticulturist and will be showcasing her prized honeysuckles at the event. Pea is a designer and will be showcasing her hats from the hat shop where she is an apprentice. Unfortunately, Mayor Montoya’s dog becomes ill a few weeks before the ceremony, leaving the vice mayor in charge. Andy Argyle will stop at nothing to get to the Bicentennial Bonanza moved to Verde Valley from El Corazon. Andy and his daughter Amanda create a scheme together to get the event relocated. How far will these two go to get what they want? Will Lou Lou and Pea save the day with the help of a few friends?

Favorite Quotes:

” If conclusions were a pool, Lou Lou would be constantly wet.”

I laughed so hard after reading this because it is just too clever. This is an iconic moment in the story where the plot starts to unravel.

“‘Being kind is always in style,’ Pea replied with one of her fashion quotes. ‘Who said that?’ Lou Lou asked. ‘Peacock Pearl, of course.’ Pea winked one bright blue eye.”

This is an absolutely amazing lesson to teach young readers. Kindness is important regardless of the way others may treat you.

Final Thoughts:

I adored this novel and thought the author did a great job capturing the essence of Lou Lou and Pea. I also loved the author used a Spanish influence throughout the entire novel, providing text in a bilingual manner was very creative. I was able to learn a few words throughout the story. I enjoyed the instructions on how to make a hat and the Spanish-English dictionary at the end of the story. I loved the connection between friendship throughout this novel and the emphasis on kindness. The author spent time providing details of the characters that fueled my imagination throughout the entire book. I loved the portrayal of Lou Lou’s parents and their uniqueness. I thought it was a bit strange that her parents went with a nautical theme for their home, but it does happen. I would have liked a bit more explanation of Pea’s parents instead of the full focus on her grandmother. This novel is well written, and I recommend it to any in middle school who is interested in a little bit of mystery, friendship, and excitement.

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com