Genre: Realistic Fiction - sports, mysteries, adventure
Awards: 1999 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Juvenile Mystery, 2000 Massachusetts Children's Book Master List
Summary: Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief is the first in a young-adult mystery series of what will be 20 titles in all. In this story, Samantha, a seventh-grader, is living with her grandmother in a subsidized housing unit which doesn't allow Grams to house Sammy. Because of this, Sammy tells people she is just visiting her Grams and has to keep all of her possessions in the bottom drawer of a dresser. Sammy has taken to watching the neighborhood through her grandmother's binoculars and just happens to spot the latest in a rash of neighborhood burglaries through them. She must use her sharp observational skills without ruffling too many feathers and getting caught. Samantha ends up catching the theif, making new friends, and growing closer to her grandmother in this fun, fast-paced, adventure.
Reaction: I actually use this book on unabridged audio C.D. as a "read-aloud" each year with my fifth-graders. They love it and end up checking out the other published books in the series from the library (more than half of the 20 titles are currently published). The reason that I like this book so well is because it is funny and lighthearted, yet is full of positive messages without once being "preachy". There are no overtly violent or sexual scenes in the book, making it an option to use in the classroom.
Recommended to: Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief is a great book for students in grades 4-8 who enjoy mysteries. As the character gets older through the next several titles in the series I would say that students through grade 9 might be enticed to try them. The fairly easy reading level will make the book accessable to less-able readers.
Book Talk Hook: Have you ever seen something happen that you know needs to be reported, but you don't know how to report it without getting yourself wrapped up in the "mess"?
3 comments:
This is a good series for students. Fourth, fifth, and sixth grade girls like this series at my elementary school. Once they read one book, most of them want to read other books in the series. Some of the girls are always waiting for the next book to be published.
I like this series too.
Great job adding other links to your blog!
David,
I am going to subscribe to the blog to keep up with the latest in children's books! You have created an interesting and informative blog.
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