Smashie McPerter and the Mystery of Room 11 by N. Griffin (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Smashie McPerter and the Mystery of Room 11 by N. Griffin Jeannette Hulick Griffin, N. Smashie McPerter and the Mystery of Room 11; illus. by Kate Hindley. Candlewick, 2015 [256p] ISBN 978-0-7636-6145-8 $15.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 3-5 Unlike her best friend, Dontel, and the rest of her third-grade class, Smashie McPerter does not like the new class pet, a hamster named Patches. When Patches goes missing, Smashie (despite her hamster revulsion) and Dontel launch an investigation to find the culprit behind not only Patches’ disappearance but also the theft of a teacher’s prize brooch and a stealth “glue-er” who keeps applying glue to objects that then end up stuck to people. Smashie and Dontel work methodically through the various possibilities, but their hasty (and incorrect) public accusation of hamster-loving classmate Willette leaves the accused in tears and their classmates and teacher righteously angry. Humbled, the detective duo redouble their efforts, more carefully, to solve the three mysteries, and Smashie is able to finally reveal to the class, with diplomacy and dramatic flair, the identities of all involved, restoring not only Patches but also classroom harmony. Smashie is a unique and engaging heroine, and her relationship with the likable Dontel is credible and endearing. Plentiful humor in the colorful characterizations and amusing phraseology (“The children waved their outerwear like pitchforks”) make this an excellent readaloud selection as well. Smashie and Dontel’s deduction procedures and their list of “investigator language” also expand the use possibilities for class discussions of the [End Page 401] mystery genre. Hindley’s casual, sketchy illustrative style suits the animated narrative, and the frequent pictures lighten the somewhat lengthy text. Kids moving up from Cam Jansen will find Smashie an entertaining next step. Copyright © 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois