Today's WHAT'S THE BUZZ is a Middle Grade Fiction title coming to you SEPTEMBER 3rd via Aladdin/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and it marks the next BIG THING from an author whose work you've probably adventured through before. James Ponti, the writer behind the CITY SPIES series, is at it again, but this time he's taken you're somewhat average run of the mill kids, tagged then with a well known name with some big history, and set them a quest for more than just an amazing summer. Curious? Well then, the game is afoot, and there's a mystery to uncover, so let's get between the pages of today's featured title and book of choice...
Book #1 of The Sherlock Society
By
James Ponti
9781665932530
Aladdin
About the book...
Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency has to be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases.
The group’s first target is the long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption.
Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus some really slick gadgets—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?
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This book was AWESOME.
There, I said it.
The main characters were easy to relate to and likeable. You can easily see yourself being friends with their group, taking up the mantle that seems to follow the name Sherlock, and getting all tangled up in a mystery that's way bigger than they ever imagined. Guess what? It doesn't matter that they are kids... with a 70 something grandfather in tow. It doesn't matter that the original draw was treasure with the goes of scoring a reward to get each of them what they were after. What matters is that when it came down to following through even though the shiny prize was no longer able to be put in a pocket, they followed. What matters is that their desire to do the greater good even if it wasn't the easy thing to do, kept having them take steps forward not back. What matters is the bond they created, the friendships they cultivated, the knowledge they built, and the skills they shared, because at day's end, they were there for each other come heck or high water. It didn't matter that a bunch of thugs carrying out crazy orders, or a secret service agent stood in their way... the pieces were in play, and they wouldn't be stopped until the truth was uncovered.
There is so much WONDERFUL going on here,I hardly know where to start. From the characters to the story, the lessons shared to the celebrations had for each of them being themselves, it preaches acceptance as much as it begs us to question the world around us and fight for what's right. It gives great insight into the world of amateur film making as well as sleuthing and reporter techniques. It reminds us that we're all capable of anything we set our minds to, things aren't always as they seem, and we can make the world a better place one moment at a time. A great pick for Middle Grade Fiction fans of all ages, and a fabulous start to what seems to be a promising series.
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About the author...
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James Ponti is the New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade book series: The Sherlock Society following a group of young detectives; City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy–nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more at JamesPonti.com.
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Special thanks to Thad and Alex at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY September 3, 2024, so mark your calendar, or preorder your copy today! Catch the official book tour as it makes its way (hopefully) to a city near you...
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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