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The first book in an illustrated middle-grade series in which a precocious detective solves mysteries with her super-smart little brother.
Her name's Moxie. Moxie McCoy.
Bold, opinionated, and haplessly self-confident, the world's greatest fourth-grade detective faces her biggest challenge! When someone kidnaps beloved school mascot Eddie the Owl, Moxie is on the case--but she's forced to fly solo now that her best friend (and crime-solving partner) has moved away.
Moxie must interview her classmates--both as potential new best friends and as possible suspects. She finds clues and points fingers but can't save the owl on her own. Enter Moxie's little brother, Milton. Quiet, cautious, and boring as a butter knife, he's a good listener.
Can the Real McCoys form an unlikely alliance and solve the crime of the century?
Bursting with interactive illustrations on every page, Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr's The Real McCoys delivers clever storytelling, laugh-out-loud humor, and heartwarming insight. This is the first book in a series. Don't miss book two: The Real McCoys: Two's a Crowd
An Imprint Book
Praise for The Real McCoys:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"Readers will breeze through this ingenious combination of text and art, eager for Moxie and Milton's next case." --School Library Journal, starred review
"Swanson's witty text is enhanced exponentially by Behr's bold, original artwork to create a uniquely told whodunit with wide appeal. . . . An exceptional book." --Booklist, starred review
"Delightfully topsy-turvy . . . readers will hope to see more of both siblings soon." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
"An exceptional middle-grade read packed with giggles for young sleuths who love to explore a little off the beaten path." --Kirkus Reviews
Gr 3–5—A lot can happen in one day when you're the world's greatest fourth grade detective. Moxie McCoy aims to find both her school's stolen mascot and a new best friend while surviving multiple trips to the principal's office. Moxie's biggest surprise of the day? A new appreciation of her "boring as a butter knife" younger brother Milton, who reveals detective skills of his own. Moxie knows the meaning of her name, and embraces it as a mantra. With fictional girl detective Annabelle Adams as her muse, Moxie crackles with enthusiasm and ideas that leave her hair literally standing on end. Heavily illustrated, the book's design makes it a standout: playful interactions between text and black monochromatic cartoon art create a visual treat. Moxie bumps her head in frustration against a line of text; on another page, she's buried under her principal's angry word bubble. Drenched in slapstick humor, hyperbole, and wit, Behr's artwork makes every page unique and keeps a longer book within reach of younger readers. Adding depth to the fun is Moxie's glossary of vocabulary ("happenstance") and phrases ("go for the jugular") along with wrap-up questions encouraging personal reflection and understanding of the book's characters. VERDICT First in a series, readers will breeze through this ingenious combination of text and art, eager for Moxie and Milton's next case. A first purchase for all middle grade collections.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission
Delightfully topsy-turvy . . . readers will hope to see more of both siblings soon.
Copyright 2017 Publisher's Weekly Used with permission