Pinky Bloom and the Case of the Magical Menorah (Pinky Bloom)

Gr 1-4--This early chapter book mystery is light on logic, despite its best attempts. It's Hanukkah, and Pinky Bloom, kid detective, is about to solve her third case. Her neighbor, Mrs. Glick, stops by to leave her "magical menorah" for safe-keeping. Shortly after, the lights flicker and the candles on the menorah mysteriously go out simultaneously. The next day, an ancient Israeli coin Mrs. Glick donated to the temple goes missing. After a series of convenient events, Pinky, her brother, and a neighbor visit the super's office and discover counterfeit coin-making supplies. Shortly thereafter, Pinky reveals that the super and Mrs. Glick's son worked together to counterfeit and steal the coin. The story is accessible for early chapter book readers. Pinky, her brother, and Miss Olga are entertaining characters, and the mystery moves along at a decent clip. The cartoonish illustrations scattered throughout are appealing and engaging. It is, however, completely implausible and too easily solved. It is overly convenient and unlikely that Pinky's family would have the menorah where the coin is hidden, and that the criminal would be their super. This is a serious crime for a kid to be solving, and the lack of police involvement is unlikely. VERDICT This light mystery is accessible to kids new to chapter books, and will entertain the undiscerning, but it doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. Only for libraries in desperate need of Hanukkah chapter books. All others can pass.--Amy Lilien-Harper, Wilton Library Association, Wilton CT

Fourth-grader Penina ("Pinky") Bloom returns in the second installment of this mystery series for younger readers. It's Hanukkah, and that means lighting candles, eating latkes, opening presents, and having fun at the synagogue party. This year, though, the party ends before they even get to play dreidel, when a valuable ancient coin is stolen from a display. Pinky, Brooklyn's greatest kid detective, has a new case! With the help of her best friend Lucy and little brother Avi, Pinky gathers clues about who might have stolen the coin. While she tries to crack that mystery, she also wonders if some other strange happenings could be related to the possibly magical menorah a neighbor left with the Blooms for safe-keeping. If anyone can figure all of this out, it's Pinky Bloom. This is a fun, fast-paced mystery that will appeal to fans of Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew or Butler's King & Kayla series, but with a distinctly Jewish flavor. Details of Jewish life permeate the text, from Pinky's description of a past Purim costume to the Yiddish words that Madame Olga liberally sprinkles in her speech. Pinky is a sharp and funny narrator, dedicated to carefully documenting her detective work even if she has to bring "the world's most annoying little brother" along. Energetic cartoon-style illustrations complement the text in both full-page detailed spreads and small spot illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. The short chapters move the story along briskly, and the clues to the mystery are placed so that readers can figure it out alongside Pinky. Expect to have readers eagerly awaiting another adventure with Pinky Bloom! — Beth Gallego, AJL Newsletter