Sisterhood of Sleuths

An engaging pick for mystery fans and wannabe sleuths.

Gr 3-7--A clever, updated exploration of classic Nancy Drew mysteries. Protagonist Maizy, a bubbly sixth grader, steps up to join the title sisterhood with panache. Like Nancy Drew, she's curious and creative, and almost uncannily confident for a 12-year old. Like Nancy Drew, she has two gal pals assisting her adventures (although gaining those pals in the wake of a friendship breakup is a new and intriguing twist). Like Nancy Drew, her mystery is light and low stakes, but full of bike chases and red herrings and snooping galore. It opens with a box full of old Nancy Drew books dropped off at Maizy's mother's thrift store. The plot thickens when Maizy finds a picture of her grandmother in the box. Soon, Maizy is trying to discover where the photo came from, all while falling in love with Nancy's gumption. A school project gone awry even inspires her to make a documentary about the lasting power of Nancy Drew. Soon the two projects weave together and answers unfold. It's an astounding use of an outside source. Bertman manages to explain, explore, and justify Nancy simultaneously. VERDICT A comforting companion for spunky wanna-be detectives (or aspiring filmmakers).--Cat McCarrey

Aspiring filmmaker Maizy has long enjoyed making movies with stuffed animals and toys, but as she heads into sixth grade, her best friend Izzy pivots from this shared interest to wearing makeup and chatting with boys. The two stop speaking after Maizy--ensconced in a lobster costume for the friends' language arts project, movie Shellfish Holmes--crashes in front of Izzy as well as some boys who subsequently take credit for her work. Maizy joins up with two other classmates, Cam and Nell, and the new group opts to investigate the mysterious appearance of a box of potentially collectible Nancy Drew books outside Maizy's mother's vintage store. Though the box contains a 1993 picture of Maizy's grandmother, Jacuzzi, with two other women, Jacuzzi vehemently denies leaving the books. Humorous events follow as the students trail the box's origin, and its association with Jacuzzi and the series, for a documentary. Initially slow pacing evolves into a pleasantly cozy mystery from Chambliss Bertman (the Book Scavenger series), which looks into Nancy Drew's social history while balancing a parallel arc of friendships lost and found. Final art not seen by PW. Most characters read as white; Nell is of Indian descent. Ages 9-14. Author's agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator's agent: Lori Kilkelly, LK Literary. (Oct.)

"Sisterhood of Sleuths is an irresistible blend of history, mystery, humor, and heart."