The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case (Precious Ramotswe Mysteries #1)
by Alexander McCall Smith (Author)
Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the basis of the HBO TV show, and its proprietor Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's premier lady detective. In this charming series, Mma Ramotswe navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, and good humor--not to mention help from her loyal assistant, Grace Makutsi, and the occasional cup of tea.
Have you ever said to yourself, "Wouldn't it be nice to be a detective?
This is the story of an African girl who says just that. Her name is Precious.
When a piece of cake goes missing from her classroom, a traditionally built young boy is tagged as the culprit. Precious, however, is not convinced. She sets out to find the real thief. Along the way she learns that your first guess isn't always right. She also learns how to be a detective.
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Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly
This lovely, warmhearted novel reveals how Precious Ramotswe, the star of Smith's the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series for adults, launched her sleuthing career. Curious and observant, Precious, "one of the nicest girls in Botswana," is a natural detective. She finds her first case at school, when a piece of cake, a slice of jam-slathered bread, and some iced buns disappear. Smith laces his narrative with drily contemplative musings ("You can lose a plain piece of bread and not think twice about it, but when you lose one spread thickly with strawberry jam it's an altogether more serious matter") as well as direct addresses to readers that tap into childhood dreams of being a detective. When classmates accuse a "rather round" student of the thefts and he denies it, Precious believes him and hunts for the real culprit. Throughout, Smith shares wise insights on human nature through his compassionate and fair-minded protagonist. Bold and striking, McIntosh's chunky, two-color woodcutlike pictures present evocative images of the African setting. This is a story, and a heroine, with impressive dimension. Ages 7-10. Agent: Robin Straus, Robin Straus Agency. (Apr.)
Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
Young readers are introduced to Precious Ramotswe, a young sleuth in Botswana, in this prequel to the adult series "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" (Pantheon). Trouble occurs when tasty treats disappear in her school. When word gets out, Precious is on the case. Observant readers will find the biggest clue to solving the mystery on the front cover. Primitive in nature and using only red, brown, and black on cream paper, the illustrations are minimal and the characters appear to be adults rather than children. The story is predictable and unlikely to have beginning chapter book readers awaiting Precious's next case.—Janene Corbin, Rosebank Elementary School, Nashville, TN
Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"A detective is born! What a delightful, breezy read!" —Mary Pope Osborne, bestselling author of The Magic Tree House series
"Told with an innocence that will captivate young readers, The Great Cake Mystery is a kind-hearted, feel-good story for all. Loved it!" —Graham Salisbury, author of Under the Blood-Red Sun and the Calvin Coconut series "Kids will love this kind and clever new detective. They'll love the mystery, and they might even love the thieves. I look forward to more!" —Patricia Reilly Giff, award-winning author of Wild Girl and other books "Good for kids who like mysteries and stories about other cultures and friendship all packed into one." —TIME for Kids magazineJUV030010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Africa
Blacks
Botswana
