Octavia Spencer

My first post BEA13 (Book Expo America) read is Octavia Spencer's new children's mystery "Randi Rhodes Ninja Detective: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit". Ms. Spencer cites Nancy Drew as a childhood favorite and it is clear that her new series taps into that lineage. I must say I approached this book with some trepidation since celebrity-written children's books are all too often sub-par. I am happy to state, however, that this book is a winner!

I love Randi Rhodes. After the death of her show more mother and a move away from her beloved Brooklyn, Randi now lives in Deer Creek, Tennessee, her parent's hometown. At 12 she is already an accomplished (although secret) detective and black belt martial artist, yet Ms. Spencer lets us know that Randi is just a young girl, on the brink of adulthood, missing her mother, and trying to make her own identity. Subtle messages of inclusion, friendship, and even feminism, permeate the book, deftly handled by Ms. Spencer in a way that new writers often do not. The clever additions of "Ninja Tasks" at the end of the book are doable and fun. There is even an online component for additional education and enjoyment.

I am delighted to have a new series for kids outgrowing Cam Jansen and the Nate the Great. I will put Octavia Spencer's book in the hands of children ages 8-13 looking for realistic mysteries. This one ranks up there with Grisham's Theodore Boone series, the Enola Holmes series by Nancy Springer, as well as the Echo Falls Mysteries by Peter Abrahams. Brava Octavia Spencer! show less

Randi Rhodes is less than thrilled when her father moves the two of them from Brooklyn to sleepy small town Deer Creek, where they used to spend summers. She's also dismayed that he has arranged for May Ling to live with them and help around the house - Randi does NOT need a nanny. Unbeknownst to her father (she thinks), Randi is a practicing detective, and as soon as they arrive in Deer Creek she has a new mystery to solve: the town's 200-year-old time capsule has been stolen, and without show more it, the Founders' Day celebration can't happen, and if it doesn't, many in Deer Creek will lose their homes and businesses. Randi and her new friend Dario Cruz (DC for short) team up to solve the mystery, but the clock is ticking.

Fun and clever. The audio version was excellent, except for Pudge's voice - I think he was supposed to have a Boston accent.

"What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing that wasn't in me before!" show less

Adult Reader Reaction: This is a fast-paced mystery that seems to get ahead of itself at times. The story is fun and enjoyable to read, but I found it somewhat predictable. Many of the adults were pretty stereotypical, as were the festival queen and her friends. Randi is a great character, and D.C. and Pudge also have the potential to be strong parts of the ensemble. They deserve more than the cursory backstories they have now. Randi's relationship with her widower dad is also uneven, which show more is a shame, because there is an opportunity for the book to fill a void in middle-grade fiction.

Pros: Readers looking for a fast-paced story with crime-solving kids will enjoy this adventure. There are some detective-like activities in the back for readers, as well.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®. show less

Randi Rhodes is the only child of author Herb Rhodes, the mastermind behind the great detective series staring Glenn Street; so it isn’t surprising that Randi herself aspires to be a great detective.

After the passing of her mother, and her father giving up his writing for a while; they move to the small town of Deer Creek where a mystery has occurred, the time-capsule has gone missing. Randi is determined to show her father that she is no longer a baby and that she can help the town solve show more this crazy misdeed.

I have to say, this middle grade book pleasantly surprised me. It was full of adventure, a great strong female character who likes having a black belt and doesn’t want to be pink and frilly, and a great cast of characters overall. The plot was fun and fast paced and a middle grade reader would definitely enjoy this book. To make it even more awesome there is an appendix of Ninja Detective things to do along with the book: like how to spy, make a casting of a footprint, and there is even a place to login on a computer and become part of the ninja detective team. This interactive aspect is really building on what middle grade readers like with their books.

Overall, I found the book easy to read and enjoyable. I think both boys and girls in the middle grade range would also love it! show less