The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity (Brixton Brothers)

Digging through the archives...

I am in love and laughing hysterically.

Some authors switch to new genres or reading levels and you wonder why. Why didn't they stick to what they knew best? But some authors are amazing Renaissance people of writing and can do everything. Authors like Mac Barnett, who has proven total mastery of the picture book in Billy Twitters and Guess Again! and now has taken hold of the middle grade mystery, kicked it across the room, grabbed it in a stranglehold, and forced it to release its secrets.

Steve Brixton idolizes his favorite mystery heroes, the Brixton Brothers. He hopes someday to be a detective just like them. But when a school assignment goes horribly wrong, Steve discovers that maybe being a show more detective isn't as easy as it looks. The entire book is a fascinating and hilarious spoof of the Hardy Boys, of course, but it also incorporates jokes on ALA READ posters, how-to books, and more!

Action, adventure, and constant hilarity along with Mac Barnett's trademark insane humor are perfectly matched to Adam Rex's slyly wicked illustrations. I nearly laughed myself sick when I saw the endpapers.

I am off to laugh some more and complete my New Year's Eve ritual of re-reading all the original Hardy Boys (and maybe parachute into Argentina, because I am a librarian and you know us - tougher than the FBI and far more impressive than the CIA)

I can't wait to get this book back to my library (it's another one I sneaked off the new shelf) and wave it in the faces of jaded reluctant readers.

Verdict: Recommended. So very recommended.

Revisited: While these did not take off as vigorously as I could have hoped, they are a strong staple of the mystery genre and an easy recommend to kids looking for a fun and mysterious read. Regularly read and recommended and still in print.

ISBN: 9781416978152; Published October 2009 by Simon and Schuster; Purchased for the library show less

This was absolutely adorable, hysterical, and awesome. For anyone who inhaled mystery series like Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and Trixie Belden when they were young, this book offers a knowing, but not smug, sendup of the "boy [or girl] detective" genre. I loved that the librarians were supersecret spys, that a teacher was the villain, that the whole thing hinged on a quilt named "the maguffin," lololol. The illustrations are also a fun sendup of the style of art that was in the hardy boys books. My favorite drawing is the one of Steve in his "sailor" disguise entering the bar where all the thugs hang out. Oh my god, I loved this book so much. Thankfully it's a series and the next book just came out. Please let there be many many more show more titles! show less

Steve Brixton wants to be a detective. He has read the whole Bailey Brothers (Think Hardy Boys) mystery series, saved cereal box tops to send away for a detective license, hollowed out a book to create a secret book-box, and he even has the essential tool of any good detective--a magnifying glass. He accidentally finds his first case while at the library researching "early American needlework" for a school assignment. When Steve accidentally pulls out his detective license instead of his library card, the case of the case of mistaken identity begins. Library Secret Agents and the local police believe he is a dangerous criminal working for the bad guy, Mr.E who is trying to steal the Maguffin quilt which contains valuable government show more secrets dating all the way back to 1776. No matter how hard he tries, Steve can't convince people he is just a kid, not a real detective, so he decides the only way to clear his name is to solve the case. He faces kidnappings, escapes from second story windows, and bookmobile chases in his quest to find the identify of Mr. E and the location of the missing quilt of secrets.

This is a great humor/mystery for upper elementary grades. Adults may catch more of the humor references than kids, but the action and Steve's well meaning, but not always successful (yet funny!) attempts at investigating will keep everyone entertained. The description of the Librarian Secret Agents was one of my favorite parts! "Librarians are the most elite, best trained secret force in the United States of America. Probably in the world." I won't look at a bookmobile the same again! The story was more on the humor than realistic side, but that's what made it so much fun. It had a little National Treasure like feel to it. Definitely a fun mystery series that kids will enjoy! It would be a great story to pair with a study of different types of codes used throughout history. show less

Part Encylopedia Brown, part Hardy Boys homage and parody, the first installment in the Brixton Brothers mystery series is a lot of fun and one of those books that kids will get a kick out of while older readers smile at the jokes and references.

Steve Brixton is an ordinary kid who loves reading the fictional adventures of the Baily Brothers (his favorite is whichever in the 50 plus series he's reading at the time). Steve is assigned a school project to write about the history of quilt making, something he is less than thrilled about. He heads out to his local library to get a book and before he knows it, he's being pursued by a secret society of librarians, the U.S. government, his mom's new boyfriend.

"The Case of the Case of Mistaken show more Identity" is a fun book in the vein of the old Encyclopedia Brown mysteries I grew up reading. But the story does have an over-the-top absurdity factor that keeps the smiles coming and will have you racing through to see how it all ends. The asides in which Steve reflects on advice he's taken from the Bailey Brothers mystery series and their detective's handbook are a pure joy and worth the price of admission alone.

I only hope the next installment comes soon. show less

What a hoot! This story is part homage, part parody of the famous Hardy Boys series. Steve, an ordinary kid whose heroes are the detective Bailey Brothers (obviously copies of the Hardy Boys), is embroiled in a mystery after checking out the wrong library book. Suddenly everyone- villians, counter villians, police, and friends- are acting like their counterpart characters in his favorite book series. Steve turns detective (since everyone now acts like he is one anyway) to clear his name of treason. Interestingly, those who read the original Hardy Boys texts will probably find this funnier than those who only read the revised texts.

I love this team! ?áTheir picture-books slay me; I especially recommend Guess Again! ?á ?á ?á And this is so funny, so engaging, I devoured it about 1 1/2 hours. ?áI have to be honest and admit I don't like the way Steve's face is drawn, but the pictures and book design do support the text effectively and I would not recommend listening to an audio of this. ?áIn case you can't tell, it's a parody of the kinds of series that is exemplified by The Hardy Boys. ?áBut it's more than that; it has real heart. ?áAlso, in case you can't guess, ?áthe sidekick is a much more interesting character than the hero. ?áAfter all, the hero has a specific role to fill, whereas his friend can just be himself. ?áI plan to read show more the next in the series, especially to find out if the 'chum' gets more page-time." show less

Great fun! I was laughing out loud at home all alone. Mac Barnett is really wonderful. I look forward to more of this series. I wonder if all the humor is caught by the kids. I'd love to know what they think.