Perma-Bound from Publisher's Hardcover ©2018 | -- |
Publisher's Hardcover ©2018 | -- |
Friendship. Fiction.
Ice skating. Fiction.
Undercover operations. Fiction.
Ciphers. Fiction.
Harlem (New York, N.Y.). Fiction.
A community blog praising "Harlem's smallest sleuths" brings a puzzling new mystery to sixth-graders Shelby Holmes and John Watson. While John is initially thrilled at the thought of going uncover to help an Olympic athlete, his enthusiasm plummets when Shelby hands him his disguise: a red, sequined, spandex ice-skating outfit. Along with Sherlockian "dancing men" ciphers that readers can solve, John's engaging first-person narrative includes moments of humor and an unexpected but believable scene in which Shelby helps him understand his divorced father's point of view. Occasional gray-scale illustrations add visual appeal to this enjoyable entry in the Great Shelby Holmes mystery series.
Kirkus ReviewsJohn Watson's known minisleuth Shelby Holmes for only three weeks, but he already knows sixth grade will be significantly enlivened with Shelby's cases to solve.John, an Army brat settled down for the first time, makes friends easily in his new Harlem magnet school for the arts. But though he loves his new multiethnic crew—they play video games, shoot hoops, and discuss Mozart sonatas and modern art—he can't deny the thrill of solving cases. Even when Shelby is patronizing (always!) or rude to their clients (also always!), John's excited, but maybe taking a case for their teacher who doesn't want their help is just a tad over the line. To investigate a villainous private school headmistress, John and Shelby go undercover, Shelby disguised as prim little "Basia Rathbone" in one of several in-jokes for adult readers. John worries about lying to his mother as well as about being a black boy undercover in a rich neighborhood (something that doesn't occur to Shelby, who's white), but it doesn't occur to him to worry about his diabetes. And it doesn't occur to either of them that anyone could get the better of Shelby, until they meet nasty and brilliant, rich, olive-skinned Moira Hardy. Charming and funny, this winning adventure also finds time for its middle school sleuths to develop real maturity. (Mystery. 9-11)
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)In this series opener, Eulberg (
Gr 3-6Shelby Holmes and John Watson are back in school and back to sleuthing. When Shelby meets her new science teacher, Mr. Crosby, she immediately senses something suspicious about him. When his watch is stolen, Holmes takes the case and is faced with her greatest adversary yet. Has Holmes met her match? Holmes's know-it-all personality and Watson's more laid-back persona continue to complement each other as they did in the previous book. Watson faces the challenges of beginning a new school, making new friends, coping with his parents' divorce, and navigating health issues related to his diabetes. Holmes continues to be the boisterous character who doesn't care what others think and will do anything to solve a case. Watson sets a great example for middle grade readers as he doesn't sacrifice his relationship with outsider Holmes as he makes new friends in school. Readers are treated to the softer side of Holmes as she learns that sometimes her ego gets in the way of the things that matter most. Eulberg does an excellent job of character development and presenting realistic family and friend relationships. The satisfying conclusion leaves open the possibility of additional sequels. VERDICT Another fantastic addition to the series which will have readers anxiously awaiting Holmes and Watson's next adventure.Ashley Leffel, Griffin Middle School, Frisco, TX
ALA Booklist (Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2019)
Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
School Library Journal
Acclaimed author Elizabeth Eulberg continues her hilarious middle-grade twist on Sherlock Holmes as detective duo Shelby and Watson tackle their trickiest case yet--going undercover . . . as figure skaters! Being friends with a super sleuth isn't easy, especially when she's nine years old, four feet tall, and full of attitude. But for eleven-year-old John Watson, being friends with Shelby Holmes is just the adventure he's looking for. After Watson's online journal chronicling his and Shelby's case-closing abilities attracts the attention of a newspaper reporter, the pair becomes a small "media sensation" in their Harlem neighborhood. So it's no surprise (at least, to Shelby!) when the article lands them a new client--a figure skating coach whose star athlete, Jordan Nelson, is receiving strange, threatening messages, written entirely in code. There's no one better to crack the cipher than dynamic duo Shelby and Watson! But to gather information, Shelby decides that they'll have to go undercover . . . as an award-winning pair skating team. Can they use the laws of physics and their acting skills to maintain their covers and figure out who's sending Jordan such strange messages before it's too late? Don't miss the rest of the Great Shelby Holmes series: The Great Shelby Holmes The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match The Great Shelby Holmes and the Coldest Case The Great Shelby Holmes and the Haunted Hound