THE SHERLOCK SOCIETY, by James Ponti, Aladdin, Sept. 3, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (Ages 8-12)
Four kids and a grandfather set out to solve a decades-old mystery in The Sherlock Society, the first book in a new middle-grade series by James Ponti.
Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency has to be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases.
The group’s first target is the long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption.
Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus some really slick gadgets—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy? —Synopsis provided by Aladdin
I love a good mystery. And one that includes some old-fashioned journalistic research is even better. Add in themes of family, friendship and independent and group thinking, and you’ve got the recipe for a page-turning read.
The Sherlock Society is one such book.
The story is told from Alex’s point a view, but Zoe, Lina, Yadi and Grandpa are equally as well realized. Each has their own quirks and talents, and Grandpa is a hoot.
The thing that makes The Sherlock Society really work is author James Ponti’s story feels completely realistic. His use of history, geography, science, technology and the five Ws (who, what, when, where and why) is compelling. And it’s not inconceivable that a grandparent would foster this kind of summer project.
The book is set in South Florida, and offers a wealth of information along with adventure, making kids want to keep reading. It’s fast-paced and engaging from beginning to end. This would make a fun classroom read and will appeal to a large cross-section of readers. I look forward to more books in this series.
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