Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein
If you like puzzles, zany adventures, or sibling stories, you should run out and grab a copy of Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein.
Benjamin “Benji” Broderick and his older brother, Ethan, used to be closer. But now, retro arcade game and puzzle-loving Benji has little in common with his popular jock of a brother, who is leaving for college at the end of the summer. The only thing they agree on is that they despise being sent on this forced brother road trip by their family. However, they quickly discover they are competing with five other families for a million-dollar prize, so they decide to work together to solve Ms. Pennypickle’s ultimate puzzle.
This middle-grade story was written for my younger self. Witty banter, mysteries, puzzle-solving skills, teamwork, and siblings at odds on a wild and crazy drive down the famous Route 66 make this a thrilling and fun read. From the moment I started reading, I was hooked. Though the ending is about as plausible as when the Scooby gang reveals the villain’s story and how they fooled everyone else, it didn’t matter. Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest is so much fun that you willingly suspend belief for the sake of the satisfying outcome. This book is middle-grade gold!
Highly recommended!
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I downloaded a digital copy of this book from NetGalley. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.
