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Steve Forrester #2
Sinbad and Me
As Steve, our hero, says, "Everyone wants to know how I did it." What Steven and Sinbad, his English bulldog, did was to disrupt the peace and harmony of Hampton, Long Island; unravel an unsolved 18th century mystery; outwit some mysterious underworld characters; find the secret of the River Queen, a gambling ship sunk in 1920; and unscramble the cipher in the cave and the secret of Jonah's Jaws.
And that isn't all that Steve and Sinbad are involved with in this funniest mystery of the year. There are men in the long, black limousine who intimidate Mrs. Teska in her small grocery store; the science teacher who is always skin diving around Jonah's Jaws; the secret of Big Nick Murdock who disappeared when the River Queen sank; old Mr. Pickering, the lawyer who won't say much about Captain Billy's castle; Sheriff Landry who always seems to have an eye on them; Herky Krakower who million candlepower brain is like a computer; and frankie Shorten, the tough kid who thinks he can lick Steve and the world with a Judo chop.
Sinbad? Well, Sinbad doesn't say much, but when he goes into action things really start jumping!
And that isn't all that Steve and Sinbad are involved with in this funniest mystery of the year. There are men in the long, black limousine who intimidate Mrs. Teska in her small grocery store; the science teacher who is always skin diving around Jonah's Jaws; the secret of Big Nick Murdock who disappeared when the River Queen sank; old Mr. Pickering, the lawyer who won't say much about Captain Billy's castle; Sheriff Landry who always seems to have an eye on them; Herky Krakower who million candlepower brain is like a computer; and frankie Shorten, the tough kid who thinks he can lick Steve and the world with a Judo chop.
Sinbad? Well, Sinbad doesn't say much, but when he goes into action things really start jumping!
255 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
12 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Kin Platt
66 books10 followersPseudonyms: Kirby Carr, Guy West, Alan West, Guy York & Wesley Simon York
Kin Platt (1911–2003) was the author of the perennially popular I Can Read Book Big Max, as well as several outstanding young-adult novels and the Max Roper mystery series for adults. Mr. Platt was also a noted cartoonist.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_Platt
Kin Platt (1911–2003) was the author of the perennially popular I Can Read Book Big Max, as well as several outstanding young-adult novels and the Max Roper mystery series for adults. Mr. Platt was also a noted cartoonist.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_Platt
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 1, 2012
This book...
This modest, unassuming mass market paperback book...
This most fabulous of a memorable read...
A holy grail of a book, being sadly and unfathomably, out of print for o' so many years...
This is THE book I have read and reread the most times in my life.
This is the first book in a trilogy WHICH I ONLY RECENTLY ASCERTAINED by Kin Platt.
It is a FABULOUS mystery, a treasure hunt, a wealth of information on architecture, a collection of puzzles (is that a part of 'Mystery'?) that ultimately bring you to a WOW of a surprise ending.
...sigh...I LOVE THIS BOOK.
This well-loved paperback book of mine is worth, usually $200 on my Alibris saved search IN THE WELL-LOVED CONDITION IT IS IN - if you can even find one.
If you EVER find one at a thrift store or a library sale or a yard sale, DO NOT HESITATE AND GRAB IT!
This modest, unassuming mass market paperback book...
This most fabulous of a memorable read...
A holy grail of a book, being sadly and unfathomably, out of print for o' so many years...
This is THE book I have read and reread the most times in my life.
This is the first book in a trilogy WHICH I ONLY RECENTLY ASCERTAINED by Kin Platt.
It is a FABULOUS mystery, a treasure hunt, a wealth of information on architecture, a collection of puzzles (is that a part of 'Mystery'?) that ultimately bring you to a WOW of a surprise ending.
...sigh...I LOVE THIS BOOK.
This well-loved paperback book of mine is worth, usually $200 on my Alibris saved search IN THE WELL-LOVED CONDITION IT IS IN - if you can even find one.
If you EVER find one at a thrift store or a library sale or a yard sale, DO NOT HESITATE AND GRAB IT!
November 19, 2023
I remember reading this book when I was in junior high school back in the 60s. At the time, it was one of my favorites. It was a mystery about a boy and his pet bulldog involving codes, pirate's treasure, old coins, and architecture. I didn't remember most of the details but I always wanted to reread this one.
Well, I finally got a copy from a fellow bookcrossing member and finally got around to rereading it. The story was basically a very good mystery book for young adults. Steve Forrester is a young boy who owns a pet bulldog named Sinbad. He and his family live in Hampton, New York on Long Island that is filled with old houses with different styles of architecture. Steve's father likes to renovate old houses and is an expert on architecture which Steve has picked up from him. While his father and mother are away working on a house in Maine, Steve gets involved in trying to find a pirate's treasure after visiting an older lady, Mrs. Teska, who operates a small store nearby. She is intimidated by two men who arrive in a black limo and leave an IOU for $5000 from her son. Steve wants to help Mrs. Teska and sets out to find the lost treasure of Captain Billy Murdock who was a pirate and owned a castle on the hill outside town. Steve finds clues, ciphers, and riddles in the local graveyard and in the cave below Captain Billy's castle. His search for the treasure also involves a sunken, floating gambling casino, a suspected murder, gangsters, a ghost, a hidden passageway to the cave, and the oddly constructed old castle of Captain Billy. So do the clues and ciphers lead to the treasure?
I enjoyed this for what is: a good mystery novel for young readers. It didn't really meet my expectations from what I remembered as kid, however. I thought Steve spent too much time talking about old architecture which made the book kind of drag in some places. I thought the information on ciphers was interesting but that also seemed a little tedious. I did like the information on old coins. Several very rare coins were discussed near the end that were worth thousands of dollars. I looked up today's value on the internet of some these including an 1803 silver dollar and an 1849 gold double eagle. These could be worth millions today! Guess I should have invested in rare coins back in the 60s (of course back then I had no money to invest). Mild recommendation overall.
Well, I finally got a copy from a fellow bookcrossing member and finally got around to rereading it. The story was basically a very good mystery book for young adults. Steve Forrester is a young boy who owns a pet bulldog named Sinbad. He and his family live in Hampton, New York on Long Island that is filled with old houses with different styles of architecture. Steve's father likes to renovate old houses and is an expert on architecture which Steve has picked up from him. While his father and mother are away working on a house in Maine, Steve gets involved in trying to find a pirate's treasure after visiting an older lady, Mrs. Teska, who operates a small store nearby. She is intimidated by two men who arrive in a black limo and leave an IOU for $5000 from her son. Steve wants to help Mrs. Teska and sets out to find the lost treasure of Captain Billy Murdock who was a pirate and owned a castle on the hill outside town. Steve finds clues, ciphers, and riddles in the local graveyard and in the cave below Captain Billy's castle. His search for the treasure also involves a sunken, floating gambling casino, a suspected murder, gangsters, a ghost, a hidden passageway to the cave, and the oddly constructed old castle of Captain Billy. So do the clues and ciphers lead to the treasure?
I enjoyed this for what is: a good mystery novel for young readers. It didn't really meet my expectations from what I remembered as kid, however. I thought Steve spent too much time talking about old architecture which made the book kind of drag in some places. I thought the information on ciphers was interesting but that also seemed a little tedious. I did like the information on old coins. Several very rare coins were discussed near the end that were worth thousands of dollars. I looked up today's value on the internet of some these including an 1803 silver dollar and an 1849 gold double eagle. These could be worth millions today! Guess I should have invested in rare coins back in the 60s (of course back then I had no money to invest). Mild recommendation overall.
January 31, 2008
Brilliant, thoughtful mystery about a young man and his pet bulldog who stumble upon someone terrorizing an old shopkeeper and a hidden treasure. The boy is smarter than he thinks he is and Sinbad, his dog, truly is man's best friend.
Sadly this series is out of print and *paperback* copies can go for upwards of $50 or more.
Sadly this series is out of print and *paperback* copies can go for upwards of $50 or more.
March 19, 2012
Out of print but if you can find a copy this has to be the greatest book written for a ten to thirteen year old. Fantastic.
January 27, 2011
Read about 40 yrs ago and only remember that it was GREAT!
Enough to recall the author's name.
Enough to recall the author's name.
August 14, 2025
Nothing more than a sentimental journey for me, bumping into old familiar characters from my childhood. Character dialogue and complex concepts in a rather simple plot (deeper than necessary architectural descriptions, codebreaking) would have young modern readers' eyes rolling and looking for a hasty exit, I suspect. Lots of fun.
March 17, 2012
This book has remained one of my favorites since I first read it decades ago. It is an adventure/mystery novel, but it has a lot more than that going on in it as the main characters Steve Forrester and his bulldog Sinbad work to discover the answers to many interlinked mysterious events both past and present in his home town.
The mystery at the heart of the story has a variety of puzzles that Steve must figure out. There's a lot of information in the book that, while essential to the story, is still interesting to learn about, especially in the areas of architecture and numismatics. Steve is a great everyman kind of hero; he doesn't solve all the riddles and puzzles himself, but still reaches the overall solution to the mysteries.
One note: This book was published in 1966 and therefore has some minor anachronisms that I have seen some people overreact to. In that day and age, it would not have been remotely unusual for a thirteen year old boy's parents to go out of town to help a family member while leaving their son and his bulldog at home so the son could attend summer school, especially when they were living in a small town and were good friends with the local Sheriff. Take the story for what it is, a great tale told from the perspective of an average thirteen year old, with great characters, great adventures, and the best bulldog ever!
The mystery at the heart of the story has a variety of puzzles that Steve must figure out. There's a lot of information in the book that, while essential to the story, is still interesting to learn about, especially in the areas of architecture and numismatics. Steve is a great everyman kind of hero; he doesn't solve all the riddles and puzzles himself, but still reaches the overall solution to the mysteries.
One note: This book was published in 1966 and therefore has some minor anachronisms that I have seen some people overreact to. In that day and age, it would not have been remotely unusual for a thirteen year old boy's parents to go out of town to help a family member while leaving their son and his bulldog at home so the son could attend summer school, especially when they were living in a small town and were good friends with the local Sheriff. Take the story for what it is, a great tale told from the perspective of an average thirteen year old, with great characters, great adventures, and the best bulldog ever!
September 6, 2017
I read this when I was 12 (now 62). Never forgot it. Best book ever
June 8, 2019
I read this as a kid. I considered it a magical book.
July 29, 2015
A childhood fave that I read over and over again -- but when I tried to find a copy a few years ago so my kids could read it, this classic turned out to be out of print. Fortunately some smart person finally made it available again in a print-to-order version.
That's the good news.
The bad news is that the editing on this edition wsa somewhat slapdash and there were several spots where the words were wrong. In other words, they passed muster with spellcheck but they were not the right words in that context. Fortunately I was reading the book aloud to my kids so I was able to catch and correct each instance.
The book tells the story of a kid named Steve and his beloved bulldog Sinbad and how they stumble into a decades-old mystery. Before it's over they have to dodge mobsters, a ghost, an angry sheriff, an inquisitive girl (the sheriff's daughter) and a kooky old lady with a cane. They also solve several riddles and ciphers, nearly drown and avoid being poisoned, and find a fabulous treasure -- thanks to Steve's arcane knowledge of architecture -- it's a hobby of his.
The architecture discussions, which I barely remember from when I was a kid, got a little thick on the page at times, but my kids hung in there and we were all well-rewarded when Steve figures out the mysteries. All in all, a rollicking adventure yarn, not quite as great as I remember it but still pretty darn good.
That's the good news.
The bad news is that the editing on this edition wsa somewhat slapdash and there were several spots where the words were wrong. In other words, they passed muster with spellcheck but they were not the right words in that context. Fortunately I was reading the book aloud to my kids so I was able to catch and correct each instance.
The book tells the story of a kid named Steve and his beloved bulldog Sinbad and how they stumble into a decades-old mystery. Before it's over they have to dodge mobsters, a ghost, an angry sheriff, an inquisitive girl (the sheriff's daughter) and a kooky old lady with a cane. They also solve several riddles and ciphers, nearly drown and avoid being poisoned, and find a fabulous treasure -- thanks to Steve's arcane knowledge of architecture -- it's a hobby of his.
The architecture discussions, which I barely remember from when I was a kid, got a little thick on the page at times, but my kids hung in there and we were all well-rewarded when Steve figures out the mysteries. All in all, a rollicking adventure yarn, not quite as great as I remember it but still pretty darn good.
July 8, 2014
This has got to be one of the top-ten books I have ever read in my life. Kin Platt has that rare gift of being able to guide an adult reader through what is ostensibly a YA book without insulting the reader's intelligence, while at the same time challenging the reader with a ripping good yarn and a great detective mystery. I'm amazed this was never made into a movie, and that it has not been republished. If Hollywood were smart, they'd buy the film rights and get moving on this right away. This ranks right up there with the great Rudyard Kipling book Puck of Pook's Hill, but is more akin to a great Mark Twain work.
February 16, 2012
This was one of the first books I had ever purchased for myself, at a school book fair. I remember that I loved the book, although the details of the plot have long since faded.
December 21, 2012
My friend Shaunne Kelly gave me this book for my 12th birthday. It is my favorite book.
January 9, 2022
Read this one summer when I was around 10 (5 stars), most memorable book from that time. Read it again 50 years later (3 stars).
September 22, 2019
Puupies
February 28, 2018
Who is Sinbad and who is Me? This book has mysteries and many cliff hangers, that make you want to read more. This book has many twists and turns, Sinbad and Me by Kim Platt it is funny and a good one to read. This is a very funny book and can leave the reader laughing. Sinbad will push you out of the way to go and get loves from his favorite person, like he did to Mrs. Teska. This was a realistic book and described everything in detail, it also had real places in it. One real place is where Mr. Murdock went, it is called Louisiana. This book uses dramatic irony and has a lot of it in the book. We knew he didn't go alone but other thought he did. This book is for good readers that love a good mystery, and this book is for all ages.
October 2, 2020
This book was written for older children and was recommended by a friend. It was an enjoyable read and kept my interest. While I rarely read children or young adult fare, I'm glad I took the time to read this one. This is the story of a young boy and his dog seeking a treasure reputed to be hidden in a local cave that is accessible only by boat. A pirate from the 18th century is purported to have stashed his treasure in this watery cave and our protagonist, Steve Forrester, has uncovered some clues and decided to look for the treasure. Steve is an expert on buildings and furniture - a skill that helps him decipher some of the clues he uncovers.
July 24, 2020
Other than picture books, I remember reading the Hardy Boys books, but they were hardly great pieces of literature. The first book I remember reading and thinking “Wow!’ was this book by Kin Platt. Platt started as a comic book writer, wrote comedy for George Burns and Jack Benny, wrote for cartoons and did a series of books for young readers.
Sinbad and me follows a young man and his bulldog Sinbad as they solve a number of mysteries and puzzles. I highly recommend this book and wanted to buy it and read to my kids, but it was out of print for years, but now it's back in print.
Sinbad and me follows a young man and his bulldog Sinbad as they solve a number of mysteries and puzzles. I highly recommend this book and wanted to buy it and read to my kids, but it was out of print for years, but now it's back in print.
March 25, 2023
I always enjoy rereading this old favorite! It's kind of perfect for tween mystery of a certain era. It has a big old abandoned house, puzzles and ciphers, a pirate ghost, and old mystery involving secrets and treasure. And a great dog!
December 28, 2019
I've read this book and handful of times since finding it in a library back in the 80s. It is my favorite book from my childhood.
May 18, 2022
A sentimental favorite from the 1960s
October 18, 2009
One of those weird books that suddenly popped into my head even though I read it around 33 years ago and I've barely thought of it since then. Hm. All I remember is that it had a character named Herky Krakower -- who was supposed to be a genius with some sort of physical disability -- and a bulldog named Sinbad. That, and a scene where the main character thinks some golf shoes are a bomb and throws them in water, thus ruining the golf shoes and having to pay to replace them.
Must be the extra caffeine I've been drinking lately. Either that, or I've finally gone completely mad. One is as likely as the other.
Must be the extra caffeine I've been drinking lately. Either that, or I've finally gone completely mad. One is as likely as the other.
January 13, 2012
I have been trying to get my hands on this out of print book for years and I finally found it for $35 dollars at Amazon so I bought it. After 30 years I would finally have a chance to re-read it and I really, really wanted to love it, but I didn't.
It starts out funny and interesting but then it just gets bogged down in too many puzzles that are never really solved and too much information about architecture that is critical to the plot but hard to remember. I'm 41 and struggled so I can't imagine how little kids would be able to follow the clues.
Sinbad himself still rocks. And Steve's parents must be the worst parents on earth.
It starts out funny and interesting but then it just gets bogged down in too many puzzles that are never really solved and too much information about architecture that is critical to the plot but hard to remember. I'm 41 and struggled so I can't imagine how little kids would be able to follow the clues.
Sinbad himself still rocks. And Steve's parents must be the worst parents on earth.
June 19, 2014
I have two rather battered paperback copies of this book. One is my original that I got when I was a kid and the other was one purchased on half.com books that I thought was a hardback, but wound up being a paperback. Loved this book as a kid because BULLDOG - I had one as a "nanny" as an infant/toddler and then later in life.
April 11, 2008
Read this in 6th grade. Loved it then.
September 29, 2010
This was my first big chapter book back when I was 9 or 10 because I had a brindle bulldog at the time. I loved the code breaking and the treasure hunt. Wish I could find this for my son.
January 31, 2017
I pulled Sinbad and Me along with about a hundred other books out of a garbage can. The front cover is interesting enough with a boy and his dog.
Kin Platt rivals (in my opinion) any middle grade or YA writer on the market today. Except there are no curse words, alcohol or drug abuse, foster homes, or kids hating life or every adult in sight.
What you do have is a teenager named Steve who doesn't do well in school, isn't liked by the police chief, but has a good head on his shoulders, and cares for an elderly shopkeeper.
Steve's parents trust him to finish summer school while they are away visiting out of state relatives. During the summer a heart pounding mystery centers around the shop keeper. Steve researches local historical figures including pirates and gangsters. He uses math and science facts to crack a secret code and discover the treasure. His dog Sinbad is there every step of the way for Steve.
Some of the books written "before my time," contain phrases, slang, or words that aren't commonly used today. Sinbad and Me won't drive your kids crazy wondering what every other line means.
Kin Platt rivals (in my opinion) any middle grade or YA writer on the market today. Except there are no curse words, alcohol or drug abuse, foster homes, or kids hating life or every adult in sight.
What you do have is a teenager named Steve who doesn't do well in school, isn't liked by the police chief, but has a good head on his shoulders, and cares for an elderly shopkeeper.
Steve's parents trust him to finish summer school while they are away visiting out of state relatives. During the summer a heart pounding mystery centers around the shop keeper. Steve researches local historical figures including pirates and gangsters. He uses math and science facts to crack a secret code and discover the treasure. His dog Sinbad is there every step of the way for Steve.
Some of the books written "before my time," contain phrases, slang, or words that aren't commonly used today. Sinbad and Me won't drive your kids crazy wondering what every other line means.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews