Trouble at Betts Pets

by Kelly Easton

When animals start disappearing from his parents’ pet store, Aaron finds an unexpected ally to help solve the mystery in this upbeat, kid-friendly novel for middle-grade readers.

Aaron Betts has an unusual way of looking at things. After spending almost every afternoon and weekend at his parents’ pet shop, he can’t help but think of people as animals. His flit-about mom is a canary, his father a basset hound, his fifth-grade teacher a gecko, and his stuck-up classmate, Sharon Trout - who is tutoring him in math - a Siamese cat. But Aaron has other things on his mind, his neighborhood is not what it used to be, ever since bulldozers leveled the community garden across the street and left an eccentric old lady named Bertha out in the cold. To make matters worse, the family business is losing business - and animals, one by one, are vanishing into thin air.

As suspenseful as it is funny, Kelly Easton’s lighthearted tale makes a comical case for overcoming first impressions, while her quirky, observant narrator will feel like a friend long after the book is closed.

Genres: Childrens, Animals, Fiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a ton to note about this short, easy book. Aaron is quite relatable, ha ha! I want to own a pet shop too! I was hoping that the book would be more invested in the "mystery" element and that Aaron and Sharon's relationship would be more clear(do they both like each other? Does one like the other? Or are they just friends?), but whatever. Maybe I'll see more of these in the sequel, if I can find the sequel... A good book for someone who wants to relax without watching TV.

[Landon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What will Arayon do when his mom and dads pet shops pets go missing. Trouble At Bets Pets by Kelly Easton is a good short mystery. One reason this book is so popular is that it characterizes the characters very well. the writer likes to describe people like animals. Another reason this book is so popular is that it is very descriptive. Arayon knows a lot about pets and likes to describe them.another reason this book is so popular isn't is in 1st person type of view. you are looking out of Arayon eyes. People how'd like this book are people that like fun and short mysteries and people who pets.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows Aaron Betts, a fifth grader whose family runs a pet store. Aaron is a typical kid who has homework and chores. He develops an unlikely friendship with Sharon Trout, a wealthy classmate who was assigned by the teacher to tutor Aaron in math. There's a bit of a mystery in the pet store as animals and pet supplies have been disappearing with no logical explanation. Readers will be engaged as we learn about some of the social issues in Aaron's Cleveland neighborhood and the mystery is solved. The story has a positive message, that we should get to know people before we make assumptions about them.

[Kathleen Norwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was a very good book filled with mystery and humor and just a bit of sadness. I reccoend this book very much i thought it was a very good book. It shows that boys arent ALL that mean! hehe you have to read the book in order for you to find out WHY im saying that..!! i HOPE YOU READ IT!!

[Gavin Abdollahi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book's plot is very simple, written for kids. It'll appeal to 9-11 yr olds.
So, Aaron's mom and dad run a pet shop, and suddenly their animals start to go missing. He gets unsuspected help... From a girl he doesn't really like.
It's been quite a while since I've read this story, but I do remember it had some pretty good twists and reveals.
3.5 stars.

[Rahmia Johnston]

Pretty short

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It kept my interest throughout and I liked the characters. There was a mystery to keep readers guessing and at least three problems going to be resolved at the end.

[Julier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery; homeless/mental illness; pet shop; stereotypes; friendship; boy with OCD is main character. [Would be good read-aloud for Grades 2-4.]

[Jess Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this when i was younger, bought it through a scholastic book store