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Tales from Deckawoo Drive #7
Mercy Watson Is Missing!
“As the final book in the beloved Mercy Watson universe, this will lure fans like a certain pig sniffing out buttered toast.” —Booklist (starred review)
When Mercy Watson the pig goes missing, all of Deckawoo Drive is in an uproar. The Watsons are inconsolable, and the local police department, fire department, and Animal Control are no help whatsoever. Bossy neighbor Eugenia Lincoln is not quite as sad as she might be, but thankfully her sister, Baby Lincoln, has the idea to hire a private investigator. Granted, Percival Smidgely, PI, may be more bumbler than gumshoe, but his pigeon, Polly, is there to point the way. Meanwhile, Frank and Stella Endicott and Stella’s friend Horace Broom are ready to do some investigating of their own. Will the clever neighborhood sleuths manage to follow the trail of hoofprints—and a certain overwhelmingly enticing scent—to recover their porcine wonder? With deftly paced narrative comedy, visual slapstick, abundant artwork in both black and white and full color, and warm affection for their cast of characters, Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen bring us a highly satisfying, extra-special series finale that rewards loyal fans—and invites new readers to explore the stories that came before.
When Mercy Watson the pig goes missing, all of Deckawoo Drive is in an uproar. The Watsons are inconsolable, and the local police department, fire department, and Animal Control are no help whatsoever. Bossy neighbor Eugenia Lincoln is not quite as sad as she might be, but thankfully her sister, Baby Lincoln, has the idea to hire a private investigator. Granted, Percival Smidgely, PI, may be more bumbler than gumshoe, but his pigeon, Polly, is there to point the way. Meanwhile, Frank and Stella Endicott and Stella’s friend Horace Broom are ready to do some investigating of their own. Will the clever neighborhood sleuths manage to follow the trail of hoofprints—and a certain overwhelmingly enticing scent—to recover their porcine wonder? With deftly paced narrative comedy, visual slapstick, abundant artwork in both black and white and full color, and warm affection for their cast of characters, Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen bring us a highly satisfying, extra-special series finale that rewards loyal fans—and invites new readers to explore the stories that came before.
176 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2025
About the author
Kate DiCamillo
207 books11.6k followersKate DiCamillo, the newly named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2014–2015, says about stories, “When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see one another.” Born in Philadelphia, the author lives in Minneapolis, where she faithfully writes two pages a day, five days a week.
Kate DiCamillo's own journey is something of a dream come true. After moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, homesickness and a bitter winter helped inspire Because of Winn-Dixie - her first published novel, which, remarkably, became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. "After the Newbery committee called me, I spent the whole day walking into walls," she says. "I was stunned. And very, very happy."
Her second novel, The Tiger Rising, went on to become a National Book Award Finalist. Since then, the master storyteller has written for a wide range of ages, including two comical early-chapter-book series - Mercy Watson, which stars a "porcine wonder" with an obsession for buttered toast, and Bink & Gollie, which celebrates the tall and short of a marvelous friendship - as well as a luminous holiday picture book, Great Joy.
Her latest novel, Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, won the 2014 Newbery Medal. It was released in fall 2013 to great acclaim, including five starred reviews, and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Flora & Ulysses is a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format - a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black and white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell. It was a 2013 Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner and was chosen by Amazon, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Common Sense Media as a Best Book of the Year.
Kate DiCamillo's own journey is something of a dream come true. After moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, homesickness and a bitter winter helped inspire Because of Winn-Dixie - her first published novel, which, remarkably, became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. "After the Newbery committee called me, I spent the whole day walking into walls," she says. "I was stunned. And very, very happy."
Her second novel, The Tiger Rising, went on to become a National Book Award Finalist. Since then, the master storyteller has written for a wide range of ages, including two comical early-chapter-book series - Mercy Watson, which stars a "porcine wonder" with an obsession for buttered toast, and Bink & Gollie, which celebrates the tall and short of a marvelous friendship - as well as a luminous holiday picture book, Great Joy.
Her latest novel, Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, won the 2014 Newbery Medal. It was released in fall 2013 to great acclaim, including five starred reviews, and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Flora & Ulysses is a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format - a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black and white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell. It was a 2013 Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner and was chosen by Amazon, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Common Sense Media as a Best Book of the Year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
August 23, 2026
My thanks to libro.fm and Penguin Random House for an ALC of this book to listen to and review.
I fully acknowledge that I am not the demographic for this book and that I never read the other books in this series, however this had to have been the strangest kids book I have ever read.
The vocabulary and what was happening seemed very adult at times and incredibly juvenile at others. I practically experienced whiplash from it bouncing back and forth between the two.
The only time I laughed was when the two guys who saw Mercy trotting by the side of the road decided she was good eating. I laughed because when she was missing and everyone was wondering where she was, my first thought was, "Look at the breakfast plate of the person next to you." The very next scene, the two guys were contemplating BBQ and bacon.
The rest of the book was just...odd. The Private Eye was stereotypically incompetent, the kids were the smart ones and somehow the owners of Mercy didn't get sued/owe a ton of money when their pig got loose and wrecked the Butter Barrel candy factory? They just all had a party where toast with lots of butter was the only food item offered? And dude, Mrs. Watson was legit CRYING in the toast she was making when she realized Mercy was missing. Maybe start crying after you find out you left the door open and Mercy got out and now she's bacon?
This might appeal to children, but it didn't work for me.
Also, the narrator, while he did a good job with the PI's voice, had some volume control issues or the production wasn't overly fantastic. I did have to mess with the volume enough that I remember having done so a week later.
1, it at least kept me company on my long drive, star.
I fully acknowledge that I am not the demographic for this book and that I never read the other books in this series, however this had to have been the strangest kids book I have ever read.
The vocabulary and what was happening seemed very adult at times and incredibly juvenile at others. I practically experienced whiplash from it bouncing back and forth between the two.
The only time I laughed was when the two guys who saw Mercy trotting by the side of the road decided she was good eating. I laughed because when she was missing and everyone was wondering where she was, my first thought was, "Look at the breakfast plate of the person next to you." The very next scene, the two guys were contemplating BBQ and bacon.
The rest of the book was just...odd. The Private Eye was stereotypically incompetent, the kids were the smart ones and somehow the owners of Mercy didn't get sued/owe a ton of money when their pig got loose and wrecked the Butter Barrel candy factory? They just all had a party where toast with lots of butter was the only food item offered? And dude, Mrs. Watson was legit CRYING in the toast she was making when she realized Mercy was missing. Maybe start crying after you find out you left the door open and Mercy got out and now she's bacon?
This might appeal to children, but it didn't work for me.
Also, the narrator, while he did a good job with the PI's voice, had some volume control issues or the production wasn't overly fantastic. I did have to mess with the volume enough that I remember having done so a week later.
1, it at least kept me company on my long drive, star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2023
We are so sad that this delightful series is coming to a close, but what a wonderful finale this was! I was surrounded by my kids' giggles as we remembered Mercy's past exploits and experienced one last adventure with her and her wonderful neighbors, family, and friends. The writing, as always, was fantastic and descriptive, and the story was perfection.
February 1, 2024
This was absolute perfection as it wrapped up a beloved series that we have read over and over. She brought back everyone and did it so seamlessly. She showed such depth of how to sit with someone in grief with the beautiful scene of Baby sitting with the Watsons holding her hand. She brought humor with Susie always mispronouncing words. It was the beauty of community which we all long for because we were created for it. Also Van Dussen the illustration of Mercy rolling in butter was fantastic! We read over half of it in one setting with all four of the kids squished upon me.
December 20, 2023
It takes me about 15 minutes before bed to read a Deckawoo Drive book. But a teacher or parent reading this book to their kids will bring comfort and joy to last….I don’t know. A lifetime?! Maybe? WHAT IF???
The kids at my school love Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson and the Deckawoo Drive gang. My friend Jackie told me there was a new book out, and I was telling the second graders about it. “You guys! There’s a new Mercy Watson book. I don’t know the name, but here…I’ll look it up. Wait. Here it is. (gasp) Oh, no! It’s called 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨!! She’s MISSING???”
You could hear the quiet concern of the kids. They didn’t say a word until someone yelled, “Where is she?”
That’s why you’ll have to read the book! Very cute and yes, predictable, but I think that’s one of the reasons kids love this beginning series so much. A few Lols from me and a couple new characters. Miss Susie Tinkor, the receptionist at the Butter Barrel factory was my favorite new person, Frank is my favorite known character; he’s just such a little, smart, and nervous guy.
If you read it to your kids, let me know what they think!
5 / 5 stars
The kids at my school love Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson and the Deckawoo Drive gang. My friend Jackie told me there was a new book out, and I was telling the second graders about it. “You guys! There’s a new Mercy Watson book. I don’t know the name, but here…I’ll look it up. Wait. Here it is. (gasp) Oh, no! It’s called 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨!! She’s MISSING???”
You could hear the quiet concern of the kids. They didn’t say a word until someone yelled, “Where is she?”
That’s why you’ll have to read the book! Very cute and yes, predictable, but I think that’s one of the reasons kids love this beginning series so much. A few Lols from me and a couple new characters. Miss Susie Tinkor, the receptionist at the Butter Barrel factory was my favorite new person, Frank is my favorite known character; he’s just such a little, smart, and nervous guy.
If you read it to your kids, let me know what they think!
5 / 5 stars
July 7, 2026
Oops! We’re reading these out of order as they’re available at the library but loving them nonetheless! Mercy’s adventures are so fun and the writing is so great for all ages! I’m even learning some new words. 😜
April 13, 2024
Mercy’s a great pig who loves her toast.
May 20, 2024
My kiddos both gave this five stars. I love how they incorporated all of the cast of characters from the Mercy Watson series and the tales from Deckawoo drive series. Of course there's toast with a great deal of butter featured
July 4, 2024
Well this was an absolutely chaotic delight.
June 12, 2026
This was such a fun read aloud. Love the author’s writing and humor. We will definitely re-read eventually!
May 31, 2025
How can you not give a Mercy Watson book 5 stars?? We are big fans over here and this one did not disappoint.
January 16, 2024
I love the strange and charming world of Mercy Watson (and really anything Chris VanDusen does) and this was no exception.
My kids found the detective theme delightful and were excited any time a chapter cut to Mercy’s blissfully unaware escapades as everyone is looking for her.
I did feel the pacing is odd and, like the other Mercy books, the repetitive nature of the writing makes it occasionally annoying to read out loud. I also love introducing kids to new vocabulary words, but I felt there were so many that the humor of the scene got bogged down in explanations.
Still, a sweet and humorous adventure with everyone’s favorite porcine wonder.
My kids found the detective theme delightful and were excited any time a chapter cut to Mercy’s blissfully unaware escapades as everyone is looking for her.
I did feel the pacing is odd and, like the other Mercy books, the repetitive nature of the writing makes it occasionally annoying to read out loud. I also love introducing kids to new vocabulary words, but I felt there were so many that the humor of the scene got bogged down in explanations.
Still, a sweet and humorous adventure with everyone’s favorite porcine wonder.
March 25, 2025
Finally done with this series! It’s a cute way to wrap it up, and it adds a couple different plot lines so it’s getting kids ready for bigger more complicated chapter books. They did a weird thing where they had a lot of illustrations done in black and white (again to probably get kids ready for other chapter books) but one of the draws of the series is its colorful illustrations, so it loses a star for that. Otherwise a great novel!
October 1, 2026
That’s the end of Mercy Watson books for us! This was the only one left for us to read.
We LOVE the original books and I’m a huge fan of Chris Van Deusen’s illustrations. I think love for Mercy carried us through these chapter books because the stories themselves are just ok. I think if you have a kid who wants to try early chapter books, these are great. But not our favorite of the Mercy Watson world.
We LOVE the original books and I’m a huge fan of Chris Van Deusen’s illustrations. I think love for Mercy carried us through these chapter books because the stories themselves are just ok. I think if you have a kid who wants to try early chapter books, these are great. But not our favorite of the Mercy Watson world.
December 14, 2023
A great ending to a great series
I am sad to see the end of the Mercy Watson series but a happy ending is always good.
I found this series when teaching a young student to read. He was a reluctant reader but loved this series. He couldn’t wait to see what Mercy was up to each day.
I have never looked at toast the same since finding this series.
I am sad to see the end of the Mercy Watson series but a happy ending is always good.
I found this series when teaching a young student to read. He was a reluctant reader but loved this series. He couldn’t wait to see what Mercy was up to each day.
I have never looked at toast the same since finding this series.
November 30, 2023
Genre: Children’s
Super cute children’s book about a missing pig and the neighborhood that rallies to find it. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
Thank you Candlewick Press for the ARC! 🐷
Super cute children’s book about a missing pig and the neighborhood that rallies to find it. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
Thank you Candlewick Press for the ARC! 🐷
March 7, 2024
A wonderful end to the Tales of Deckawoo Drive. The kids and I have so enjoyed these books together. We love the neighborhood coming together and eating buttered toast. Chris Van Dusen’s illustrations with Kate DiCamillo’s stories are a heartwarming match.
April 10, 2024
Read this aloud to the younger two and loved it so very much. Kate DiCamillo can do no wrong in my mind…I genuinely laughed aloud a dozen times while reading. And Chris Van Dusen’s hilariously perfect illustrations add so much to the stories. So enjoyable!
May 5, 2024
Kate DiCamillo never disappoints. Her storytelling language is just perfection.
In this, which could be the last in this series tells the tale of Mercy going missing. All of the characters from Deckawoo Drive make an appearance.
I loved every minute.
In this, which could be the last in this series tells the tale of Mercy going missing. All of the characters from Deckawoo Drive make an appearance.
I loved every minute.
April 3, 2026
Kate DiCamillo does such a good job on all these books. The stories are funny and very engaging. All the characters have so much personality that keep building in each book. Super fun series to read with kids.
Read
October 11, 2026My daughter (4) hijacked my read aloud plans by choosing this book instead of my planned book, but she and my son (7) really enjoyed it. It was a fun, quick read and the beautiful pictures helped keep everyone interested.
February 1, 2024
Mercy Watson will always get a 5 ⭐ review from me!
May 16, 2024
The first chapter book Sam and I read together out loud. We love Mercy Watson picture books and it’s so fun to dive deeper into the characters with the chapter books.
Read
July 23, 2024DiCamillo is just fantastic.
December 1, 2024
Familiar characters and new ones join the search for Mercy Watson. Such fun!
Read
July 15, 2025A delight to read with my kids!
August 31, 2026
Read to my second grader. He loved it.
November 7, 2024
What a fun reunion and "send-off" (conclusion) of all our favorite neighbors and friends from Mercy Watson. This series never disappoints.
April 12, 2025
I jokingly put a book for Arthur on last years books but it was only a few pages long. This was his first read aloud longer chapter book and we both loved it. It’s longer than others so I’m including it on my read books
December 24, 2023
Boy do I love Mercy Watson. The audiobook was fantastic but I missed seeing the pictures because they are FANTASTIC!
September 28, 2026
I read this with my 6 y/o grandson and 4 y/o granddaughter. They both loved it, and I did too! Cute plot and characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews