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The Great Mistake Mysteries #1
The Best Mistake Mystery
Some people count their blessings, but dogwalker Stephen Nobel counts mistakes.
Dogwalker extraordinaire Stephen Nobel can get a little anxious, but his habit of counting the mistakes he and everyone else makes calms him. His need to analyze gets kicked into hyperdrive after two crazy events happen in one day at school: the bomb squad blows up a backpack and someone smashes a car into the building.
To make things worse, that someone thinks Stephen can identify them. Stephen receives a threatening text. If he goes to the police, his favourite dogs, Ping and Pong, will get hurt. The pressure mounts when his new best friend, Renée, begs for Stephen’s help. Her brother has been charged with the crimes and she wants to clear his name.
Is it a mistake to give in to dognappers? How can he possibly save everybody? To find out, Stephen will have to count on all of his new friends.
Dogwalker extraordinaire Stephen Nobel can get a little anxious, but his habit of counting the mistakes he and everyone else makes calms him. His need to analyze gets kicked into hyperdrive after two crazy events happen in one day at school: the bomb squad blows up a backpack and someone smashes a car into the building.
To make things worse, that someone thinks Stephen can identify them. Stephen receives a threatening text. If he goes to the police, his favourite dogs, Ping and Pong, will get hurt. The pressure mounts when his new best friend, Renée, begs for Stephen’s help. Her brother has been charged with the crimes and she wants to clear his name.
Is it a mistake to give in to dognappers? How can he possibly save everybody? To find out, Stephen will have to count on all of his new friends.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2017
4 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia McNicoll
38 books84 followersBorn in Ajax, Sylvia McNicoll (pseudonym Genna Dare ) grew up in Montreal, Quebec where she received her BA in English with a minor in Economics from Concordia University. She began her writing career with adult short stories and household tips that were published in women's magazines, and moved on to freelance articles for Burlington local newspapers. Her friend and published author, Gisela Sherman, convinced her to take a children's writing course by Paul Kropp at Sheridan College. It was under his guidance that she wrote her first book "Blueberries and Whipped Cream" as a class project. Nine published books later she returned to Sheridan College to teach creative writing for a decade. She also edited "Today's Parent Toronto" for eight years.
Among her award winning published works are:
Project disaster, illustrated by Brian Boyd (Scholastic Canada, 1990) – Winner of Our Choice, 1990-91
The big race! Illustrated by Susan Gardos (Scholastic Canada, 1996) – winner of Our Choice, 1996-97
Jump Start, illustrated by Janet Wilson (Collier Macmillan Canada, 1989) – winner of Our Choice, 1989-90
Bringing Up Beauty (Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1994) – winner of Our choice, 1995-96; Silver Birch Award, 1996; Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award, 1997
Caught in a Lie (Scholastic Canada, 2000) – winner of Explora-Toy award, 2001
Among her award winning published works are:
Project disaster, illustrated by Brian Boyd (Scholastic Canada, 1990) – Winner of Our Choice, 1990-91
The big race! Illustrated by Susan Gardos (Scholastic Canada, 1996) – winner of Our Choice, 1996-97
Jump Start, illustrated by Janet Wilson (Collier Macmillan Canada, 1989) – winner of Our Choice, 1989-90
Bringing Up Beauty (Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1994) – winner of Our choice, 1995-96; Silver Birch Award, 1996; Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award, 1997
Caught in a Lie (Scholastic Canada, 2000) – winner of Explora-Toy award, 2001
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July 24, 2017This is a sweet, lively, fun middle grade mystery that I think reading-ahead-of-their-age third graders as well as fourth through sixth graders would enjoy.
It's written first person present tense, an unusual voice to be found in middle grade, but I think it works for this book, which features Stephen, an anxious seventh grade boy (adult readers will recognize a bit of OCD and definitely social anxiety) whose best friend recently moved away.
Stephen's dad also quit his job as an air traffic controller and now is a dog walker, and a knitter during his free time, while Stephen's mom is part of an airline crew, and so we get to know her through phone calls. She always has a funny story for Stephen about animals on planes, and though Stephen is always ready to clap his hands over his ears in case it has a bad ending, his mom never betrays him.
Meanwhile, Stephen is having a tough time with his first clients, the Bennet family's rescue greyhound and tiny pom, who don't especially get along, and who are badly trained. Meanwhile, Stephen keeps noticing an odd Volkswagen Beetle being driven oddly around the neighborhood. A very observant boy who counts up his daily mistakes, he soon sees that there is a mystery centering on that Volkswagen being crashed into his school in the middle of the night!
Stephen slowly makes a new friend, a girl named Renee who he wrote off at first as a showoff, but the two form a friendship as they try to solve the mystery.
Nothing really bad happens to anyone, there is plenty of action and some great laughs, and though Stephen counts his mistakes, there's nothing here to give young readers nightmares. It's a fun opening to a series that I think boys and girls would thoroughly enjoy--and adults would enjoy reading aloud to them.
Copy provided by NetGalley
It's written first person present tense, an unusual voice to be found in middle grade, but I think it works for this book, which features Stephen, an anxious seventh grade boy (adult readers will recognize a bit of OCD and definitely social anxiety) whose best friend recently moved away.
Stephen's dad also quit his job as an air traffic controller and now is a dog walker, and a knitter during his free time, while Stephen's mom is part of an airline crew, and so we get to know her through phone calls. She always has a funny story for Stephen about animals on planes, and though Stephen is always ready to clap his hands over his ears in case it has a bad ending, his mom never betrays him.
Meanwhile, Stephen is having a tough time with his first clients, the Bennet family's rescue greyhound and tiny pom, who don't especially get along, and who are badly trained. Meanwhile, Stephen keeps noticing an odd Volkswagen Beetle being driven oddly around the neighborhood. A very observant boy who counts up his daily mistakes, he soon sees that there is a mystery centering on that Volkswagen being crashed into his school in the middle of the night!
Stephen slowly makes a new friend, a girl named Renee who he wrote off at first as a showoff, but the two form a friendship as they try to solve the mystery.
Nothing really bad happens to anyone, there is plenty of action and some great laughs, and though Stephen counts his mistakes, there's nothing here to give young readers nightmares. It's a fun opening to a series that I think boys and girls would thoroughly enjoy--and adults would enjoy reading aloud to them.
Copy provided by NetGalley
December 29, 2020
This book was an excellent read! In some ways it reads like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon but written for kids. The story is very well written and progresses as at great pace. The characters are amazing, the two main characters are Stephen Nobel and Renée Kobai.
Stephen Noble is not your typical kid. He can get a little anxious, and he replays events in his head again and again. He also things a lot about what might happen. And he is stepping up his responsibilities in helping his father’s business, Noble Dog Walking. He also seems to hit it off with Renee at school, after getting paired up in school. But strange things start happening, someone runs a car into the school building, there is a bomb threat. And life for Stephen gets much much more complicated. For soon two of Stephen’s favorite dogs are dognapped and he is being threatened and blackmailed.
Renee wants Stephen to go to go to the police to clear he big brother. But he fears for the dogs safety. Together they come up with a plan to try and rescue the dogs even if it means giving in to blackmail.
The book is written in a very interesting way. Stephen counts his days by how many mistakes he makes. So the chapters are Day One Mistake One, Day One Mistake Two … to Day Three Mistake Ten.
As someone who grew up with a learning disability, and spent a lot of time with other students with special needs this book was a fascinating read. It really captures friendship, and learning to live with your differences. It also has a strong message about turning your differences into strengths. It is also about loyalty, loyalty between Stephen and Renee and also with the dogs Ping and Pong.
I loved this book tremendously and really look forward to reading the next in the series when it becomes available. The characters and endearing, the story is engrossing. I hope we get many more adventures with Stephen and Renee. I also look forward to reading this book with my children which is the highest praise I can give. Well done Sylvia, thank you for a great read.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Sylvia McNicoll. As well as an author profile and interview with Sylvia.
Stephen Noble is not your typical kid. He can get a little anxious, and he replays events in his head again and again. He also things a lot about what might happen. And he is stepping up his responsibilities in helping his father’s business, Noble Dog Walking. He also seems to hit it off with Renee at school, after getting paired up in school. But strange things start happening, someone runs a car into the school building, there is a bomb threat. And life for Stephen gets much much more complicated. For soon two of Stephen’s favorite dogs are dognapped and he is being threatened and blackmailed.
Renee wants Stephen to go to go to the police to clear he big brother. But he fears for the dogs safety. Together they come up with a plan to try and rescue the dogs even if it means giving in to blackmail.
The book is written in a very interesting way. Stephen counts his days by how many mistakes he makes. So the chapters are Day One Mistake One, Day One Mistake Two … to Day Three Mistake Ten.
As someone who grew up with a learning disability, and spent a lot of time with other students with special needs this book was a fascinating read. It really captures friendship, and learning to live with your differences. It also has a strong message about turning your differences into strengths. It is also about loyalty, loyalty between Stephen and Renee and also with the dogs Ping and Pong.
I loved this book tremendously and really look forward to reading the next in the series when it becomes available. The characters and endearing, the story is engrossing. I hope we get many more adventures with Stephen and Renee. I also look forward to reading this book with my children which is the highest praise I can give. Well done Sylvia, thank you for a great read.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Sylvia McNicoll. As well as an author profile and interview with Sylvia.
December 12, 2016
A quick and enjoyable read about Renee and Stephen -- two unlikely kid friends -- who solve a neighbourhood mystery with the assistance of Ping and Pong, a big and small dog. A gentle mystery with amusing scenes and interesting characters. Well done!
Thank you, Netgalley, for the e-review copy of this book.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the e-review copy of this book.
December 20, 2016
Funny story, and cute characters. Good option for dog and mysteries lovers.
I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2017
**I received a copy of this upcoming book from Dundurn via NetGalley in exchange for a fair, honest review**
At first, the cover art for this book is what made me want to read The Best Mistake Mystery. Bright, colorful and interesting, the cover pulled me in and got me started on the tale of Stephen Nobel, middle schooler and overly anxious dog walker extraordinaire. As I got into the story, the funny, sweet and anxious main character kept me reading until the end.
Prone to being anxious about most everything, Stephen counts the mistakes he makes each day. His inherent need to analyze all things around him has a calming effect on him. He also takes pride in his dog walking skills. But, unfortunately, one day his observational habits, pro dog walking skills and mistakes all meet up to create quite a problem. Someone commits a crime at Stephen's school and thinks Stephen can identify them, so they kidnap his two favorite dog walking buddies, Ping and Pong. A friend's brother is accused of the crime. So not only is Stephen working to clear his friend's brother, but he's searching for the evil dognappers too.
This book was such a funny, sweet and enjoyable read. The story is told from Stephen's point of view so you feel the anxiety with him as he goes down the list of his daily mistakes and the consequences.
The mystery is simple but engaging and not overly obvious. Stephen is a humorous, sweet main character who stays on the case to help his friends, both human and canine. I've read a lot of middle grade mystery books and this one was totally creative and fun. Stephen definitely was having an unusual week at school -- exploding backpacks, VWs driving into the school building, making friends with a girl, threatening text messages and dognapping. My 5th grader agrees. I asked him to read the first two chapters and let me know what he thought. I have yet to get my kindle back. He is reading the whole book!
The book is a perfect middle grade length in my opinion - about 160 pages. My son is a slow reader, so it's a perfect length for him to read comfortably over a couple of days. Obviously the book appeals to 9-12 year olds, if my son's total immersion in the story since he absconded with my Kindle this morning is any indication.
This book will be available from Dundurn in March 2017. The kindle version will be available in January.
Sylvia McNicoll is the author of several YA and middle grade books. Learn more about her books on her website www.sylviamcnicoll.com
At first, the cover art for this book is what made me want to read The Best Mistake Mystery. Bright, colorful and interesting, the cover pulled me in and got me started on the tale of Stephen Nobel, middle schooler and overly anxious dog walker extraordinaire. As I got into the story, the funny, sweet and anxious main character kept me reading until the end.
Prone to being anxious about most everything, Stephen counts the mistakes he makes each day. His inherent need to analyze all things around him has a calming effect on him. He also takes pride in his dog walking skills. But, unfortunately, one day his observational habits, pro dog walking skills and mistakes all meet up to create quite a problem. Someone commits a crime at Stephen's school and thinks Stephen can identify them, so they kidnap his two favorite dog walking buddies, Ping and Pong. A friend's brother is accused of the crime. So not only is Stephen working to clear his friend's brother, but he's searching for the evil dognappers too.
This book was such a funny, sweet and enjoyable read. The story is told from Stephen's point of view so you feel the anxiety with him as he goes down the list of his daily mistakes and the consequences.
The mystery is simple but engaging and not overly obvious. Stephen is a humorous, sweet main character who stays on the case to help his friends, both human and canine. I've read a lot of middle grade mystery books and this one was totally creative and fun. Stephen definitely was having an unusual week at school -- exploding backpacks, VWs driving into the school building, making friends with a girl, threatening text messages and dognapping. My 5th grader agrees. I asked him to read the first two chapters and let me know what he thought. I have yet to get my kindle back. He is reading the whole book!
The book is a perfect middle grade length in my opinion - about 160 pages. My son is a slow reader, so it's a perfect length for him to read comfortably over a couple of days. Obviously the book appeals to 9-12 year olds, if my son's total immersion in the story since he absconded with my Kindle this morning is any indication.
This book will be available from Dundurn in March 2017. The kindle version will be available in January.
Sylvia McNicoll is the author of several YA and middle grade books. Learn more about her books on her website www.sylviamcnicoll.com
September 24, 2016
This book...this book. It took me forever to read this book because this was one of the dullest mysteries. I mean, the mystery was sort of cool. Someone ran a VW into the side of the school and Stephen, the son of the local dog-walker, thinks he knows who did it, and needs to just fit all the pieces together, along with his new best friend Renee (well, at the start she wasn't).
So, cool kid detectives, boy and girl, on equal footing.
And yet, nothing happened. Oh, sure dogs happen, and threatening phone texts, but...I didn't care.
This is not to say the story wasn't well written, and funny in bits. And perhaps there are middle-school readers that will be laughing and on the edge of their seat about this. So, for that, it gets three stars.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
So, cool kid detectives, boy and girl, on equal footing.
And yet, nothing happened. Oh, sure dogs happen, and threatening phone texts, but...I didn't care.
This is not to say the story wasn't well written, and funny in bits. And perhaps there are middle-school readers that will be laughing and on the edge of their seat about this. So, for that, it gets three stars.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
September 1, 2017
ARC for review - EPD - January 17, 2017.
It's been a while since I read this one, but I remember it was a fair-to-middling elementary age mystery where the protagonist has OCD and a bit of an anxiety problem, so it will likely appeal to kids with those issues. No great mystery here - the main character is the key.
It's been a while since I read this one, but I remember it was a fair-to-middling elementary age mystery where the protagonist has OCD and a bit of an anxiety problem, so it will likely appeal to kids with those issues. No great mystery here - the main character is the key.
March 26, 2017
Stephen Noble is a Canadian middle-schooler with a wee worrying problem. For example, he worries a lot about his flight attendant mother being in an airplane crash. He worries that he may not be ready to help his stay-at-home dad run his dog-walking and dog-treat-baking business. But his worries come packaged with an active inner life, and that also makes him the ideal kid to solve a mystery in his neighborhood. A mystery is what he gets, starting one day when school is canceled due to a bomb threat. This escalates to somebody crashing a classic VW Beetle into the school.
Then Stephen starts getting threatening texts on his cellphone, warning him to "M.Y.O.B." (mind your own business). Finally, one of the dogs he has been watching while its owners are out of town is dog-napped and held for ransom. He is afraid to tell his dad, who would certainly involve the police, lest the dognapper carry out his threat to hurt Ping the greyhound (loyal companion to Pong the Jack Russell terrier). So he takes sleuthing into his own hands, aided by a brainy girl named Renee, whose brother Attila (I kid you not) has already been charged with the crimes.
Stephen isn't sure Attila is innocent, but he has other suspects as well - ranging from the school's ex-custodian, who had a romantic breakup with the principal, to a mason whose very distinctive style of brick was found at the scene of one of the crimes. Meantime, he investigates these strange happenings in his own goofy, worry-wart way: one mistake at a time, adding up to dozens of mistakes by the end of the story (and, being the type of kid he is, he keeps a running count of his mistakes).
As narrators go, Stephen is a funny, down-to-earth, convincingly real kid. I particularly loved his reply when the dognapper demanded payment of a ransom - something like, "Do you take debit?" He cares about people and dogs in a way that draws the reader's sympathy to him. In his weakness, he is believable; in his honesty, he is lovable; and in his triumph, he lends encouragement to children of all ages.
This is the first book of the "Great Mistake" series; it already has a sequel, titled The Artsy Mistake Mystery. The author's website lists both books as being published in 2016, though according to Amazon (U.S.) and NetGalley (which sent me the pre-publication Kindle proof on which this review is based), this book is scheduled for release March 28, 2017. Sylvia McNicoll is one-third of a group of Canadian authors who, in the late 1990s, wrote the 12-book "Stage School" series under the collective pseudonym Geena Dare. Her other titles include Project Disaster, The Tiger Catcher's Kid, Blueberries and Whipped Cream, A Different Kind of Beauty, Dying to Go Viral, Dog on Trial, and Revenge on the Fly, among others.
Then Stephen starts getting threatening texts on his cellphone, warning him to "M.Y.O.B." (mind your own business). Finally, one of the dogs he has been watching while its owners are out of town is dog-napped and held for ransom. He is afraid to tell his dad, who would certainly involve the police, lest the dognapper carry out his threat to hurt Ping the greyhound (loyal companion to Pong the Jack Russell terrier). So he takes sleuthing into his own hands, aided by a brainy girl named Renee, whose brother Attila (I kid you not) has already been charged with the crimes.
Stephen isn't sure Attila is innocent, but he has other suspects as well - ranging from the school's ex-custodian, who had a romantic breakup with the principal, to a mason whose very distinctive style of brick was found at the scene of one of the crimes. Meantime, he investigates these strange happenings in his own goofy, worry-wart way: one mistake at a time, adding up to dozens of mistakes by the end of the story (and, being the type of kid he is, he keeps a running count of his mistakes).
As narrators go, Stephen is a funny, down-to-earth, convincingly real kid. I particularly loved his reply when the dognapper demanded payment of a ransom - something like, "Do you take debit?" He cares about people and dogs in a way that draws the reader's sympathy to him. In his weakness, he is believable; in his honesty, he is lovable; and in his triumph, he lends encouragement to children of all ages.
This is the first book of the "Great Mistake" series; it already has a sequel, titled The Artsy Mistake Mystery. The author's website lists both books as being published in 2016, though according to Amazon (U.S.) and NetGalley (which sent me the pre-publication Kindle proof on which this review is based), this book is scheduled for release March 28, 2017. Sylvia McNicoll is one-third of a group of Canadian authors who, in the late 1990s, wrote the 12-book "Stage School" series under the collective pseudonym Geena Dare. Her other titles include Project Disaster, The Tiger Catcher's Kid, Blueberries and Whipped Cream, A Different Kind of Beauty, Dying to Go Viral, Dog on Trial, and Revenge on the Fly, among others.
March 15, 2017
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis:
While helping out with his dad's dogwalking business, Stephen sees something that he shouldn't, resulting in threatening text messages from a mystery person. Stephen and Renee decide to work together despite the risks to find out who is behind the threatening texts.
The Best Mistake Mystery is a multi-layered mystery that can only be pieced together by someone who spends their time scanning the neighbourhood under the cover of dogwalking. Stephen is a conscientious sort of a boy and Renee is a loyal friend with a rebellious streak. Both kids need a friend and it turns out that hanging out with the "weird" kid needn't be a bad thing. The mystery in this one unfolds slowly, with different elements added as the days go on and it is not clear to Stephen and Renee - or indeed, the reader - how, or even if, certain pieces of the puzzle fit together. Every character has a backstory here, as one often finds in a small neighbourhood, and there are plenty of people who had the opportunity, if not the motive, to drive a car into the front of the school. The same is true of the threatening texts that Stephen begins to receive - plenty of people could have had the opportunity - but why would anyone want to hurt Ping and Pong?
There is a lot of dog-walking, dog-feeding and general dog-tending going on here, and that's before Ping and Pong come under the threat of dognapping. I will admit that this became tedious after a while. I understand that Stephen, as a character, is totally committed to his doggy clients, but I didn't feel like I needed quite that much detail as to how he went about looking after them.
This is certainly an original story with a mystery that will have even the most committed mystery-readers puzzling along with the characters. There are plenty of red-herrings thrown in and lots of possible motives for all sorts of characters, and in the end things aren't exactly as our two protagonists imagined them to be. I enjoyed watching the friendship between Renee and Stephen grow. The author has done a good job of letting the trust build slowly, while the bonds between the two are forged through trial. This wasn't an outstanding read, in my opinion, but definitely worth a look if you can handle lots of doggy description and enjoy a complex, neighbourhood-driven mystery.
Ten Second Synopsis:
While helping out with his dad's dogwalking business, Stephen sees something that he shouldn't, resulting in threatening text messages from a mystery person. Stephen and Renee decide to work together despite the risks to find out who is behind the threatening texts.
The Best Mistake Mystery is a multi-layered mystery that can only be pieced together by someone who spends their time scanning the neighbourhood under the cover of dogwalking. Stephen is a conscientious sort of a boy and Renee is a loyal friend with a rebellious streak. Both kids need a friend and it turns out that hanging out with the "weird" kid needn't be a bad thing. The mystery in this one unfolds slowly, with different elements added as the days go on and it is not clear to Stephen and Renee - or indeed, the reader - how, or even if, certain pieces of the puzzle fit together. Every character has a backstory here, as one often finds in a small neighbourhood, and there are plenty of people who had the opportunity, if not the motive, to drive a car into the front of the school. The same is true of the threatening texts that Stephen begins to receive - plenty of people could have had the opportunity - but why would anyone want to hurt Ping and Pong?
There is a lot of dog-walking, dog-feeding and general dog-tending going on here, and that's before Ping and Pong come under the threat of dognapping. I will admit that this became tedious after a while. I understand that Stephen, as a character, is totally committed to his doggy clients, but I didn't feel like I needed quite that much detail as to how he went about looking after them.
This is certainly an original story with a mystery that will have even the most committed mystery-readers puzzling along with the characters. There are plenty of red-herrings thrown in and lots of possible motives for all sorts of characters, and in the end things aren't exactly as our two protagonists imagined them to be. I enjoyed watching the friendship between Renee and Stephen grow. The author has done a good job of letting the trust build slowly, while the bonds between the two are forged through trial. This wasn't an outstanding read, in my opinion, but definitely worth a look if you can handle lots of doggy description and enjoy a complex, neighbourhood-driven mystery.
June 15, 2017
Reading young adult or middle grade novels is something I love doing from time to time. As a mother of an anxious Tourette’s son, I try to find books that will appeal to him. Good books, that won’t be put down after reading just one chapter – you know exactly what I’m talking about !
Stephen, also anxious and perhaps with traits of obsessive-compulsion is the real hero of this story. He’s infinitely polite, a dog lover, perceptive and you could tell that his mind is working a mile a minute.
“You always see way more into things than other people do. With you on the case, we’re bound to find the real criminal.”
The BEST Mistake Mystery has a bit of everything in it, dogs, mystery, exploding backpacks and a bomb squad. But most importantly, it’s about friendship and family. No one gets hurts, it really is a feel good read. I obviously read this novel in a sitting, but at 160 pages, it is the perfect length for young readers.
“You are over thinking this Stephen” Renee says. “It’s one of my worst flaws,” I admit. “But it’s your best quality too. …”
My son often lists his mistakes or things that have went wrong in his day but sometimes those mistakes can be our BEST ones. I’m sure that we will have many things to talk about while reading The BEST Mistake Mystery together. I’m really looking forward to it !
Stephen, also anxious and perhaps with traits of obsessive-compulsion is the real hero of this story. He’s infinitely polite, a dog lover, perceptive and you could tell that his mind is working a mile a minute.
“You always see way more into things than other people do. With you on the case, we’re bound to find the real criminal.”
The BEST Mistake Mystery has a bit of everything in it, dogs, mystery, exploding backpacks and a bomb squad. But most importantly, it’s about friendship and family. No one gets hurts, it really is a feel good read. I obviously read this novel in a sitting, but at 160 pages, it is the perfect length for young readers.
“You are over thinking this Stephen” Renee says. “It’s one of my worst flaws,” I admit. “But it’s your best quality too. …”
My son often lists his mistakes or things that have went wrong in his day but sometimes those mistakes can be our BEST ones. I’m sure that we will have many things to talk about while reading The BEST Mistake Mystery together. I’m really looking forward to it !
May 26, 2017
I think kids everywhere will identify with Renee and Stephen, two animal-loving kids. This book is brilliant in how it celebrates mistakes, after all we all make them. Well done, Sylvia!
May 29, 2017
A warning should be included on the cover of this book. "Reading this book can be addictive." The reader will want, crave, need another of the author's books.
Let's see...a cozy mystery with nerdy kids coming to the rescue. The bad guys not being so bad after all. Awww...and then dogs with all their antics, intelligence and love.
No, this book is not saccharine-sweet. Maybe a touch of Canadian maple syrup, just enough to mellow out any bitterness.
Have I confused you? The true mystery is why are you reading my words when The Best Mistake Mystery awaits?
And no, I am not going to end with any "mistake" puns. That would be a....
Let's see...a cozy mystery with nerdy kids coming to the rescue. The bad guys not being so bad after all. Awww...and then dogs with all their antics, intelligence and love.
No, this book is not saccharine-sweet. Maybe a touch of Canadian maple syrup, just enough to mellow out any bitterness.
Have I confused you? The true mystery is why are you reading my words when The Best Mistake Mystery awaits?
And no, I am not going to end with any "mistake" puns. That would be a....
May 30, 2017
This is the perfect summer read for middle graders who love a good mystery and a good laugh! Love the characters- both human and canine! And absolutely love the premise that everyone makes, and survives their mistakes! Looking forward to reading book 2, The Artsy Mystery Mistake
May 29, 2017
As always, McNicholl's writing is humorous and poignant. The storyline is tantalizing and the tension excellent. There's nothing like a good mystery and this author delivers - every time!
March 19, 2017
The Best Mistake Mystery was quite a cute, thought-provoking middle grade story, and I really enjoyed my time reading it! Weighing in at around 155 pages, it was a pretty fast read, so I was able to whip it up in a jiffy.
What got me to request this book was the intriguing mystery aspect (oh, AND THE DOGS!!<3). I love a good mystery story, and I adore dogs, so how on earth could I turn down reading a book with the two of them meshed together?
For a brief summary, this book is about seventh grader Stephen, who is a dog walker. He can sometimes tend to get a little rowdy or anxious, so he counts his mistakes, as it gives him ease. One day, his school receives a bomb threat, as well gets a car jammed right into it, so he feels the need to solve the mystery of 'who-dun-it.' The person whom he suspects seems to be suspecting him as well, for being, well, a suspector. After receiving a threatening text message from them, Stephen would like to take it to the police, but there are dog-walking risks surrounding that- would he be willing to sacrifice that to make things right?
I absolutely adored the characters of this story, especially Stephen! I found that he was so innocent and true to his age, and overall, just a really nice guy. He was very wise, as well, and always seemed to think hard before acting, which many kids his age seem to miss, as they tend to act on impulse, instead of analyzing the potential risks of doing something. I think Stephen should definitely take on a career as a detective when he's older, as in this story, he proved that he would ACE it!
Renee, I found to be a bit unmemorable. I felt bad for her for the fact that her brother was suspected of the crimes, I really did. It's just that her character unfortunately didn't stick out very much to me.
The mystery in this story wasn't too predictable, and it kept me on the edge of my seat guessing, which is a plus! The secrets of many mystery books I read are sometimes quite predictable, but definitely not this one.
All in all, this was a pretty good book, and I absolutely don't regret reading it! Anyone looking for an unpredictable mystery, DOGS, and an awesome protagonist should mark March 28th on their calendars, because you will not want to miss The Best Mistake Mystery!
What got me to request this book was the intriguing mystery aspect (oh, AND THE DOGS!!<3). I love a good mystery story, and I adore dogs, so how on earth could I turn down reading a book with the two of them meshed together?
For a brief summary, this book is about seventh grader Stephen, who is a dog walker. He can sometimes tend to get a little rowdy or anxious, so he counts his mistakes, as it gives him ease. One day, his school receives a bomb threat, as well gets a car jammed right into it, so he feels the need to solve the mystery of 'who-dun-it.' The person whom he suspects seems to be suspecting him as well, for being, well, a suspector. After receiving a threatening text message from them, Stephen would like to take it to the police, but there are dog-walking risks surrounding that- would he be willing to sacrifice that to make things right?
I absolutely adored the characters of this story, especially Stephen! I found that he was so innocent and true to his age, and overall, just a really nice guy. He was very wise, as well, and always seemed to think hard before acting, which many kids his age seem to miss, as they tend to act on impulse, instead of analyzing the potential risks of doing something. I think Stephen should definitely take on a career as a detective when he's older, as in this story, he proved that he would ACE it!
Renee, I found to be a bit unmemorable. I felt bad for her for the fact that her brother was suspected of the crimes, I really did. It's just that her character unfortunately didn't stick out very much to me.
The mystery in this story wasn't too predictable, and it kept me on the edge of my seat guessing, which is a plus! The secrets of many mystery books I read are sometimes quite predictable, but definitely not this one.
All in all, this was a pretty good book, and I absolutely don't regret reading it! Anyone looking for an unpredictable mystery, DOGS, and an awesome protagonist should mark March 28th on their calendars, because you will not want to miss The Best Mistake Mystery!
November 8, 2016
Written in typical middle-grade omniscient and sarcastic language, this story revolves around character Stephen Nobel, who is an uber inquisitive, awkward and analytical boy with an extreme glass-is-half-empty and if-there-is-smoke-then-there-must-be-fire mentality.
Stephen gets involved with a series of misadventures and because of his personality, inadvertently solves mysteries along the way in a dry humorous manner. It is an entertaining story that grown-ups will probably enjoy even more than kids, because of the humor in between the lines.
My ten-year old daughter’s opinion of the story is that has a staccato bounce to it and the transitions are almost too abrupt. She liked the story, but is having a hard time identifying who to recommend it to, since she says this book will be better appreciated by someone who loves reading, and unfortunately most of her 5th grade friends do not enjoy reading as much as she does. If they do, it will be the usual straightforward mystery stories.
On the other hand, I will be glad to recommend it to all word nerds out there, because the play of words and quality of writing is just geeky fun.
We received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Stephen gets involved with a series of misadventures and because of his personality, inadvertently solves mysteries along the way in a dry humorous manner. It is an entertaining story that grown-ups will probably enjoy even more than kids, because of the humor in between the lines.
My ten-year old daughter’s opinion of the story is that has a staccato bounce to it and the transitions are almost too abrupt. She liked the story, but is having a hard time identifying who to recommend it to, since she says this book will be better appreciated by someone who loves reading, and unfortunately most of her 5th grade friends do not enjoy reading as much as she does. If they do, it will be the usual straightforward mystery stories.
On the other hand, I will be glad to recommend it to all word nerds out there, because the play of words and quality of writing is just geeky fun.
We received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
September 21, 2016
I got a free ARC copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
I don't often read grade-school literature - in fact, I'm stuck in the middle of one right now - but this one really caught my attention thanks to the cover, I admit. It's very bright and busy, just like the novel itself.
The book revolves around a dog-walker, Stephen, trying to solve a mystery and save one of his clients, too. Without giving too much away, the crime involves a bomb threat and an orange Beetle.
While it took me a while to get through the introductory chapters, once I got into the book, it really flowed easily and it was an overall quick read. The characters were distinctive and I liked the format of the book, i.e. how the book was marked by days/mistakes as opposed to classical chapters.
I don't often read grade-school literature - in fact, I'm stuck in the middle of one right now - but this one really caught my attention thanks to the cover, I admit. It's very bright and busy, just like the novel itself.
The book revolves around a dog-walker, Stephen, trying to solve a mystery and save one of his clients, too. Without giving too much away, the crime involves a bomb threat and an orange Beetle.
While it took me a while to get through the introductory chapters, once I got into the book, it really flowed easily and it was an overall quick read. The characters were distinctive and I liked the format of the book, i.e. how the book was marked by days/mistakes as opposed to classical chapters.
March 18, 2017
This lovely mystery book is a gem for children and adults alike – for anyone who likes a good mystery with no sex and no violence, but lots of red herrings and twists.
Stephen has a lot of anxiety in his life: worrying about school, his (lack of) friends, his incipient dog-walking skills and the attendant dogs, his parents, and the many mistakes that he and those around him make each day. His mother adds to his anxiety by regaling Stephen with sanitised versions of “Snakes on a Plane” to describe her work days. The kittens and dogs may be cuter than snakes, but the potential danger to his mother and the airplane passengers is just as concerning for a young boy with a vivid imagination.
Stephen copes by enumerating mistakes. This is done in a straightforward manner, without malice and without blame – just some regret that the mistake has happened, and a hope that things will turn out right after all.
His best and only friend, Jessie, has moved away, but soon he is flung together with the know-it-all, annoying and ever-curious Renee – or “Princess Einstein” as he labels her. Against his better judgement, he lets her help him dog-walking the obstreperous, mismatched dogs, Ping and Pong. Almost immediately they are in the middle of a mystery involving a possible bomb threat at the school, a crashed car, and dodgy goings-on with the school staff. To make matters worse, Ping and ong are put in danger. Dog-nappers demand payment for Pong’s return and threaten worse should Stephen and Renee tell anyone what they have seen. The trouble is, they are not sure what they have seen, but are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, save Pong, and clear up all the dog hairs at home before Stephen’s allergy prone mother gets back from her work.
As with all good mysteries, there are many suspects – adults and children alike – and many mistakes (all listed) are made before the final act. Stephen has seen enough TV to know what he shouldn’t do: “If I were watching some mystery movie right now and the twelve-year-old kids decided to wait till their parents were asleep to sneak out in the middle of the night, I’d know it was a mistake. That something awful would happen”. But that doesn’t stop him and Renee: “Mistake number eight today is not listening to that voice”.
The writing is very good with evocative descriptions. For example, the teacher Mrs Worsley startled by the fire alarm: “Her woolly eyebrows knit and her mouth purls”. Stephen and Renee make a wonderful, loveable team of amateur sleuths, and their town is peopled by many well drawn subsidiary characters.
I can highly recommend this book, and hope there are more like this to come.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Stephen has a lot of anxiety in his life: worrying about school, his (lack of) friends, his incipient dog-walking skills and the attendant dogs, his parents, and the many mistakes that he and those around him make each day. His mother adds to his anxiety by regaling Stephen with sanitised versions of “Snakes on a Plane” to describe her work days. The kittens and dogs may be cuter than snakes, but the potential danger to his mother and the airplane passengers is just as concerning for a young boy with a vivid imagination.
Stephen copes by enumerating mistakes. This is done in a straightforward manner, without malice and without blame – just some regret that the mistake has happened, and a hope that things will turn out right after all.
His best and only friend, Jessie, has moved away, but soon he is flung together with the know-it-all, annoying and ever-curious Renee – or “Princess Einstein” as he labels her. Against his better judgement, he lets her help him dog-walking the obstreperous, mismatched dogs, Ping and Pong. Almost immediately they are in the middle of a mystery involving a possible bomb threat at the school, a crashed car, and dodgy goings-on with the school staff. To make matters worse, Ping and ong are put in danger. Dog-nappers demand payment for Pong’s return and threaten worse should Stephen and Renee tell anyone what they have seen. The trouble is, they are not sure what they have seen, but are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, save Pong, and clear up all the dog hairs at home before Stephen’s allergy prone mother gets back from her work.
As with all good mysteries, there are many suspects – adults and children alike – and many mistakes (all listed) are made before the final act. Stephen has seen enough TV to know what he shouldn’t do: “If I were watching some mystery movie right now and the twelve-year-old kids decided to wait till their parents were asleep to sneak out in the middle of the night, I’d know it was a mistake. That something awful would happen”. But that doesn’t stop him and Renee: “Mistake number eight today is not listening to that voice”.
The writing is very good with evocative descriptions. For example, the teacher Mrs Worsley startled by the fire alarm: “Her woolly eyebrows knit and her mouth purls”. Stephen and Renee make a wonderful, loveable team of amateur sleuths, and their town is peopled by many well drawn subsidiary characters.
I can highly recommend this book, and hope there are more like this to come.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
September 19, 2017
The hero of this story, Stephen Noble likes to count the mistakes he and everyone else makes to calm him self down. Stephen also likes to help his dad out with his business of dog walking, so when they get two new clients, Ping and Pong it's his job to take care of them. Then one crazy day at school there's a bomb threat and someone crashes a car into the school. To make things even worse that someone thinks Stephen knows who they are. Stephen gets a threatening text. If he goes to the police then his first real clients Ping and Pong get hurt but when his new best friend's bother gets charged for the crime she needs Stephen's help to clear her bother's name. So now Stephen has to figure out how to save everyone.
I recommend this book because it is very interesting to see how Stephen figures out the mystery.
I recommend this book because it is very interesting to see how Stephen figures out the mystery.
February 22, 2017
Good story. I love Stephen's clumsiness. I love ping and pong.
Original, but halfway through the story I'm starting to think who the real culprit is. Many twists and turns! But when I have a feeling that my train of thought is right, then the culprit is who I am thinking of. Too much watching of How To Get Away With Murder, I guess.
I ship Renee and Stephen. I enjoyed reading this.
(Book source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Dundurn and NetGalley.)
Original, but halfway through the story I'm starting to think who the real culprit is. Many twists and turns! But when I have a feeling that my train of thought is right, then the culprit is who I am thinking of. Too much watching of How To Get Away With Murder, I guess.
I ship Renee and Stephen. I enjoyed reading this.
(Book source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Dundurn and NetGalley.)
March 29, 2017
As a part-time dog walker, Stephen is an acute observer of his neighbourhood. When the bomb squad arrives at his school and then a car smashes into the school building, Stephen`s interest is piqued and he goes into analytical overdrive! Stephen and his new friend, know-it-all Renee, put on their detective hats and work behind the scenes to solve the mystery. A fun and entertaining middle grade mystery novel.
April 3, 2018
This is a great story for young mystery readers, where they can actually glean clues from the story and (possibly) put them together to solve the mystery. The two young sleuths, whose dog-walking gig gives them reason to explore the neighbourhood, meet a cast of wacky and interesting characters along the way to solving the mystery. A fun and engaging read.
December 17, 2017
netgalley..
Already submitted the review
Already submitted the review
January 24, 2018
I think a lot of older grade schoolers will enjoy this story. Laura is bullied at her old school, but even if the bullying continues at her new school, she also now has friends as a support group. She also finds she's been chosen to protect the world from monsters! It's an entertaining and quick read.
I received a Kindle copy from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a Kindle copy from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
March 21, 2017
Full review coming closer to release day to You Have Your Hands Full
I would recommend The Best Mistake Mystery to middle grade readers. This was a satisfying mystery, and we did not guess the outcome before the big reveal. Stephen has a kind heart and good intentions, so it was very rewarding to see his friendship with Renee develop over the course of the story. This appears to be the first entry in a series of mystery novels. My girls are already excited to read more of Stephen and Renee’s adventures!
I would recommend The Best Mistake Mystery to middle grade readers. This was a satisfying mystery, and we did not guess the outcome before the big reveal. Stephen has a kind heart and good intentions, so it was very rewarding to see his friendship with Renee develop over the course of the story. This appears to be the first entry in a series of mystery novels. My girls are already excited to read more of Stephen and Renee’s adventures!
October 12, 2016
An Engaging, Reasonably Fair, Middle Grade Mystery
Lots of middle grade mysteries turn on hunches, eavesdropping, lucky guesses and coincidence - that may or may not be fun to read, but it doesn't make for much of a mystery. This book was appealing because we get two decent kid heroes and a mystery that almost reads like a neighborhood-kid-procedural. And I mean that in a good way.
The setup is that Stephen handles some dog walking jobs for his Dad, who has started a dog walking business. As a consequence he spends a lot of time walking around the neighborhood seeing what there is to see and talking to lots of neighborhood characters. You see where this is going. When a double mystery, (bomb threat, car theft/vandalism), comes up Stephen has already seen and heard enough to start gathering clues and lining up suspects. (Indeed, the clever cover for this book pretty much maps out where everything happens. Note the orange VW by the school.)
Anyway, a girl named Renee, who is introduced as a mouthy know-it-all, turns to classmate Stephen for help after her brother is accused of both crimes. Stephen and Renee are immediately on the job. Between the two of them they work the case.
The thing is, what middle grade reader reads a middle grade mystery just to work out the clues? We need more, and despite some slow bits this book generally delivers. At first it looked like Stephen was going to be another OCD/autism spectrum hero. I'm all for that, but that field has been getting crowded lately. Rather than heading there, the author just shows us a kid who is a bit on the anxious side and a little too self-critical. The title of the book comes from the fact that Stephen keeps track of all the mistakes he makes every day. Renee, on the other hand, is a careless whirlwind sort of gal. Needless to say, they complement each other and develop an interesting friendship and partnership during the course of the investigation. Both characters end up growing up a little by the end. I found that to be one of the most appealing aspects of the book.
We do get a lot of dog-walking during the setup, when all of the red herrings are being tossed around and the mystery is slowly unfolded. After a while I had had enough of the dogs Ping and Pong, but then I decided that I'd rather have a bit too much of cute dogs than too much smarmy siblings or ludicrous bullies, both of which are thankfully absent from this tale. What is present is a sympathetic sense of what a neighborhood mystery looks like from a kid's point of view, and while Stephen sometimes feels older and sometimes feels younger than he is supposed to, the overall impression is fair.
It's also nice to have parents who aren't idiots and a family vibe that's safe and protective while still allowing for adventure. Stephen's Mom and Dad don't play a big role in the story, but they do provide stability for Stephen at his most anxious. Much the same can be said for other adult characters, who aren't cartoons and are sketched in with considerable variety.
So, a decent mystery, appealing heroes, some clever twists, a bit of humor, and a fairly imagined neighborhood of possible suspects. That worked for me.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
Lots of middle grade mysteries turn on hunches, eavesdropping, lucky guesses and coincidence - that may or may not be fun to read, but it doesn't make for much of a mystery. This book was appealing because we get two decent kid heroes and a mystery that almost reads like a neighborhood-kid-procedural. And I mean that in a good way.
The setup is that Stephen handles some dog walking jobs for his Dad, who has started a dog walking business. As a consequence he spends a lot of time walking around the neighborhood seeing what there is to see and talking to lots of neighborhood characters. You see where this is going. When a double mystery, (bomb threat, car theft/vandalism), comes up Stephen has already seen and heard enough to start gathering clues and lining up suspects. (Indeed, the clever cover for this book pretty much maps out where everything happens. Note the orange VW by the school.)
Anyway, a girl named Renee, who is introduced as a mouthy know-it-all, turns to classmate Stephen for help after her brother is accused of both crimes. Stephen and Renee are immediately on the job. Between the two of them they work the case.
The thing is, what middle grade reader reads a middle grade mystery just to work out the clues? We need more, and despite some slow bits this book generally delivers. At first it looked like Stephen was going to be another OCD/autism spectrum hero. I'm all for that, but that field has been getting crowded lately. Rather than heading there, the author just shows us a kid who is a bit on the anxious side and a little too self-critical. The title of the book comes from the fact that Stephen keeps track of all the mistakes he makes every day. Renee, on the other hand, is a careless whirlwind sort of gal. Needless to say, they complement each other and develop an interesting friendship and partnership during the course of the investigation. Both characters end up growing up a little by the end. I found that to be one of the most appealing aspects of the book.
We do get a lot of dog-walking during the setup, when all of the red herrings are being tossed around and the mystery is slowly unfolded. After a while I had had enough of the dogs Ping and Pong, but then I decided that I'd rather have a bit too much of cute dogs than too much smarmy siblings or ludicrous bullies, both of which are thankfully absent from this tale. What is present is a sympathetic sense of what a neighborhood mystery looks like from a kid's point of view, and while Stephen sometimes feels older and sometimes feels younger than he is supposed to, the overall impression is fair.
It's also nice to have parents who aren't idiots and a family vibe that's safe and protective while still allowing for adventure. Stephen's Mom and Dad don't play a big role in the story, but they do provide stability for Stephen at his most anxious. Much the same can be said for other adult characters, who aren't cartoons and are sketched in with considerable variety.
So, a decent mystery, appealing heroes, some clever twists, a bit of humor, and a fairly imagined neighborhood of possible suspects. That worked for me.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
February 26, 2017
I adored this book! It was sweet and funny and any time dogs are involved, sign me up! The cover is what piqued my interest. I love that the main character has a little bit of an anxiety problem. I think that lots of kids that age struggle with this issue so it is nice to see anxiety in a middle grade book. I recommend this for middle schoolers and dog lovers.
October 17, 2016
The Best Mistake Mystery
By: Sylvia McNicoll
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Plot:
This is a really fun mystery! The narrator (Stephen) counts his mistakes each day. The format of the book is enumerating each mistake per day (Day One, Mistake One). The clever part is that this mystery is solved because of his mistakes. Each little detail becomes clear as the mystery resolves itself. A schoolmate's brother (Renee - friend; Atilla - friend's brother) has been accused of a crime. Someone has crashed a car into the school causing damage and mayhem. Stephen and Renee set out to solve the mystery in order to clear Atilla's name.
Characters:
Stephen and Renee are both middle schoolers and are both outsiders. They have quirks that mean they don't fit into the norm. They are prime targets for middle school torture. At the beginning of the book the two don't even like each other much. They grate on each other and against the rest of the school population. What I loved so much about this book though was how the author turned what most people saw as a flaw (Stephen reading too much into situations) into a positive (using those analysis and observation skills to solve a mystery). That's a great lesson for kids to hear. Renee (the super smart kid at school) seems to be the only one who recognizes his skills and appreciates them. She helps Stephen develop. By the end they are true best friends - really a lovely transformation.
Conclusion:
If you like a mystery where all the confusing bits and pieces throughout the story resolve into a satisfying conclusion then this book is for you!
By: Sylvia McNicoll
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Plot:
This is a really fun mystery! The narrator (Stephen) counts his mistakes each day. The format of the book is enumerating each mistake per day (Day One, Mistake One). The clever part is that this mystery is solved because of his mistakes. Each little detail becomes clear as the mystery resolves itself. A schoolmate's brother (Renee - friend; Atilla - friend's brother) has been accused of a crime. Someone has crashed a car into the school causing damage and mayhem. Stephen and Renee set out to solve the mystery in order to clear Atilla's name.
Characters:
Stephen and Renee are both middle schoolers and are both outsiders. They have quirks that mean they don't fit into the norm. They are prime targets for middle school torture. At the beginning of the book the two don't even like each other much. They grate on each other and against the rest of the school population. What I loved so much about this book though was how the author turned what most people saw as a flaw (Stephen reading too much into situations) into a positive (using those analysis and observation skills to solve a mystery). That's a great lesson for kids to hear. Renee (the super smart kid at school) seems to be the only one who recognizes his skills and appreciates them. She helps Stephen develop. By the end they are true best friends - really a lovely transformation.
Conclusion:
If you like a mystery where all the confusing bits and pieces throughout the story resolve into a satisfying conclusion then this book is for you!
February 22, 2017
Anyone who’s read Anne of Green Gables (or watched the movie) knows the words Miss Stacy says to Anne when she messes up yet again: “Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it...well with no mistakes in it yet.” It’s a similar perspective to Stephen Nobel, dog walker and elementary school student but much more hopeful. Instead of starting a new day feeling like he can put the mistakes of yesterday behind him, Stephen wonders what he’ll do wrong today. He counts each mistake he makes, from letting Renée walk one of his two dogs, Ping and Pong, to thinking the fire drill is for real… and responding not-so-appropriately.
When somebody drives a car into the school, classmate Renée asks him to help her get her brother off the hook and someone else starts threatening Stephen to NOT tell what he knows (he knows nothing). Stephen begins to think he should try to figure it out if only to save Ping and Pong! He continues to make mistakes, but sometimes mistakes can lead to good things…
Stephen is a sweet, kind of vague boy. He’s just started his first solo job walking dogs (his dad’s business is Nobel Dog Walking) and is grudgingly letting Renée in as a friend. Renée is an annoying know-it-all who really spearheads the investigating. Stephen’s not interested in snooping but she won’t accept his no. Renée knows a lot of things, but Stephen is the observant one. So she drags him along. Ping and Pong, Stephen’s dogs for the week, add a lot of light-hearted fun to the gentle adventure. Definitely recommend this one.
A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
When somebody drives a car into the school, classmate Renée asks him to help her get her brother off the hook and someone else starts threatening Stephen to NOT tell what he knows (he knows nothing). Stephen begins to think he should try to figure it out if only to save Ping and Pong! He continues to make mistakes, but sometimes mistakes can lead to good things…
Stephen is a sweet, kind of vague boy. He’s just started his first solo job walking dogs (his dad’s business is Nobel Dog Walking) and is grudgingly letting Renée in as a friend. Renée is an annoying know-it-all who really spearheads the investigating. Stephen’s not interested in snooping but she won’t accept his no. Renée knows a lot of things, but Stephen is the observant one. So she drags him along. Ping and Pong, Stephen’s dogs for the week, add a lot of light-hearted fun to the gentle adventure. Definitely recommend this one.
A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
November 5, 2016
I absolutely love the cover of this book. It drew me in from the beginning.
This book played close to home for me as I have a nephew that is worried and anxious about everything. Which helped me to relate to the main character from the beginning. I liked having an insight into Stephan as i read his anxieties and how he dealt with life. Gave me a little insight to what my nephews is feeling every day.
Stephan bless him is anxious about everything and finds one of the best things for it is to count his mistakes. Stephan is also an excellent dog walker.
One day someone commits a crime at his school and Stephan's brother becomes the main suspect. Wanting to catch the criminal and clear his brothers name he sets out to solve the mystery.
I thought this story would be perfect for middle grade children as I think they would find it funny and I think it would capture their imaginations.
Thank you to NetGalley, dundrum and Sylvia McNicoll for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review
Happy reading everyone
This book played close to home for me as I have a nephew that is worried and anxious about everything. Which helped me to relate to the main character from the beginning. I liked having an insight into Stephan as i read his anxieties and how he dealt with life. Gave me a little insight to what my nephews is feeling every day.
Stephan bless him is anxious about everything and finds one of the best things for it is to count his mistakes. Stephan is also an excellent dog walker.
One day someone commits a crime at his school and Stephan's brother becomes the main suspect. Wanting to catch the criminal and clear his brothers name he sets out to solve the mystery.
I thought this story would be perfect for middle grade children as I think they would find it funny and I think it would capture their imaginations.
Thank you to NetGalley, dundrum and Sylvia McNicoll for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review
Happy reading everyone
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