What do you think?
Rate this book
The Great Shelby Holmes #2
The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match
The Great Shelby Holmes may have finally met her match in this humorous sequel to Elizabeth Eulberg's fresh twist on Sherlock Holmes.
Being friends with a super sleuth isn't easy, especially when she's nine years old and four feet tall, and full of attitude. But for eleven-year-old aspiring writer John Watson, being friends with Shelby Holmes is just the adventure he's looking for.
In the few weeks since moving to Harlem with his mom, Shelby has been training John in the art of observation—a skill that comes in handy on the first day of school. John's new teacher, Mr. Crosby, is acting suspiciously, and Shelby knows this is a mystery worth investigating. But as Shelby and John dig deeper, they discover that there may be someone unexpected involved—someone who may have Shelby beat.
From internationally bestselling author Elizabeth Eulberg comes a feel-good sequel for fans of Kate Messner and Chris Grabenstein.
Being friends with a super sleuth isn't easy, especially when she's nine years old and four feet tall, and full of attitude. But for eleven-year-old aspiring writer John Watson, being friends with Shelby Holmes is just the adventure he's looking for.
In the few weeks since moving to Harlem with his mom, Shelby has been training John in the art of observation—a skill that comes in handy on the first day of school. John's new teacher, Mr. Crosby, is acting suspiciously, and Shelby knows this is a mystery worth investigating. But as Shelby and John dig deeper, they discover that there may be someone unexpected involved—someone who may have Shelby beat.
From internationally bestselling author Elizabeth Eulberg comes a feel-good sequel for fans of Kate Messner and Chris Grabenstein.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2017
45 people are currently reading
637 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Eulberg
32 books3,128 followersThe short and sweet version:
Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to college at Syracuse University and making a career in the New York City book biz. Now a full-time writer, she is the international bestselling author of over a dozen novels, including The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom & Prejudice, Take a Bow, and Better Off Friends, along with the middle-grade series The Great Shelby Holmes and Scared Silly. She now lives in London where she spends her free time aimlessly wandering around historic streets and eating all the scones. ALL OF THEM.
To check out the long version, head over to my webpage: http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/bio/
Also, I'm not checking e-mails on my Goodreads, see my website for information on contacting me! http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/faq/
Happy reading!
Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to college at Syracuse University and making a career in the New York City book biz. Now a full-time writer, she is the international bestselling author of over a dozen novels, including The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom & Prejudice, Take a Bow, and Better Off Friends, along with the middle-grade series The Great Shelby Holmes and Scared Silly. She now lives in London where she spends her free time aimlessly wandering around historic streets and eating all the scones. ALL OF THEM.
To check out the long version, head over to my webpage: http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/bio/
Also, I'm not checking e-mails on my Goodreads, see my website for information on contacting me! http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/faq/
Happy reading!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
November 9, 2017
Elizabeth Eulberg does it again! THE GREAT SHELBY HOLMES is clever, fun, and hard to put down. It's perfect for reluctant readers and packs mystery and adventure into every page. Plus, there is fun science!
I love how Holmes is featured in this book for quite a different kind of experience that will make kids think about their actions and consequences.
If THE GREAT SHELBY HOLMES hasn't been on your radar screen for your middle school readers, it's a must! Highly recommend.
I love how Holmes is featured in this book for quite a different kind of experience that will make kids think about their actions and consequences.
If THE GREAT SHELBY HOLMES hasn't been on your radar screen for your middle school readers, it's a must! Highly recommend.
August 10, 2021
Scribd.com English text, and translation for Portuguese + audio in English from Google Translate.
Synopsys: "Acclaimed author Elizabeth Eulberg continues her hilarious middle-grade twist on Sherlock Holmes as detective duo Shelby and Watson face a culprit who might be able to do the impossible--outsmart Shelby.
Eleven-year-old John Watson never expected his first friend in his new Harlem neighborhood to be Shelby Holmes, a nine-year-old, four-foot-tall supersleuth whose incredible smarts are outweighed only by her big attitude. But it turns out that solving mysteries with Shelby is just the adventure that aspiring writer John needs.
On John's very first day of school in New York, Shelby deduces that their new science teacher, Mr. Crosby, is in trouble. But as Shelby and John dig deeper to expose the truth, they discover there might be someone unexpected involved . . . Someone determined to outsmart Shelby Holmes. Can Shelby and John uncover the truth before the case goes from puzzling to downright dangerous?"
Synopsys: "Acclaimed author Elizabeth Eulberg continues her hilarious middle-grade twist on Sherlock Holmes as detective duo Shelby and Watson face a culprit who might be able to do the impossible--outsmart Shelby.
Eleven-year-old John Watson never expected his first friend in his new Harlem neighborhood to be Shelby Holmes, a nine-year-old, four-foot-tall supersleuth whose incredible smarts are outweighed only by her big attitude. But it turns out that solving mysteries with Shelby is just the adventure that aspiring writer John needs.
On John's very first day of school in New York, Shelby deduces that their new science teacher, Mr. Crosby, is in trouble. But as Shelby and John dig deeper to expose the truth, they discover there might be someone unexpected involved . . . Someone determined to outsmart Shelby Holmes. Can Shelby and John uncover the truth before the case goes from puzzling to downright dangerous?"
September 11, 2017
THE GREAT SHELBY HOLMES MEETS HER MATCH is absolutely adorable, so much fun, and full of fantastic Sherlockian references.
The story itself was fast paced and highly entertaining. I loved reading through Watson's perspective and watching Shelby put her deductive reasoning skills to work.
The characters are charming. Both are such a great take on the classic Holmes and Watson characters. They have a lot of the same characteristics and quirks, but Eulberg has definitely put her own spin on them to make them relatable and enjoyable for a modern audience.
The dialogue throughout the story is cute and witty and everything I'd hope for from a middle grade novel.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was through the language Eulberg used, she really turns the idea of white as the default on its head. Every white character is described with their skin color like we see in most other books when characters of color are described, and I thought that was fantastic. This is definitely something we need to be more aware of as readers and writers.
I'm also a huge Sherlock fan, and I really loved all the witty Sherlockian references sprinkled throughout the book. They were fun little Easter Eggs for readers to uncover.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it both to MG readers as well as Sherlock Holmes fans of all ages.
The story itself was fast paced and highly entertaining. I loved reading through Watson's perspective and watching Shelby put her deductive reasoning skills to work.
The characters are charming. Both are such a great take on the classic Holmes and Watson characters. They have a lot of the same characteristics and quirks, but Eulberg has definitely put her own spin on them to make them relatable and enjoyable for a modern audience.
The dialogue throughout the story is cute and witty and everything I'd hope for from a middle grade novel.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was through the language Eulberg used, she really turns the idea of white as the default on its head. Every white character is described with their skin color like we see in most other books when characters of color are described, and I thought that was fantastic. This is definitely something we need to be more aware of as readers and writers.
I'm also a huge Sherlock fan, and I really loved all the witty Sherlockian references sprinkled throughout the book. They were fun little Easter Eggs for readers to uncover.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it both to MG readers as well as Sherlock Holmes fans of all ages.
March 29, 2021
Nobody gets the better of Shelby Holmes, or do they? It is a new school year and there is a new case to solve. There is a teacher in distress and a new arch enemy on the scene. New York's youngest detective and super stealth will need all her brain power, and the help of her best and only friend Hohn Watson, to solve the case and get to the bottom of this one. And, who knows, mabye Shelby and Lestrade will become friends (probably not)!
I definitely recomend this book because it is funny and very gripping. It will get the reader involved and inspired, so I think if you havent read it before, you go and read it now!!! 😎👍
I definitely recomend this book because it is funny and very gripping. It will get the reader involved and inspired, so I think if you havent read it before, you go and read it now!!! 😎👍
April 28, 2021
This is a really good book and I found it very enjoyable to read 😀 there's lots of twists in it that were not expected at all. It comes after 'the great shelby holmes girl detective'.
August 22, 2017
Holmes and Watson are back in their second adventure, The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match.
I won’t tell you who Shelby’s “match” is because I don’t want to spoil the suspense, but let’s just say that Shelby and Watson get a little more than they bargain for and tread more dangerous waters when working this case than they have in previous cases.
Both John and Shelby experience personal growth. John advances to the role of (almost) a full-fledged partner. Shelby loses some of her smug, know-it-all, I-can-never-be-wrong attitude, which is a good thing considering she is only nine-years-old and still has so much to learn about life, people, social interaction, not to mention game theory, probability laws, psychology, profiling, logic, and other necessary skills to become a master sleuth.
Shelby and John’s interaction is as endearing as in the first book, if not more so, and my 10-year-old daughter and I were thoroughly entertained.
My daughter had one complaint:
Fun and exciting story. Interesting characters and character development. We are definitely looking forward to the next installment of The Great Shelby Holmes.
I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I won’t tell you who Shelby’s “match” is because I don’t want to spoil the suspense, but let’s just say that Shelby and Watson get a little more than they bargain for and tread more dangerous waters when working this case than they have in previous cases.
Both John and Shelby experience personal growth. John advances to the role of (almost) a full-fledged partner. Shelby loses some of her smug, know-it-all, I-can-never-be-wrong attitude, which is a good thing considering she is only nine-years-old and still has so much to learn about life, people, social interaction, not to mention game theory, probability laws, psychology, profiling, logic, and other necessary skills to become a master sleuth.
Shelby and John’s interaction is as endearing as in the first book, if not more so, and my 10-year-old daughter and I were thoroughly entertained.
My daughter had one complaint:
Fun and exciting story. Interesting characters and character development. We are definitely looking forward to the next installment of The Great Shelby Holmes.
I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2018
Eulberg stepped up the game in this one and I loved it even more than the first book, also finishing it in record time (in like 6 hours). I loved following along with Shelby and John as they grew closer together in their friendship. I'm really excited to see what the next book is all about!!
July 30, 2017
In this retelling of the Sherlock Holmes story, Sherlock is Shelby, a nine-year-old genius who has been skipped two grades. Dr. Watson is John Watson her eleven-year-old sidekick. both attend a school for the arts in Harlem where John is focusing on writing. Like Dr. Watson, John tells the stories of Shelby's adventures but his medium is an online journal that is also a requirement of his creative writing class.
Shelby and John met only recently when he and his mother moved into the apartment house were the Holmes family lives. Shelby was John's first New York friend. Even though Shelby doesn't feel that she needs friends, John is a good friend to her. He helps her connect with other kids who tend to avoid her otherwise.
This case has to do with a suspicious new science teacher at their school. Shelby's investigations lead her to the conclusion that he has lost his grandfather's watch. Following the clues leads to the school that heavily recruited first grader Shelby and was the school where the teacher worked previously. There John and Shelby run into this story's Moriarty in the person of Moira who is jealous of the attention paid to Shelby and who is determined to outsmart her.
The story has appropriate danger for a middle grade mystery that is made more timely by the fact that John is a diabetic. One plot point has them locked in a boiler room and John suffering a blood sugar crash.
I found Shelby as annoying as most of the people around her do and appreciated John's attempts to socialize her. I liked the friendship that the two of them develop. I am eager to read more adventures for Shelby and John.
Shelby and John met only recently when he and his mother moved into the apartment house were the Holmes family lives. Shelby was John's first New York friend. Even though Shelby doesn't feel that she needs friends, John is a good friend to her. He helps her connect with other kids who tend to avoid her otherwise.
This case has to do with a suspicious new science teacher at their school. Shelby's investigations lead her to the conclusion that he has lost his grandfather's watch. Following the clues leads to the school that heavily recruited first grader Shelby and was the school where the teacher worked previously. There John and Shelby run into this story's Moriarty in the person of Moira who is jealous of the attention paid to Shelby and who is determined to outsmart her.
The story has appropriate danger for a middle grade mystery that is made more timely by the fact that John is a diabetic. One plot point has them locked in a boiler room and John suffering a blood sugar crash.
I found Shelby as annoying as most of the people around her do and appreciated John's attempts to socialize her. I liked the friendship that the two of them develop. I am eager to read more adventures for Shelby and John.
October 11, 2017
This is a cute twist on Sherlock Holmes featuring a girl named Shelby and her best friend John Watson in modern times. It's actually the second in the series, but I hadn't read the first one and didn't really need any prior background knowledge - anything that might have been important was explained in the plot of this one.
I thought it was pretty neat the way the author took so many references to the original Holmes stories and updated them in a fun way for kids. Many things, from the names of the characters to the events that happened in the plot, were straight from the originals or adapted from them. Even Sherlock's addictive personality is replicated here (luckily, in Shelby's case, her addiction is to sweets and sugar).
Shelby's great at solving mysteries and getting bored without an interesting case. Watson wants to be a writer and starts an online blog to chronicle the adventures that he and Shelby have. But when a seemingly simple case leads them straight to their rival (unbeknownst to them), it may be the most difficult thing they've faced yet. Shelby and Watson also learn some important things along the way, like being honest and what it means to be a true friend.
I thought it was pretty neat the way the author took so many references to the original Holmes stories and updated them in a fun way for kids. Many things, from the names of the characters to the events that happened in the plot, were straight from the originals or adapted from them. Even Sherlock's addictive personality is replicated here (luckily, in Shelby's case, her addiction is to sweets and sugar).
Shelby's great at solving mysteries and getting bored without an interesting case. Watson wants to be a writer and starts an online blog to chronicle the adventures that he and Shelby have. But when a seemingly simple case leads them straight to their rival (unbeknownst to them), it may be the most difficult thing they've faced yet. Shelby and Watson also learn some important things along the way, like being honest and what it means to be a true friend.
June 5, 2017
Just as delightful as the first Shelby Holmes, with an even bigger challenge for my favorite duo! Plus Levain cookies. Every book should have cookies!
April 25, 2018
My review for the CBCA:
This second instalment in the Shelby Holmes series by bestselling author Elizabeth Eulberg is a fun middle grade read with lots of heart and a feminist twist. The story tracks the adventures of case-solving sleuth Shelby Holmes and her sidekick John Watson. At the New York School of Arts, nine-year old Shelby is so eccentric and rude that she is shunned by the other students. Shelby, like her namesake, has a complete disregard for the pleasantries that usually accompany polite social interaction – whether with adults or kids. Luckily, she has a best friend in her neighbour, the new kid at school, eleven-year-old John Watson. John sticks by her side and helps her with the social aspects of life.
Her deductive skills rub off on him and soon they are solving a case involving the new science teacher. Holmes’ deductive smarts are offset by her snark and superciliousness. John has his work cut out for him keeping up with her genius, as well as her inflated ego. The story is told from John’s point of view who manages to thread in plenty of sassy remarks on the outrageous behaviour of his friend.
The Great Shelby Meets Her Match is a story about observing and noticing and never giving up, perfect for budding kid detectives. Black and white illustrations by Matt Robertson complement the text.
This second instalment in the Shelby Holmes series by bestselling author Elizabeth Eulberg is a fun middle grade read with lots of heart and a feminist twist. The story tracks the adventures of case-solving sleuth Shelby Holmes and her sidekick John Watson. At the New York School of Arts, nine-year old Shelby is so eccentric and rude that she is shunned by the other students. Shelby, like her namesake, has a complete disregard for the pleasantries that usually accompany polite social interaction – whether with adults or kids. Luckily, she has a best friend in her neighbour, the new kid at school, eleven-year-old John Watson. John sticks by her side and helps her with the social aspects of life.
Her deductive skills rub off on him and soon they are solving a case involving the new science teacher. Holmes’ deductive smarts are offset by her snark and superciliousness. John has his work cut out for him keeping up with her genius, as well as her inflated ego. The story is told from John’s point of view who manages to thread in plenty of sassy remarks on the outrageous behaviour of his friend.
The Great Shelby Meets Her Match is a story about observing and noticing and never giving up, perfect for budding kid detectives. Black and white illustrations by Matt Robertson complement the text.
August 28, 2024
My favourite Shelby book so far! I wish there were more books to the series.
December 7, 2017
The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match by Elizabeth Eulberg is the second Shelby Holmes book. John and Shelby are in school now and their teacher, Mr. Crosby is acting weird. Things get worse when the teacher's watch is stolen and the thief is trying to blackmail him into failing Shelby.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...
May 11, 2019
This was the second book in Elizabeth Eulberg's Great Shelby Holmes Mystery series. I enjoyed how this book picked up right after the first book ended. We got to see how John adjusted to his new school and made some new friends. It was clear on the first day of school that Shelby did not have friends and was often referred to as a "freak." It was great to see how John not only remained friends with Shelby, but also made the other kids aware of her talents so they became more tolerant and even a little respectful of her.
In this book, Mr. Crosby, the new science teacher at the New York School of Arts, has his good watch stolen. Shelby figures it out it's missing and offers to help him get his watch back. This involves disguises and sneaking back into Shelby's old school, where she discovers that Moira Hardy, an equally intelligent student, has stolen the watch in an attempt to outwit Shelby. We also learn that she is extremely jealous of Shelby and therefore has it out for her. Has Shelby finally met her match? Of course not, but she comes close a few times!
In this story, the loyalty between John and Shelby is heart-warming. Shelby shows a true growth of character from the first book. From her heartfelt apology to John's mother, to her risking her own safety to save John, who has diabetes, Shelby proves that in addition to brains, she is also learning the importance of friendship.
This is an exciting mystery. I think it is helpful to read the first book in the series, but I don't think it is necessary. There are lots of twists and turns and surprises! I think kids will enjoy it.
In this book, Mr. Crosby, the new science teacher at the New York School of Arts, has his good watch stolen. Shelby figures it out it's missing and offers to help him get his watch back. This involves disguises and sneaking back into Shelby's old school, where she discovers that Moira Hardy, an equally intelligent student, has stolen the watch in an attempt to outwit Shelby. We also learn that she is extremely jealous of Shelby and therefore has it out for her. Has Shelby finally met her match? Of course not, but she comes close a few times!
In this story, the loyalty between John and Shelby is heart-warming. Shelby shows a true growth of character from the first book. From her heartfelt apology to John's mother, to her risking her own safety to save John, who has diabetes, Shelby proves that in addition to brains, she is also learning the importance of friendship.
This is an exciting mystery. I think it is helpful to read the first book in the series, but I don't think it is necessary. There are lots of twists and turns and surprises! I think kids will enjoy it.
August 7, 2017
These books are so much fun! If you have kids who like mysteries and are ready to graduate from Magic Tree House or Nate the Great, check out these books. They follow John Watson and his new friend Shelby Holmes while they solve cases and navigate the world of elementary school. And the second one is just as good as the first! John and Shelby met over the summer so this one shows them heading back to school. Except for John, it's a new school and now he's friends with the kid everybody thinks is weird. But the book does a great job of showing John seeing how everyone treats Shelby at school a figuring out whether he wants to be associated with her and become an outsider too or try to make new friends. In the end, it all works out and we get to see an even deeper friendship develop between these two. It's cute and fun and even gets a little bit emotional. Plus, for those of us who are Sherlock fans, it's fun to see all of the character reimagined in this series, some as kids and some as adults. Overall, a really great mystery series for kids that keeps it light and fun and not scary but also with a little danger and lots of friendship. I highly recommend them!
August 1, 2017
I’m admittedly a big fan of Holmes from his incarnation under the adept hands of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the various iterations that have dotted across literary and media history throughout the years.
This variant is one of the cuter ones and definitely perfect for the younger generation coming up in a world that is daring to go beyond the long held beliefs on gender.
Eulberg, in her second book of this series, turned Holmes into a girl who is so smart (obviously) she’s been moved up a couple of grades in school where she meets a new sidekick and seemingly only friend – Watson. Like his predecessor Dr. John this young child is responsible for narrating the life of Holmes so we can be clued in to how she operates in the world. In this story we even get to meet the infamous Moriarty in the form of yet another gender different character.
The fun and ingenious ways she uses deductive reasoning is on full display complete with the detached, almost borderline rudeness, of the classic Holmes personality.
Unlike Elementary, Sherlock or other current iterations of the original Holmes character this one is much more appropriate for the younger audience when it comes to level of mystery, character interaction, and dialogue.
My only complaint is that unlike all the other books, tv shows or movies I’ve read/watched this version of the Holmes’ personality came off on the irritating side.
As egotistical as the character of Holmes could be there was always something endearing that made you feel impressed by his abilities and wishing he was real because maybe our crime rate would decrease, lol.
Shelby just comes off egotistical without the endearing quality as if she has this constant need to show off her intellect and prove she’s superior to everyone around her. I don’t think it has anything to do with her being a kid because recently I read The Baker Street Peculiars, The Baker Street Four and Artie Conan Doyle Mysteries which all use kids as their focus. Plus I grew up with Encyclopedia Brown.
My issue with her character is more than likely not going to be shared by children who have had as much exposure to Holmes variations the way I have so I wouldn’t let my opinion on that sway you away from this book. It’s so hard to find decent material for kids of this age range you should definitely give yours a chance with this.
If you haven’t read the first I wouldn’t be too worried about it because it fits very well as a standalone.
This variant is one of the cuter ones and definitely perfect for the younger generation coming up in a world that is daring to go beyond the long held beliefs on gender.
Eulberg, in her second book of this series, turned Holmes into a girl who is so smart (obviously) she’s been moved up a couple of grades in school where she meets a new sidekick and seemingly only friend – Watson. Like his predecessor Dr. John this young child is responsible for narrating the life of Holmes so we can be clued in to how she operates in the world. In this story we even get to meet the infamous Moriarty in the form of yet another gender different character.
The fun and ingenious ways she uses deductive reasoning is on full display complete with the detached, almost borderline rudeness, of the classic Holmes personality.
Unlike Elementary, Sherlock or other current iterations of the original Holmes character this one is much more appropriate for the younger audience when it comes to level of mystery, character interaction, and dialogue.
My only complaint is that unlike all the other books, tv shows or movies I’ve read/watched this version of the Holmes’ personality came off on the irritating side.
As egotistical as the character of Holmes could be there was always something endearing that made you feel impressed by his abilities and wishing he was real because maybe our crime rate would decrease, lol.
Shelby just comes off egotistical without the endearing quality as if she has this constant need to show off her intellect and prove she’s superior to everyone around her. I don’t think it has anything to do with her being a kid because recently I read The Baker Street Peculiars, The Baker Street Four and Artie Conan Doyle Mysteries which all use kids as their focus. Plus I grew up with Encyclopedia Brown.
My issue with her character is more than likely not going to be shared by children who have had as much exposure to Holmes variations the way I have so I wouldn’t let my opinion on that sway you away from this book. It’s so hard to find decent material for kids of this age range you should definitely give yours a chance with this.
If you haven’t read the first I wouldn’t be too worried about it because it fits very well as a standalone.
August 13, 2017
Originally posted to: www.bickeringbookreviews.com
Summary: In the sequel to "The Great Shelby Holmes" John Watson is adjusting to his life as the the new kid at 221 Baker Street. He is getting used to living alone with his mother, attending a new school, and becoming acquainted with his new neighbor "The Great Shelby Holmes". Shelby is a genius and a super sleuth who is teaching John the art of observation as he help her solve cases. Since the start of their association Shelby's lessons have been limited to solving the mysteries of their classmates but when John and Shelby uncover a blackmail plot against their new teacher they team up to solve their biggest mystery to date.
Review: This modern take on the classic Sherlock Holmes story is the perfect book for middle grade mystery lovers. Shelby and John are the perfect Holmes and Watson with her being brilliant about everything except how to deal with people and him being the only one who really understands how her mind works. The mystery of who is blackmailing their teacher feels like a classic Holmes mystery but Eulberg filled the book with little contemporary touches (Watson is now African American with a father in the military, the story is based in NYC, Watson has diabetes) that make the book relatable to today's young reader.
Bottomline: This is a must read mystery for young readers filled with adventure and intrigue but also shows the importance of friendship.
Final Rating: 4 out of 5
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: In the sequel to "The Great Shelby Holmes" John Watson is adjusting to his life as the the new kid at 221 Baker Street. He is getting used to living alone with his mother, attending a new school, and becoming acquainted with his new neighbor "The Great Shelby Holmes". Shelby is a genius and a super sleuth who is teaching John the art of observation as he help her solve cases. Since the start of their association Shelby's lessons have been limited to solving the mysteries of their classmates but when John and Shelby uncover a blackmail plot against their new teacher they team up to solve their biggest mystery to date.
Review: This modern take on the classic Sherlock Holmes story is the perfect book for middle grade mystery lovers. Shelby and John are the perfect Holmes and Watson with her being brilliant about everything except how to deal with people and him being the only one who really understands how her mind works. The mystery of who is blackmailing their teacher feels like a classic Holmes mystery but Eulberg filled the book with little contemporary touches (Watson is now African American with a father in the military, the story is based in NYC, Watson has diabetes) that make the book relatable to today's young reader.
Bottomline: This is a must read mystery for young readers filled with adventure and intrigue but also shows the importance of friendship.
Final Rating: 4 out of 5
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2020
With endearing references to Sherlock Holmes sprinkled throughout the book, this entertaining mystery fiction starts off with super kid sleuth Shelby Holmes, a six-grader who, along with her side kick, John Watson, tackles the case of a missing teacher’s treasured watch. Set in New York City and with a diverse set of characters that matches its environment, the story is packed with high-voltage, high-stamina, and high-drama as Shelby and Watson follow clues and creates elaborate plans to find the watch. Shelby is socially awkward, brilliant, and loyal, while Watson, an army brat, is friendly, likable, and unsure of where he stands with yet another new school. These two building-mates and school-mates, thwarted by a jealous adversary but undeterred, embark on an increasingly, complicated plot that gradually layers up a series of characters that include a teacher, a principal, a cop, neighbors, as well as parents. This warm-hearted and sweet tale is a definitely a must-read book for middle graders.Elizabeth EulbergElizabeth Eulberg
Read
July 18, 2024This was cute! Kiddo bought this book (#2 in the series) at a school book fair, despite knowing it was the second in the series, because she found the cover of this one more appealing. The author did a great job of making this book accessible as a first entry into the series (though we are now getting book #1 from the library!).
Age-wise, my 7yo needed some handholding/explanations to walk through the concepts of a private school and school uniforms (our school doesn't have uniforms), and she's not terribly familiar with NYC but that didn't matter. As an adult who has visited NYC a handful of times, I was vaguely familiar with the references to locations, and I assume the things I wasn't super familiar with were pretty accurate about locations.
In addition, kiddo had little/no familiarity with the original Sherlock stories and didn't know about Irene Adler or Moriarty, but as someone who has read most of the Sherlock stories and has watched quite a few iterations in movies/TV, these references felt well-integrated. I feel like it walked the tightrope and achieved the desired outcome.
Age-wise, my 7yo needed some handholding/explanations to walk through the concepts of a private school and school uniforms (our school doesn't have uniforms), and she's not terribly familiar with NYC but that didn't matter. As an adult who has visited NYC a handful of times, I was vaguely familiar with the references to locations, and I assume the things I wasn't super familiar with were pretty accurate about locations.
In addition, kiddo had little/no familiarity with the original Sherlock stories and didn't know about Irene Adler or Moriarty, but as someone who has read most of the Sherlock stories and has watched quite a few iterations in movies/TV, these references felt well-integrated. I feel like it walked the tightrope and achieved the desired outcome.
October 16, 2017
I received this arc from Netgalley for an honest review.
The dynamic duo of 11-year-old John Watson and 9-year-old and over all know-it-all Shelby Holmes are back in their newest adventure! John makes new friends easily at his new school, Harlem Academy of the Arts, as he's had lots of practice starting moving around and going to new schools as an army brat. His new multi-ethnic group of friends enjoy video games, playing basketball, and discussing various arts, but John longs for a new case with Shelby. John starts an online journal to chronicle The Great Shelby Holmes and has a few dedicated readers. John and Shelby take the case of a teacher who doesn't really want their help and make plan to investigate a villainous headmistress at another school, but their case might be more trouble and more dangerous than they expected as Shelby meets her match.
Charming and full of laughs, this adventure is pure fun and should find itself in the hands of middle grade readers who love a good adventure, smart characters, and mysteries.
The dynamic duo of 11-year-old John Watson and 9-year-old and over all know-it-all Shelby Holmes are back in their newest adventure! John makes new friends easily at his new school, Harlem Academy of the Arts, as he's had lots of practice starting moving around and going to new schools as an army brat. His new multi-ethnic group of friends enjoy video games, playing basketball, and discussing various arts, but John longs for a new case with Shelby. John starts an online journal to chronicle The Great Shelby Holmes and has a few dedicated readers. John and Shelby take the case of a teacher who doesn't really want their help and make plan to investigate a villainous headmistress at another school, but their case might be more trouble and more dangerous than they expected as Shelby meets her match.
Charming and full of laughs, this adventure is pure fun and should find itself in the hands of middle grade readers who love a good adventure, smart characters, and mysteries.
October 14, 2017
This book was a lot of fun. John Watson is new to town and has made one friend—Shelby Holmes. Shelby Holmes is a curious girl who has few friends, but lots of knowledge about just about everything. She can follow clues to find lost dogs, figure out where her classmates spent their summers, and solve the mystery of missing piggy bank funds. She is always watching, collecting data, and analyzing her surroundings.
When the new science teacher loses his beloved watch, Shelby knows she’s up to the task. She offers to find the watch and sets out to solve the case. But it turns out to be more complicated than she anticipates. She has been set up by someone who knows all of her tricks. Watson wonders if this case is just too much for Shelby.
This book is great for kids and adults. It is full of nods to Sherlock Holmes to make adults giggle as the kids enjoy the mystery of the missing watch. Shelby’s methods are fascinating and may set young readers off on some detective work of their own!
I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
When the new science teacher loses his beloved watch, Shelby knows she’s up to the task. She offers to find the watch and sets out to solve the case. But it turns out to be more complicated than she anticipates. She has been set up by someone who knows all of her tricks. Watson wonders if this case is just too much for Shelby.
This book is great for kids and adults. It is full of nods to Sherlock Holmes to make adults giggle as the kids enjoy the mystery of the missing watch. Shelby’s methods are fascinating and may set young readers off on some detective work of their own!
I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
September 20, 2017
This is a very enjoyable novel for upper elementary readers. Many kids have been exposed to and are interested in forensics or criminology, so this is a great book to learn a bit more about those fields in a youth-centered detective story. This book is a modern mystery, with some influence from the classic Sherlock Holmes novels, that is easy for current audiences to read. I had not read the first book in this series, but I could easily get into the plot of this novel without it, though it has interested me in returning to read the first one. The narration was unique, as it was designed to be Watson's narrative that he is writing online about his experiences with Shelby Holmes. He repeatedly breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the readers, which really helps to elevate the engagement and investment that the reader has in the story. I would recommend this to avid detective fans and casual readers alike.
April 13, 2018
Feisty nine-year-old girl detective Shelby Holmes returns to solve a new mystery and confront an old enemy. With her friend and mystery-solving partner John Watson they are ready to face new challenges. Both are attending a new school - the Harlem Academy of the Arts, in the same year level because Shelby’s ‘brain attic’ her knowledge and deductive abilities have helped her skip two grades.
John has experienced new schools and different places and as an army kid, and is confident about their fitting in, however he’s concerned about Shelby’s unique style, her lack of reading social cues and bluntly pointing out everyone’s secrets which causes problems. Shelby delves into the background of the mysterious new teacher Mr. Crosby and his missing heirloom watch. They face problems caused by Shelby’s nemesis Moira who hacks the school director’s email, steals Mr. Johnson’s watch and locks Shelby and John up in a basement boiler room. Here, John who has juvenile diabetes suffers a medical incident and Shelby desperately and creatively finds someone to help him.
Eulberg includes numerous references to the original Sherlock Holmes stories, which may be beyond her reading audience’s background knowledge. Interestingly, she includes descriptions of the white students’ skin tones as a point of reference. Matt Robertson's cartoon drawings are entertaining; there’s Shelby's unique hairstyle, smoke bombs exploding and eyes appearing from the darkness. ‘Shelby Holmes meets her match’ has themes of friendship, solving mysteries and overcoming worry and anxiety, this is an enjoyable novel suited to ages 8-10.
John has experienced new schools and different places and as an army kid, and is confident about their fitting in, however he’s concerned about Shelby’s unique style, her lack of reading social cues and bluntly pointing out everyone’s secrets which causes problems. Shelby delves into the background of the mysterious new teacher Mr. Crosby and his missing heirloom watch. They face problems caused by Shelby’s nemesis Moira who hacks the school director’s email, steals Mr. Johnson’s watch and locks Shelby and John up in a basement boiler room. Here, John who has juvenile diabetes suffers a medical incident and Shelby desperately and creatively finds someone to help him.
Eulberg includes numerous references to the original Sherlock Holmes stories, which may be beyond her reading audience’s background knowledge. Interestingly, she includes descriptions of the white students’ skin tones as a point of reference. Matt Robertson's cartoon drawings are entertaining; there’s Shelby's unique hairstyle, smoke bombs exploding and eyes appearing from the darkness. ‘Shelby Holmes meets her match’ has themes of friendship, solving mysteries and overcoming worry and anxiety, this is an enjoyable novel suited to ages 8-10.
September 10, 2017
I have been a huge Sherlock Holmes aficionado ever since I read The Hound of the Baskervilles for school in eighth grade. I've read and seen almost every permutation from Basil of Baker Street to Benedict Cumberbatch, but the Shelby Holmes series may be far and away my favorite. So many clever Holmesian allusions wrapped in a modern-day school story that still feels so fresh and exciting, along with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments from an engaging narrator and some sweet emphasis on family and friend relationships. I would highly recommend the series as an introduction to Sherlock for upper elementary kids and a light, relaxing read for Holmes devotees. I can't wait to see what case Shelby and John take on next!
October 6, 2017
I was looking forward to the sequel as soon as I finished the first one. Watson has a great voice for this new series' narrator. I enjoy the relationship between this interpretation of the Holmes and Watson dynamic and all the small and/or subtle homages to the originals (I was very happy to see the bulldog, Sir Arthur, return!).
While I did not enjoy the main plot (i.e. the case) in this second book as much as the debut Shelby Holmes tale, and was planning on giving it 3-3 1/2 stars, the fact that GIVES. ME. LIFE. and secured this worthy sequel a 4-star rating from me.
Hoping for a third Shelby-and-Watson escapade in the not-too-distant future. :)
While I did not enjoy the main plot (i.e. the case) in this second book as much as the debut Shelby Holmes tale, and was planning on giving it 3-3 1/2 stars, the fact that GIVES. ME. LIFE. and secured this worthy sequel a 4-star rating from me.
Hoping for a third Shelby-and-Watson escapade in the not-too-distant future. :)
November 2, 2017
Elizabeth Eulberg's The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match (The Great Shelby Holmes #2) is a middle grade-sized Sherlock DELIGHT! I loved the way that Elizabeth Eulberg wrote her middle grade characters and their ties to the Sherlock Holmes originals--Holmes, Moriarty, and Lestrade as female roles; Watson as the downstairs neighbor with an online blog--just all so connected to originals but bringing them to a middle grade audience with a modern flair.
Fans of the first book, The Great Shelby Holmes, get excited . . . we meet MORIARTY! Can't wait for the future adventures of Shelby and Watson.
I will definitely purchase this title and recommend it to my 5th grade students.
Thank you, Netgalley and Bloomsbury, for providing me with a copy of The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match in exchange for an honest review.
Fans of the first book, The Great Shelby Holmes, get excited . . . we meet MORIARTY! Can't wait for the future adventures of Shelby and Watson.
I will definitely purchase this title and recommend it to my 5th grade students.
Thank you, Netgalley and Bloomsbury, for providing me with a copy of The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2017
There is not much I can say about this without spoiling things. Like the first book in the series, it's an absolutely delightful adaptation of the Holmes stories for kids, brought into 21st-century New York and featuring more diverse characters. If you're familiar with the Canon, you'll spot the references that pop up throughout the book.
Once again, Eulberg nails the friendship between Holmes and Watson - for me, the heart of the Canon and any successful pastiche. I love the way they interact: they can irritate each other, but when it comes down to it, each would do anything for the other.
This is said to be the second part of a trilogy, so I'm already looking forward to book three!
Once again, Eulberg nails the friendship between Holmes and Watson - for me, the heart of the Canon and any successful pastiche. I love the way they interact: they can irritate each other, but when it comes down to it, each would do anything for the other.
This is said to be the second part of a trilogy, so I'm already looking forward to book three!
June 24, 2017
My kids loved the first book in this series, which I picked up at a Scholastic Book Fair, and I was so excited when I saw the chance to read the second one. They were too! The book stands alone, so kids who haven't read the first will do fine reading it. But it also continues to develop the relationship between Shelby and Watson nicely. The parallels to the original story are very fun, but one doesn't need to know anything about the original to enjoy it. All around very fun. I hope there are more!
August 7, 2017
I loved this book so much. It was a lovely sequel to the first book in this series. I loved the way this story really focused on Holmes and Watson friendship. I loved both the case and the characters that came into the story. It def was a step up in from book one. I loved the adorable illustrations and also who the "villian" was in this story. I also really enjoyed the how the mystery was developed and how it really effected the main characters. It was such a fun read and grew to love John even more!
August 29, 2017
John Watson has started his new school alongside his first and best friend, Shelby Holmes. Watson had a great time solving the previous mystery with Shelby and can't wait to see what their next adventure will be. Shelby uncovers something fishy going on with their new teacher and she is determined to find out what his deal is. This second case has Watson learning more techniques from Shelby and Shelby learning a few techniques from their adversary.
This was a fun twist on the classic Sherlock Holmes tales. Perfect for children.
This was a fun twist on the classic Sherlock Holmes tales. Perfect for children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews