Have you seen Hyacinth Macaw?

Abby Jones, Junior Detective #1

by Patricia Reilly Giff

Abby and her friend Potsie work on several mysteries: a mysterious new neighbor, a missing person, a theft, and the unusual actions of Abby's brother.

Genres: Childrens, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Middle Grade

134 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Patricia Reilly Giff was the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars -- While this is an entertaining first mystery by Giff, there is too much other 'stuff' I can't ignore. Abby and her friend Potsie - whose name cracks me up because it's short for Penelope Olivia Torres - become involved in a double mystery. The first involves a sign on a power pole that Abby watches a girl rip in two. The sign mentions the missing 'Hyacinth Macaw' and a reward. The second involves the odd sounds coming from the apartment next door to Abby's. The girls find out fairly quickly that the apartment is empty, so what is the source of the whispered voice(s)? Add to these two events that Dan, Abby's brother, is acting suspiciously enough to perhaps be involved in a crime that Garcia, Abby's policeman friend, is investigating, which is theft from the pet store where Dan works, and you have the recipe for crazy suppositions, amateur investigations, and incorrect conclusions. The story is certainly entertaining. What bothered me, though, were the constant 'fat' references made about Kiki, the building super's daughter; the idea that something was stolen and then brushed under the rug; the convenient absence of Abby and Dan's parents to allow freedom for their kids; the aforesaid freedom to wander in a big city even at night despite their age; and Abby & Potsie's disregard for common sense and the law. I know this is a middle grade book, but some of this was a bit much even for that.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the very first chapter book I ever read as a child, I must have been in 4th or 5th grade...I just happened to think of it today and looked it up, had no idea it was part of a series, may have to read the other two now :)

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a child and became obsessed with it! I just got a Hyacinth plant and immediately was reminded of Hyacinth Macaw and had to look it up. I am 45 now, and just may read the rest of the series. What a great blast from the past!

[Alison Mitchell]

Two girls search for missing Hyacinth Macaw. Not as good as I remembered from the 1980s.

[Maureen Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought a copy of this for nostalgia's sake, having been the first chapter book I ever read. I was probably seven when I read this, and I remember the librarian doubting whether or not I could get through it, but I did. This book is a good introduction to the mystery genre, although it is dated and modern readers will not understand some references (pay-phones, wooden clog shoes, a lack of internet), and this may affect readability and comprehension. Otherwise, the pacing and dialogue are well-executed, providing a decent sense of suspense, even for this jaded reader.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby Jones and her friend Potsie are on spring break and Abby is looking for a case to solve. As she starts noticing strange activity outside her bedroom window, her brother, Dan, begins to act strange. Then her friend Detective Garcia tells her there has been a big theft in town, plus there is a strange missing person’s sign that has been ripped. Abby doesn’t have to look too far before she gets wrapped up in a series of mysteries.

Patricia Reilly Giff has written about every young, adventurous girl’s dream with this book. Mystery, intrigue, suspense all occur in this first book in the Abby Jones, Junior Detective Mystery series. This chapter book has some illustrations and shorter sentences to make it easier to read. A few spelling errors and grammatical errors, but overall a good book for elementary school children.


Notes:
This review was written for the bookstore, My Sister's Books. To learn more about this store, please visit their website at http://www.mysistersbooks.com
This review was originally posted on my site, Ariesgrl Book Reviews. To learn more about my reviews, please visit my site at http://ariesgrlreview.com

[Tayler K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't remember this book. For years I knew that I'd read a book that had something to do with a hyacinth macaw, but that was all I could remember about it. Then, yesterday I was going through some old school papers, and came across an Accelerated Reading log from 2nd grade, and there it was! So, yeah.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading and loving this one as a kid.