Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret Pitch

Encyclopedia Brown #2

by Donald J. Sobol

A cross-eyed baseball pitch...A missing penknife named Excalibur...Poems that pack a punch...A kid-lover tumed kidnapper...And some tall tales that come up short!These are just some of the ten brain-twisting mysteries that Encyclopedia Brown must solve by using his famous computerlike brain. Try to crack the cases along with him--the answers to all the mysteries are found in the back!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Classics

132 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Donald J. Sobol was an award-winning writer best known for his children's books, especially the Encyclopedia Brown mystery series. Mr. Sobol passed away in July of 2012.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neo and I finished another collection of Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, perfect to read together. These stories span a period of time when the Boy Detective is both in Idaville and on vacation with his family in Texas. Encyclopedia is able to help his father crack some cases, including a bank robbery in town and a lost bet for a violin, as well as some solo work with a pocketknife and a missing bike. Encyclopedia also dismisses some Western folklore and makes a tour guide look like quite the fool. All read as part of a bedtime routine that allows these GR fanatics to share their excitement with you. A great collection of short stories, read in under five minutes, with solutions that will leave the reader scratching their head.

Neo has come to really like these stories, which were read to me when I was young as well. He thoroughly enjoys trying to crack the case wide open, listening to the stories and making an effort to discover the clues that will help him solve the cases. With funny moments, Neo always gets a good laugh, especially when Encyclopedia matches his wits with Bugs Meany!

Did you know Neo’s has his own GR account for reviews? Check him out: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

[MsAprilVincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading this aloud to my freshman.

[gushy love song follows:]

"Time to practice your deductive reasoning skills," I announce, and they all sit up straight, close their mouths, and fix their eyes on me.

It's the only time during the period when I don't have to wait for silence, the only time I don't have to remind them to be civil, the only time I've got every single student focusing on the same objective.

NOBODY sleeps through Encyclopedia Brown. Nobody interrupts, nobody stares out the window, nobody draws on the desks.

EVERYBODY listens and thinks and analyzes and hypothesizes.

Encyclopedia Brown is the best artillery I've got in my (substantial) arsenal, and I will never, ever, stop loving the effect he's had on my students.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun revisiting a childhood series that I loved as a kid. I remember frequently being stumped by the mysteries back then. It’s a relief to discover I’ve gotten smarter with age. 😂

[Neo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dad and I finished another collection of Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, perfect to read together. These stories span a period of time when the Boy Detective is both in Idaville and on vacation with his family in Texas. Encyclopedia is able to help his father crack some cases, including a bank robbery in town and a lost bet for a violin, as well as some solo work with a pocketknife and a missing bike. Encyclopedia also dismisses some Western folklore and makes a tour guide look like quite the fool. All read as part of a bedtime routine that allows these GR fanatics to share their excitement with you. A great collection of short stories, read in under five minutes, with solutions that will leave the reader scratching their head.

I have come to really like these stories, which were read to my dad when he was young as well. I thoroughly enjoys trying to crack the case wide open, listening to the stories and making an effort to discover the clues that will help me solve the cases. These are not always easy and even my dad stumbles at times! With funny moments, I always gets a good laugh, especially when Encyclopedia matches his wits with Bugs Meany! What a bully that guy can be to poor Encyclopedia!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eli had his first boys book club today. 2 other boys from his class came over. After letting them run around, we came in and had some popcorn and gingerale ice cubes (they were in one of the mysteries) and Kool-aid. The book discussion was light, but the boys had a surprising amount to say about the book, and knew so many of the details. They colored in some bookplates, made bookmarks and then we played kickball. I had planned on having some water balloon games, but Emma tripped with the whole cooler of balloons and their were no survivors. We are going to try it again in August. I was excited everyone enjoyed themselves.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Encylopedia brown. a yong boy who knows everything about anything and how he solves crimes. My favorite one is with the tigers secret shooting range.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed these books so much when I was a kid, and the nostalgia factor is strong!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread on 2/22/10 and upgraded from three stars to five stars

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a read aloud to the whole class, my third graders could figure out about half of these with some significant prompting. I remember reading these when I was about that age and getting frustrated at how I couldn't get most of them. Now I could get all of them! Must be something about having a fully developed brain or something.

All that being said, I think these books are great for kids picking up on and remembering details, and using logic to solve puzzles. Sometimes they need some prompting to get going. If they were struggling, I often would put the section of text with the clue on the board and re-reading with emphasis would help.

I also love how different the world of these books are, and how the kids don't really get why.

[Catherine Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I first read the case of the hungry hitchhiker many many years ago I have thought about it anytime I see a hitchhiker. Great read with my roommate Allison and we will certainly be reading more of these stories. A couple mistakes in the text but no big worries. I hope to see more of Charlie as he was so cute! Go get those teeth!

[Xydel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard mysteries that you get to solve yourself but inspirational because Leroy, or Encyclopedia, is a fifth grader just like me.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun puzzle book for an easy read. Definitely looking forward to reading more of these short stories to try and keep my brain firing on all cylinders!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate that even though most of the stories are pretty standalone, there's a continuity between them (like Encyclopedia and his dad taking a vacation).

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remembered why I enjoyed these as a kid!

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun :D

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was worried this would be dated, but the mystery setup with the answers in the back continues to enthrall my kids.

Encyclopedia Brown solves a couple of old historical mysteries in addition to helping the kids in his neighborhood.

[Ravioli · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Encyclopedia Brown, what a hack! Sometimes I put my right hand in my left pocket, just to prove the kid wrong." -- some guy on the internet

[Robert Ellington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished with Paddington, now reading this with my son.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites from childhood. I still remembered all of these stories and their solutions, and it doesn’t matter. I always wanted to try the sheet metal trick, too.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hungry hitchhiker is the best one obv

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second Encyclopedia Brown book That I have given a read. In some ways it is interesting reading these books and also the Hard Boys Books with my son currently. I first picked up a book in this series because Barry Lyga made mention of it on his blog. These are fun reads, especially waiting for meetings to start at work. And with almost 30 books in the series it will provide a lot of entertainment.

Leroy Brown known to everyone around town as Encyclopedia Brown, born is a ten year old detective from Idaville. Brown has a gift, he can see through events, stories and items and sort the facts and come up with the truth. His opening his own detective agency began one night at the dinner table when he helped his father the Chief of Police solve a case. His business sign states:

Brown Detective Agency
13 Rover Avenue
Leroy Brown, president
No case too small
25Cents per day
plus expenses

And with that the adventure begins. The cases in this volume are:
The Case of the Secret Pitch
The Case of the Balloon Man
The Case of the Ambushed Cowboy
The Case of the Forgetful Sheriff
The Case of the Hungry Hitchhiker
The Case of the Two-Fisted Poet
The Case of the Wounded Toe
The Case of Excalibur
The Case of the Glass of Ginger Ale
The Case of the Stomach Puncher

The cases in this volume are interesting. I did manage to figure all but one out. Though I did need to go back and reread one story as I had missed a crucial fact. I like that the books help a reader to really pay attention. I find that since I started reading these stories I have been more focused in my other reading also. I look forward to reading many of these stories with all three of my children.

One of the best guides for a children book I read is do I want to read it with my children and for these books that is an absolute yes. So pick it up and give it a try and if you read them when you were young introduce them to a young reader in your life.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Donald J. Sobol.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #2 in the Encyclopedia Brown series of books by Donald J. Sobol. We borrowed books 1 and 2 on the recommendation of another parent. I remember reading them as a child and loving trying to figure out the mysteries, so I was eager to share them with our girls. They liked them, but I don't think they're quite ready. Our oldest figured one of them out, and understood most of the others, once I read the solution, but a few of them went over her head. And our youngest just wasn't interested at all. We'll probably try the next one in the series in a few more months (or years.) And I hope they'll love them as much as I did, when they are old enough to read them on their own.

[Timothy McNeil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sobol's second Encyclopedia Brown collection requires a little more thinking and less guess work (and not a single instance of being outright wrong, which Encyclopedia was on his very first case). It is a little odd to revisit the idealized world of 1960s suburbia (even with the one bad neighborhood) where children are kidnapped for ransom and mumblety-peg is a perfectly fine past time for young boys. (Sobol is unclear as to which version of the game is being played, but the one with which I grew up involved throwing knives near your friends feet; there were injuries as a result.)

I do want to give Sobol credit for not making the mysteries so easy that any child could immediately solve them. There is a reward to be had in either matching Encyclopedia's wits or in learning the answer if stumped.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend Encyclopedia Brown. I was 8 when I first encountered this series. I loved it. It was recommended by a boy that I liked. What I liked about these books is that it taught me how to think before making wild guesses. Each book had several cases which were easy to read and follow for a child. I recommend this to any parent looking for helping their child to use logic and deductive reasoning. Great on how to look at relevant facts at a child's level.

[Julesmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every bit as fun as the first book! Leroy (Encyclopedia) continues to be a delightful main character, the mysteries continue to be entertaining, and the side characters are still fun and funny.

My favorite thing is still that the solutions to the mysteries are at the end of the book so they can't be accidentally spoiled. Very clever!

[Beyond Words · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rating.

There were a couple mysteries happening in Texas specifically, that I found I couldn't get into. There were a few others where I had to reread a section because I tuned out. I don't like how Sally just turned on Encyclopedia Brown and went out with a boy when they are only in fifth grade! What is happening?

[Joyce T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly don't remember a lot about this book as in what mysteries are in it, because I binge-read like fifteen of those at a time. I do remember that I really enjoyed it, though. I'd recommend this to any kids about ages 8 and over who don't get creeped out easily. I'm suggesting 8 years old because a few mysteries may not make sense to people younger than that.

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encyclopedia Brown Can't say enough good things about this series.  Written for kids but still a great read for adults on a nostalgia kick. 

[stormhawk · Rating 3 out of 5]

More short mysteries to be solved by the reader.

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it really good and for the first time I solved a case without looking at it!