Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception

Sammy Keyes #8

by Wendelin Van Draanen

“The hottest sleuth to appear in children’s books since Nancy Drew” (The Boston Globe) is back! Don’t miss the eighth book in the series that’s been described as “a combination of Carl Hiaasen’s Flush and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books” (School Library Journal) and hailed as “nonstop whodunits” (Kirkus Reviews)!   The artsy crowd thinks Sammy Keyes has a lot of nerve showing up at a fancy reception in high-tops. But when she tackles a robber who’s brandishing a gun with one hand and pulling paintings from the wall with the other, they’re glad she has nerve. Or are they?   Sammy may have stopped one criminal, but the real crime at this show has yet to be discovered. The real crime is more subtle, more artful, than anything Sammy’s ever seen. Who knew art could be so dangerous?   Praise for the Sammy Keyes   “If Kinsey Millhone ever hires a junior partner, Sammy Keyes will be the first candidate on the list. She’s feisty, fearless, and funny. A top-notch investigator!” —New York Times bestselling author Sue Grafton “The sleuth delights from start to finish. Keep your binoculars trained on Sammy Keyes.” —Publishers Weekly   “The most winning junior detective ever in teen lit. (Take that, Nancy Drew!)” —Midwest Children’s Book Review

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Mystery Thriller

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2003

About the author

Wendelin Van Draanen has written more than thirty novels for young readers and teens. She is the author of the 18-book Edgar-winning Sammy Keyes series, and wrote Flipped which was named a Top 100 Children’s Novel for the 21st Century by SLJ, and became a Warner Brothers feature film with Rob Reiner directing. Her novel The Running Dream was awarded ALA’s Schneider Family Award for its portrayal of the disability experience.

Van Draanen's latest book, Hope in the Mail, is part memoir, part writing guided, designed to encourage aspiring writers to pursue their dream.

Van Draanen is also the author of two short chapter-book series. The Gecko & Sticky books, are fun read-alouds, perfect for reluctant readers, and the Shredderman books—featuring a boy who deals with a bully—received the Christopher Award for “affirming the highest values of the human spirit” and became a Nickelodeon made-for-TV movie.

Van Draanen was a classroom teacher for fifteen years. She and her husband reside in California and have two sons.

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book Sammy Keyes because the book is a mystery and it is one of my favorite genres. The main event is where a character tries to steal paintings from a painter that was at an art gallery, but Sammy tackled him and the character's shoe kicked Sammy in his mouth and Sammy couldn't talk straight. I thought it was weird when Sammy's friend Marisa stood strangely looking at Sammy like something happened that was bad. I thought about the art assignment that they had to do and it made me think if it would be hard or easy to learn more about art from somebody that you may or may not know. That's why I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Courtney Cutshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was OBSESSED with Sammy when I was younger. Loved re-entering her world this year through this accidental kindle purchase.

[Cassandra Hamm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey, my love!!!! <3 *swoon* if a cute, sweet guy dressed in Renaissance garb kissed my hand, I think I would die of happiness.

Also, Hudson was being an idiot in this one. *facepalm* Grams was hilarious with her jealousy, Marissa’s character growth was awesome, and go Billy Pratt.

I vaguely remembered what happened in this one, so I wasn’t really surprised by the ending—there were a few details I’d forgotten, but I did have a clue as to what was going on. Still, my favorite of the series so far. Probably because CASEY!!

[Thomas]

Audible.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sammy and her grandmother go with their friend Hudson to an art gallery for a Sammy's school project. Sammy dislikes two of the artists' work but she is captivated by the third artist's work. Then a burglar attempts a heist of the artwork and Sammy stops him. This sets Sammy and her grandma on a quest to determine whether one of the artists staged the robbery and leads Sammy to examine what true art is. Fun book for middle grade readers.

[Meera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Sammy Keyes almost 8 years ago (so when I was 12), and I remember the feeling of belonging for the first time. I am revisiting the series because I was able to buy the first 10 books for $30 (which I love), and I cannot wait to read them all again.

The book is definitely not written for an adult (10-12 is a great age to read them), but it was very nostalgic to read this book, and I cannot wait to re-read the rest of the series.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read. The main characters were likable. My critique is that the main character, Sammy, supposedly a seventh-grader, reasons too much like an adult to be believable. I feel that her age was more like that of a sophomore-aged kid. I liked that paintings were involved in the story.

[~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“…and the last thing I needed was to give Heather a reason to think she had to mess them up again. So I DON’T say, Hey, your daddy’d like a restraining order on you, too!”

😭😭😭 VIOLATION

Ladies Gone Amok >>>

-THESE typa covers are my fav covers of this series btw

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was AWE-SOME.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the last installment.
I liked seeing Sammy and Grams work together, and Sammy mature a bit in her behavior.

[Mira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very interesting because the series of these books are mostly about mysteries and it's fun to find out what is about to happen next. Sammy goes to an art The main event is where sammy goes to an art gallery event in hightops and gets a lot of stares but she notices something very strange about this person. It turns out he is a robber and is trying to steal paintings from a painter that was at an art gallery, but Sammy tackled him and was trying to get the panting back. I think the theme of this book is to trust you instincts like sammy did when she was unsure of a man that was running away with a painting. I think that The static character is the robber because he doesn't give the painting back but the dynamic character i sammy because she gets offensive and gets the painting back. That is why i rated my book a 5 out of 5 because it was a fun mystery to solve and read and find out what would happen next.

[chloe-phloe ₊ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather shakes me by the sleeve. “Did my brother kiss you or not?”

‎

All of a sudden this short pudgy woman with a floppy hat, an apron, and a big fish comes up and says, “Unhand her, y’wench!” Heather just totally ignores her, so she says it louder, “Unhand her, I say!”

‎

Now, I’m thinking, Who in the world is this woman, and what’s she doing holding that big ol’ ugly fish by the tail, when all of a sudden she takes a step back and ker-splat, she smacks Heather across the back with the broad side of the fish.

‎

Heather cries, “Oooohhhh!” but I think she was way more grossed out than hurt. She lets go of my sleeve and shrieks at the pudgy woman, “You hit me with a fish? I’m gonna sue! I’m gonna sue you for—”

24.02.19
the more I read Heather, the funnier she just gets

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of family drama in this one - both in the central mystery and in Sammy's personal life. I liked that this asks questions about what art means, and how valid someone's thoughts on art are if they themselves are a fraud.

Reveal: Diane Reijden showcased her father Duane's art as her own by forging her signature over his, because she wanted the art to be appreciated and did not think anyone would be interested in work by an artist who died. Diane's brother Lance held up the art gallery and stole some of the paintings to prevent her from selling their father's work. Diane then had scans of the artwork made for lithographs before burning the originals, so no one could tell that she was not the original artist.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sammy Keyes is one smart, savvy detective. When her art teacher assigns an odd assignment, Sammy smells something fishy. Along with her quick-witted Grams and her favorite old person Hudson, they put the clues together to catch an inept thief and/or liar. In between all the mayhem, Sammy finds art that speaks to her, a true and loyal friend, and an appreciation for a Renaissance Faire (especially when an adorable actor singles her out).

All that and a budding crush on super cute 8th grader Casey has Sammy full of angst. Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception is full of humor, snappy dialogue, and plenty of red herrings (not codfish…haha!).

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had Sammy Keyes to read when I was in junior high/middle school. (Heck, I could have used her inspiration through high school!) Why is it so hard for boys and girls to talk to each other? What would happen if kids were honest with each other? And if they listened to caring adults with good advice? I hadn’t a clue where this book was going, but I got there around the same time as Sammy. And boy, did I enjoy the ride. I loved seeing Hudson and Grams out of sorts and attending “Laddies Gone Amok.”

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less serious than most of the others in the series, but that’s okay; it was good to have a light one. Though I will say I very much disagree with the assertion that a person making ugly art means they’re ugly on the inside. But this is the first complaint I’ve had about this series, and I’d rather the author be insensitive about art than about gangs or homelessness or some of the actual serious issues in earlier books, so it’s forgivable.

[Charly Troff (JustaReadingMama) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing addition to the series, where we get to see her grandmother solving a mystery with her!

The last couple books in the series weren't my favorite and I was a little worried I was running out of steam with it, but I absolutely loved this one.

My favorite parts:
-The middle school crush side plot
-The way art was explored and thought about
-Sammy's relationship with her grandma and the way she got involved in the mystery with Sammy

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sammy is awesome. She has her own set of problems (sneakily living with her grandmother in a senior-only apartment, family issues), regular junior high problems (boys, crushes?, a nemesis) but she always takes the time to grapple with bigger issues. What is art? How about love? She has friends from all over and she has a metric ton of initiative.

[Zero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I expect the twist? No. Did I expect Grams to be like that? No. But I absolutely enjoy this book, so far my favorite in this series.

Thank you 5th grade teacher for giving me a copy of the Hollywood Mummy to get me into this series. I still think you were terrible and should have quit but it’s whatever.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ❤️ Sammy! This go round we've got art, artists, art gallery business, Renaissance Faire, Harleys, some boy/kissing issues, Heather being a pain as usual, codfish, Laddies Run Amok, mac and salsa, and the skateboard is finally back. Plus character development for both Hudson and Grams. Excellent!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I made it this far in the original series. As much as I respect the series for going into dark, fairly gritty places, I was grateful for lighter and more fun. Surprisingly deep moments reflecting on the nature of art and searching for meaning for a middle grade book.

[Hanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SASS. YES

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the characters in Sammy Keyes books. I also love all the relationship dilemmas that are explored in this book. People are complex and the author does a great job of showing that.

[Michael Gallacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Sammy Keyes.

[Callen DeWit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, especially about art and identity.

[Aurora Dimitre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, I still want to be Sammy Keyes when I grow up.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had forgotten all about Sammy and found my favorite of her adventures in a little free library! Love the mystery, love the world, love Hudson, love the themes, LOVE the boy developments.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sammy Keyes!

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grams gets involved in this Sammy adventure!!!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might be one of my favorite ones! I want to be Sammy’s friend so bad