Nothing But Trouble

May 1, 1995
Gr 3-5-Vannie Kirkland and her dog, Muffy, are deposited at Aunt Bert's house in the rural Midwest so that Vannie's parents can continue unencumbered to California to look for employment. The woman is momentarily taken aback at the prospect of having her solitary life interrupted, but soon softens. The excitement of exploring a new place helps assuage Vannie's feelings of anger and abandonment. The plot immediately quickens as she is awakened in the middle of the night by a prowler's flashlight beam. Aunt Bert's property is then vandalized on several occasions. In the midst of these nerve-shaking events, Muffy disappears. With courage, grit, and a bit of luck, the girl singlehandedly discovers the identity of the prowler. In the meantime, her mother writes that prospects in California are better. Vannie is eventually reunited with her pet, and then she surprisingly gives Muffy to a lonely, elderly neighbor. The plot is cleanly structured and should hold readers' interest. Aunt Bert's mettle, independence, and sincerity help Vannie mature and feel secure. Each chapter is illustrated with a full-page pencil drawing. Overall, a satisfying story for a wide range of mystery fans.-Joan Soulliere, Wenham Public Library, MA

February 15, 1995
Gr. 3-5. When Vannie Kirkland is dropped off with an aged aunt she's never met while her parents search for work in California, things don't look great. For one, Aunt Bert thinks Vannie's diminutive dog, Muffy, is a noisy, destructive little bundle. But Aunt Bert's less prickly side is revealed when mysterious prowlers start vandalizing her farm. Wright constructs a world in which "ornery" is as bad as it gets: violence doesn't escalate beyond repairable vandalism (the culprit is the son of a neighbor), Vannie's parents find jobs, and when it's discovered her family's new home is too small for Muffy, Vannie is able to place the dog with an elderly, hearing-impaired woman. The character development may not be deep, but the sunshine is strong and steady. ((Reviewed Feb 15, 1995))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1995, American Library Association.)