Chapter Two is Missing

July 15, 2019
When the young hero of this energetic meta tale discovers that the second chapter of the book he populates has gone missing, he sounds the alarm, teams up with the hapless Detective McGarrigan to find the culprit, and urges readers to join the hunt (listing an actual phone number, email address, and Twitter handle to leave tips—prompts that are repeated several times throughout). As the mystery of the missing chapter progresses, fever-pitched dialogue by Lieb (Ratscalibur) accompanies a suspicious janitor who can eliminate punctuation and consonants with the swish of his mop; a several-page sequence in which the frustrated protagonist does nothing but think; and a chapter from an entirely different book, starring “space president Emmy Sue.” Black-and-white cartoons by Cornell (Lucy Fell Down the Mountain), accented with yellow spot color, keep the mock drama and freneticism moving full speed ahead. It’s a toss-up whether readers will be enchanted or just plain worn out by story’s end, but a few not-so-subtle clues should lead amateur detectives to a clearly closed case. Ages 4–6. Author’s agent: Richard Abate, 3 Arts Entertainment. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

August 15, 2019
"Wait!" the story starts, as the unnamed narrator/protagonist--personified as a kid in a bow tie and shorts--explains that someone has stolen the book's Chapter Two. Willing to pay any price to get the chapter back--because the book would not be complete otherwise--the narrator/protagonist enlists readers' help, asking them to contact Detective McGarrigan. True to the narrator/protagonist's word, the second chapter of the book is missing; readers get a glimpse of faded black type, as if the chapter has been wiped off the page. Turning the page reveals the beginning of Chapter 3, where Milo, the book's janitor, is in the middle of a diatribe, asking the narrator/protagonist to apologize to him. When the narrator/protagonist refuses, Milo plays with the punctuation on the page and then leaves, grumbling about how no one respects a book's janitor even though he's the one who keeps the book clean so it can be read. Enter Detective McGarrigan, an extremely clueless middle-aged woman who tends to misunderstand information and miss clues that are right under her nose. Cue the hilarity as the narrator/protagonist and Detective McGarrigan bumble through wordplay and metatextual references as they try to solve the mystery of the missing chapter. Lieb's capricious storytelling combines with Cornell's bold, minimalist cartoons, done in black, white, and saffron, to result in a tale that is at once clever and uproariously funny. This whodunit is terribly entertaining, guaranteed to engage readers till the very end. (Picture book. 6-10)

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January 24, 2020

Gr 1-3-The narrator needs your help to find chapter two and continue the story in this highly interactive tale. As the narrator searches for the missing chapter, he teams up with detective McGarrigan, Milo the janitor, and you. With each chapter, clues are discovered, dialogue is exchanged, and readers are left questioning the very fabric of the book itself. Lieb has outdone himself with this intricate plot. There is humor, suspense, shouting, and a lot of grammar play throughout the journey. Cornell's detailed, noir-style illustrations provide character depth and create a world in which everyone must solve the mystery. The illustrations also highlight certain characters' emotions and clues. Lieb and Cornell have created a fantastic picture book that will draw readers in and give them all the clues they need to find chapter two. VERDICT A hilarious interactive tale that will help children learn intense analytical skills.-Margaret Kennelly, iSchool at Urbana-Champaign, IL

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