The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable FIB

June 29, 2015
Eleven-year-old Pru wants to be a detective like her father, who was a member of their small-town police force before he was killed. When a mysterious postcard appears under Pru’s bedroom door asking “What is the unbelievable FIB?” she is ready to find out. Joined by new boy Abe, Pru is also curious about the strange weather in town and the unusual man she meets during a field trip to a local mansion that houses a museum of Viking artifacts. After a frost giant chases the two children through a graveyard, they are swept up into a magical quest. Debut author Shaughnessy skillfully weaves Norse myth, the story of Baba Yaga, and Pru’s pain over her father’s death into an action-packed story full of heart. Pru is relatable and real as she learns to trust people again, not to mention brave as she confronts ancient villains. It’s a moving exploration of the ways people can close themselves off to magic in the world, as well as face grief scarier than any frost giant. Ages 8–12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

goofy127 - Eleven-year old Pru is still dealing with the death of her father, a former Police agent, when she finds a mysterious card in her room, asking “Who is the unbelievable FIB?” She can’t resist a good mystery, so she teams up with the new kid at school, ABE, to figure out what’s going on. Then, a mysterious man named Mr. Fox asks for their help investigating the mythical being invading their town. That’s just the beginning, and soon they discover another world beneath their town, and realize they must find the eye of Odin before anybody else if they want to stop a war that could destroy both the worlds. I thought this was a good book! It has elements of mystery, and it fun to try and stay ahead of the plot. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy books like Rick Riordan’s, as it is about Norse mythology.

July 1, 2015

Gr 4-7-Eleven-year-old Prudence Potts likes nothing better than a good mystery, which is exactly what she gets when an envelope containing a cryptic message inexplicably arrives one night. Pru soon realizes that she's not the only one with a penchant for puzzles, as a school assignment finds her partnered with the new kid, ABE, who likes nothing better than a good riddle. Together not only do these two otherwise loners find friendship, but the makings of mischief afoot. Mythical entities have suddenly invaded their normally uneventful town threatening war and terror in their quest to find Odin's missing eye, believed to see the future. Pru and ABE are recruited by the enigmatic Mr. Fox on behalf of the Unbelievable FIB to question the very fabric of the world around them and to stop the impending doom. In a vein similar to "Percy Jackson," the "Imaginary Veterinary" books, and even Men In Black, this strong debut is shaping up to be an intriguing series. Shaughnessy seamlessly blends Norse and Russian mythologies with the genres of mystery, fantasy, and adventure all the while hitting upon some deeper personal issues such as loss and self-awareness. The conflict is satisfyingly resolved by story's end, giving it the feel of a stand-alone novel. With the current popularity of Norse characters in pop culture this is not only sure to be an easy sell, but also a book with substance-one to satisfy the cravings of more sophisticated readers looking to sink their teeth into a good folkloric story. VERDICT A creative, fun mystery that combines a variety of genres and deeper themes.-Rebecca Gueorguiev, New York Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2015
This debut title in a planned middle-grade series introduces readers to a feisty young sleuth, fantastical realms, and warring Viking gods. When Prudence Potts, 11, receives a mysterious letter with the puzzling question, "What is the unbelievable FIB?" her world-already disrupted by her father's recent death-is turned upside down. Prudence bristles with attitude: clashing with her tiresome teacher and holding her sympathetic mother at arm's length, she finds an unlikely ally in ABE, a new kid with a helpful knack for decoding clues. Tapped by the mysterious Mr. Fox to assist the Fantasy Investigation Bureau, the two must learn more about why mythical Norse beings are slipping into town, bent on stealing the powerful Eye of Odin, while discerning whether Mr. Fox-or anyone-can be trusted. Pru's revelation about her anger (whose underpinnings unveil the illusion that adults can keep themselves-or anyone-safe) seems a touch contrived; however, this story offers pleasing elements, including an authentic boy-girl friendship, fresh musings on the place of magic in childhood, and original, vividly depicted scenes (check out Mr. Fox's henhouse, a tiny shack with nearly infinite possibilities inside). Shaughnessy's imaginings show promise, and his puzzles and plot twists will absorb and intrigue younger readers as they consider the book's central questions about truth, magic, and adventure. (Fantasy. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2015
Grades 3-5 Pru wants to be a detective, just like her late father, and a perfect opportunity arrives in the form of a mysterious blue card with, What is the unbelievable FIB? emblazoned on one side and a riddle on the other. While thunder booms all over town, Pru and her friend ABE (Aloysius Bartholomew Evans, who wisely chooses to go by his initials) follow the clues to the graveyard, where they encounter a grizzled man named Mister Fox. He explains that the town is currently lousy with Nordic deities, since Loki has caught wind of a clue to the location of a powerful magic object at their local museum that could bring about the end of the world. Pru (enthusiastically) and ABE (reluctantly) leap into the fray to prevent Ragnarok from starting in their New England village, all while avoiding their grouchy teacher. Though the pace is occasionally haphazard and Mister Fox's speeches about the importance of childlike wonder eventually get schmaltzy, Shaughnessy's debut will please middle-grade readers already interested in Nordic mythology.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)