Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission

December 18, 2006
Infused with the same high energy found in Mr. Chickee's Funny Money
, this second installment of the Flint Future Detectives series offers even zanier adventures with mixed results. Steven Carter and Russell Woods allow a new member into their sleuthing clan: Richelle Cyrus-Herndon, "the smartest kid at Clark Elementary," whose intelligence is as irritating (at least to Steven) as it is useful. The trio's first mission is to find the whereabouts of Rodney Rodent, Russell's tiny lost dog, who Russell believes disappeared inside a "horrible, frightening" mural advertising Vernor's ginger ale. Following the canine's path, the children soon find themselves entering an alternate universe where Steven's dear friend, Mr. Chickee, is waiting to greet them. According to Mr. Chickee, the magical place he calls "Ourside"—which holds as many surprises as Alice's Wonderland—is in danger of dying, and it's up to the Flint Future Detectives to prevent such a disaster. The novel's fast-paced action, hip dialogue, wacky characters and tangential commentaries (including some gentle jabs at J.K. Rowling) add some spice, but occasionally readers may find themselves yearning for fewer gimmicks and more connections between seemingly random events. Ages 9-12.

May 1, 2007
Gr 3-6 -The Flint Future Detectives are back! Christopher Paul Curtis started their madcap adventures inMr. Chickee's Funny Money (Wendy Lamb Books, 2005), now they're on a new, and equally nutty quest in their latest adventure (Wendy Lamb Books, 2007). It starts with a snow-shoveling contest but soon a creepy winking gnome, in a mural at a local fast food restaurant, changes everything. Russell's dog, Rodney Rodent, barks the secret code and leaps into the mural. The Flint Future DetectivesRussell, Steven, and new president Richellefollow the canine and find themselves in a place called Outside, an alternative universe where they find Mr. Chickee. Now they must fulfill a cryptic prophecy, but how? They're rip-roaring to do their best, starting with rescuing Rodney Rodent. Outside is a bizarre place, and soon they're meeting unused characters from fiction and the authors who created them. There's a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor, and a bit of everything elsehyperbole, understatement, irony, bad puns, and unrestrained wackiness. A churlish guide, a testosterone-laden wilderness man, a sarcastic dictionary that has taken the form of a thumb drive, a flatulent monster, and a threatening holograph are only a few of the highlights. And don't even ask about the take-off on J. K. Rowling! Joe Holt narrates, drawing listeners in and creating unique voices and accents for the many wacky characters. Some of the humor can best be enjoyed by seeing the cleverly-written text, so have the book available for students. Be prepared to be left hanging at the endthe third installment better be published quickly!Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

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