Two's a Crowd

November 1, 2018

Gr 3-5-The team who reimagined how art and text work together to tell a story in the first entry in this series (The Real McCoys) have done it again and reinvented the classic whodunit with an uplifting, modern twist. Siblings and elementary school detectives Moxie and Milton return with a new case: Who is "The Squiggler," an anonymous author of flattering notes sent to their classmates? Identifying the writer proves to be as difficult as negotiating their fledgling partnership: energetic go-getter Moxie relies on steady Milton but doesn't respect him. It's not until the siblings become crime-solving rivals and her BFF Emily is caught in the middle that Moxie realizes two isn't a crowd after all. Behr's black monochromatic illustrations bring dialogue and text to vibrant life and excel at capturing character reactions and timing. Pages with an abundance of clear space show Moxie slowing down, clearly conveying her sadness over the fallout with Milton. Swanson keeps the pace moving briskly while carefully developing secondary characters like Dad McCoy and teacher Mr. Shine, who provide just the right touch of adult wisdom and guidance. Thoughtful details that add realism balance narrator Moxie's comic extravagance: Emily has two dads, and back matter includes Moxie's dictionary of "cockamamie" expressions and suggestions for ways kids can show appreciation. VERDICT A marvelous standalone sequel that will inspire random acts of kindness.-Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2018
Moxie and her bespectacled younger brother, Milton, are back to save Tiddlywhump Elementary once again.Kicking off the action, Moxie's best friend, Emily, receives a mysterious, very complimentary letter with a cryptic signature. Sassy, self-proclaimed detective Moxie, quite familiar with Death by Envelope, is certain this letter means something sinister. Grudgingly, Moxie partners with Milton to discover the identity of this diabolical Squiggler (Milton's coinage). The partnership with Milton quickly becomes fractious, even dangerous, and after a stakeout results in Milton's fall off a roof, he leaves a huffy Moxie and joins forces with Emily to solve the mystery. Moxie's enthusiasm, impulsiveness, and way with words ("watching someone else do math is about as exciting as watching an earthworm take a nap") make for exuberant entertainment. As in series opener The Real McCoys (2017), half the fun is that each page is like a firework show of funky typefaces and berserk graphics. Less enchanting than the original, though, is when Moxie steps outside mere Pippi Longstocking-esque shenanigans and into bullying, even manipulating one frightened first-grader into helping her by not allowing him to eat lunch. Moxie, however, does eventually recognize the wonderful ripple effects caused by acts of kindness. Moxie and Milton present white; Emily has slightly darker skin and two dads.Fans might be a little disconcerted, but Moxie's sleuthing is mostly good fun. (glossary) (Mystery. 8-12)

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October 15, 2018
Grades 3-6 It's McCoy versus McCoy in this sequel to Swanson and Behr's standout previous book, The Real McCoys? (2017). After joining forces to catch the school-mascot-napper in book one, Moxie and little brother Milton have yet to hash out the specifics of their new detective agency partnership. When Moxie's best friend, Emily, receives a kindhearted but mysterious letter, the McCoy siblings can't seem to get on the same page. Milton certainly shares the spotlight with his sister in this book, and he becomes a perfect foil to Moxie. Moxie channels her spiritual mentor, fictional Annabelle Adams, as she earnestly gathers evidence. That evidence means nothing, however, without Milton's ability to process the data and draw conclusions. Moxie makes the difficult decision to put her ego aside and reform the partnership with Milton, culminating in an ingenious reveal. Informative and signature witty back matter reinforces the book's appeal to precocious and curious young readers. Once again, Swanson's text and Behr's artwork are inextricable, making the siblings' story an outstanding, truly enjoyable reading experience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)