Girl's Best Friend

September 13, 2010
In the first book in the Maggie Brooklyn Mystery series, Margolis (Boys Are Dogs) introduces dog-walker Maggie Brooklyn Sinclair, a 12-year-old whose middle name proclaims her parents' move from Manhattan to Brooklyn, which was necessitated by the birth of Maggie and her twin brother, Finn. Filled with authentic borough references, the book opens with standard tween concerns—getting the courage to talk to a crush, fuming over a friend's betrayal—and slowly develops the mysteries Maggie must solve. The principal whodunit concerns a dognapping, and dogs are key characters in secondary story lines, which include the progression of Maggie's crush and the increasingly strange behavior of her eccentric landlady. Margolis tries to make up for the dawdling start (the main mystery isn't introduced until nearly a third of the way in) by including a few red herrings and then rapidly tying up all the loose ends in a speedy, though credible, resolution. Maggie is a friendly and thoughtful narrator with a sharply logical mind; readers who stick with her through the opening chapters will appreciate her intellect and bravery, and applaud her success. Ages 8–12.

December 1, 2010

Gr 5-7-Twelve-year-old Maggie Brooklyn is a dog-walker and a wannabe Nancy Drew. She gets her first chance to sleuth when neighborhood dogs begin disappearing. The dognappings are mysteriously introduced in the prologue, but more crimes slowly appear as readers meet and get to know the protagonist. The pacing keeps kids looking for additional clues and gives Maggie a chance to prove what they suspect. Not only does she expose the thief, but she also solves a second mystery-her landlady's missing fortune. That mystery weaves quietly in and out of the chapters as Maggie deals with the missing pets, her crush on Milo, her friend-enemy Ivy, and her busy schedule of dog-walking (plus, keeping it a secret from her parents). Characters are well-developed, typical preteens. Readers will easily identify with these seventh graders, and they will love the eccentric landlady who adds a bit of humor. Mystery fans will enjoy this lighthearted whodunit.-Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

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