Lantern Sam and the Blue Streak Bandits

March 15, 2014
A talking cat with a penchant for problem-solving and self-reflection, a clever kidnapping-cum-jewel heist, a couple of kids and a friendly train conductor all collide in an atmospheric late-1930s adventure with old-time cinematic appeal. Mystery author Beil returns to his Ohio roots with a main character, 10-year-old Henry Shipley from Ashtabula, and a climactic scene on board the Blue Streak roller coaster at Conneaut Lake Park. The bulk of the action, however, takes place on a train. Henry, an observant, artistic child, narrates while the eponymous Lantern Sam, a male calico, inserts chapters detailing his own earlier life and frequent narrow escapes. Both boy and cat are drawn into the mystery surrounding the sudden disappearance of Ellie Strasbourg, a wealthy young girl. The author balances his parallel narratives relatively well, though Sam's story takes some unexpected directions, as when he details the danger posed by his brief flirtation with an older, female cat named Marmalade. The epilogue, written by an elderly Henry, makes sense of the occasionally arch, adult-sounding tone, but some readers may struggle to keep track of the multiple subplots and several sets of secondary (stock) characters. Laden with retro charm and sly humor, this won't suit every reader, but fans of fast-paced, far-fetched action will lap it up as enthusiastically as Sam swallows his favorite brand of sardines. (Mystery. 9-12)

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March 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-Henry Shipley and his family are going home to meet his father, a ship captain returning from his latest journey at sea. While aboard the train, Henry meets Ellie Strasbourg, who disappears shortly thereafter. With the help of Clarence Nockwood, the head train conductor, and Lantern Sam, a talking cat touted as the world's greatest detective since Sherlock Holmes, Henry sets out to discover what has happened to Ellie. One thing is for certain, someone on the train is trying to deceive them and it is up to the trio to break the case. Set aboard the Lake Erie Shoreliner passenger train in 1939, this historical mystery primarily takes place over just two days. Woven together with the main story line are chapters containing autobiographical tidbits about Lantern Sam's life, giving readers details about his backstory. Reluctant readers and fans of humorous tales and mysteries will enjoy this book. Teachers should add this to their list of classroom read-alouds as well.-Stephanie Charlefour, Wixom Public Library, MI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 1, 2014
Grades 4-6 *Starred Review* In 1938, 10-year-old Henry and his mother board the Shoreliner express train, bound from New York to Chicago. Henry soon befriends Ellie (the lively, observant, and talkative daughter of his father's wealthy boss); Clarence (the train's dependable conductor); and Clarence's companion, Sam (a talking cat with adventures in his past and the ever-present hope of sardines in his future). When Ellie is kidnapped, Henry, Clarence, and Sam join forces to rescue her and get entangled in a jewelry heist along the way. The express train serves as both an intriguing, unusual period setting and as a classic mystery device, confining the suspects in one place for a defined time. The dual first-person narrative shifts between Henry's riveting account of the mysteries aboard the train and Sam's equally absorbing autobiography, which features many narrow escapes from near-certain death. The distinctive voices of the earnest lad and the sardonic cat add welcome contrast as the focus shifts from one to the other. Beil is best known for writing The Red Blazer Girls (2009) and its sequels. With its swift pacing, suspense, and humor, his latest mystery is a fine choice for reading aloud or reading alone. Pair it with Kenneth Oppel's historical railway epic The Boundless (2014).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)