Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble

February 15, 2013
This latest installment in the continuing comic adventures of 12-year-old fix-it artist Riley Mack (Riley Mack and the Other Known Trouble Makers, 2012) finds Riley trying to expose environmental polluters. Megaclever Riley rights wrongs and thwarts evildoers. That's good, since his town contains an assortment of evildoers, such as Mr. Paxton, the pompous head of the local country club and owner of Xylodyne Dynamics, a company that supplies pancake mix to American forces overseas. Riley's helped in his endeavors by a trio of confederates. An actress and singer, Briana provides convincing voices that fool bad guys. Nerd extraordinaire Jamal supplies information, and Hubert, alias Mongo, adds the muscle. First, Riley needs to deal with Paxton's daughter, who is trying to keep Briana out of a talent contest. Then the gang learns that their favorite swimming hole has been polluted by chemical runoff from Paxton's golf course. Finally it's revealed that the pancake mix in Afghanistan has been deliberately tainted. The authorities accuse Riley's soldier dad, but Riley learns that the evidence lies buried in the golf course. Can Riley devise a plot to help Brianna win the talent contest, reveal the truth about the runoff and get his dad off the hook? Grabenstein keeps the comedy flowing and the pages turning. His characters are just goofy enough to entertain but not completely strain credulity--except, of course, for the over-the-top villain. A lighthearted caper. (Fiction. 8-12)

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July 1, 2013

Gr 5-7-Riley Mack and his madcap gang, the Known Troublemakers, are back with a new mystery to unravel. School may be out for the summer, but the friends smell something fishy at the local pond, which means that they have to dust off their biology and chemistry skills. Fish are dying, there is an obvious cover-up, and they feel somehow that the father of their nemesis, Sara Paxton, is behind it. Mr. Paxton is the CEO of Xylodyne Dynamics and president of the country club. With Briana's disguises, Riley's elaborate plans, and a little luck, the young detectives hope to expose what's buried at the golf course. When Riley's dad, stationed in Afghanistan, gets embroiled in the scheme and his mom steps in to help, it is up to Riley to solve the mystery before it is too late. The plot is more than a little far-fetched, but readers might enjoy following the kids' sleuthing.-Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

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