Detective Stars and the Case of the Super Soccer Team by Caroline Anne Levine, Betsy Lewin (Illustrator)

School Library Journal

Gr 2-3-Veronica and Ernest, two kids known as the ``Detective Stars,'' take on the challenge of finding out how a losing soccer team, the Foxes, has suddenly begun creaming all of their opponents despite their continued clumsiness. Hidden clues throughout the story will motivate children to figure out the solution for themselves. Lewin's cartoon line drawings are lively and expressive. Fans of Donald Sobol's ``Encyclopedia Brown'' books (Morrow) should like the well-defined characters and sports action in this mystery.-Bambi L. Williams, Moore Public Library, OK

BookList

Written in the first person, this entry-level chapter book combines the popular appeal of mysteries and sports stories. A high-school soccer coach calls upon the Detective Stars to discover how an awful rival team cheated their way to the top. Although the writing is sometimes choppy, the action is fast paced, and the humor has a tongue-in-cheek quality. There are some neat role reversals as the gadget-minded Ernest takes notes and serves lemonade while take-charge Veronica fells an adversary with a quick arm flip. The solution is improbable but not implausible, and readers will likely be stumped until these clever kids crack the case. Artwork not available in galley.

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