Chile & Co.: Mrs. Fable's Ghost and the Kidnappers

From School Library Journal Gr 4-6-Chile Beamon and his friends Nate and Reesa find themselves embroiled in a mystery in their small hometown. Chile's next-door neighbor, Mrs. Fable, has recently died and he is convinced that her empty house is haunted because he has seen bright flashes through the window. A few days later, the children discover that Todd Lankley, a local boy, has been kidnapped. They stumble upon the perpetrators (complete with overcoats and hats pulled over their faces) at Joe's Pizza but are unable to notify the police in time. When Chile later sees the moon shining on Nate's new braces, he realizes that Todd, who also wears braces, is being held at Mrs. Fable's house (it's hard to believe that braces could make this kind of SOS signal--there must have been a lot of metal in Todd's mouth). Chile and crew eventually free the captive and capture the bad guys. The characters are stock: Chile is the imaginative leader, Nate is the bookworm sidekick, and Reesa is the cool tomboy who is not like other "sissy girls." In fact, she knows hypnotism because her father, a Marine, taught her (readers will wonder at this connection). The mystery is predictable and Comer's attempts at "kid" humor are strained and self-conscious: Nate is a "champion" at fake throwing-up, and insults consist of phrases such as "bugger-picking fingers." Libraries looking for fast-paced, realistic mysteries would do better with Betsy Byars's "Herculeah Jones" series (Viking) or books by Willo Davis Roberts.-Jennifer Ralston, Harford County Public Library, Belcamp, MDCopyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
ASIN: 0966206495
VSKU: RDV.0966206495.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Comer, O. B.
Binding: Paperback