The
Case of the Pen Gone Missing
El Caso de la Pluma Perdida
A
Mickey Rangel Mystery
Rene
Saldana, Jr.
Pinata
Books (Paperback)
ISBN-10: 1-55885-555-6 (1558855556)
ISBN-13: 978-1-55885-555-7 (9781558855557)
Publication Date: May 2009
List Price: $9.95
Synopsis (from
the publisher): When Toots Rodriguez approaches Mickey on the
playground, he knows something is up. Toots, the prettiest girl in the
fifth grade, never talks to Mickey, not even when they're assigned to
work together on a class project. But Toots has come to Mickey because
she's in trouble, and he's a detective. The real deal. He has a badge
and a certificate after completing an online course two years ago.
''You have to believe me, Mickey. I didn't take that pen. I didn't.''
When Toots shines her big green eyes on him and insists repeatedly that
she's innocent, Mickey's intuition tells him to run fast in the
opposite direction. But he's a sucker for a pretty girl, so he takes on
the case of the missing pen.
Rumor has it that Toots stole Eddy's pen. It's not just any old pen;
it's his dad's pen. It has the White House logo on it. Eddy's father, a
senator from South Texas, got the pen from the President of the United
States when he visited the White House last year. As Mickey begins his
investigation, though, all the clues point to Toots and her newly
ex-boyfriend as the primary suspects.
Review:
Are you trying to find a book that can settle you down in your favorite
couch for a quick read? Then The
Case of the Pen Gone
Missing by René
Saldaña, Jr. is a great book for you. This Mickey Rangel Mystery, the
first in a series, is a bi-lingual book. The first half of the book is
the English version, and the second half is the same story in Spanish.
Mickey Rangel is a 5th grade investigator who is trying to find out the
identity of the pen thief. Toots is an innocent girl, possibly the
prettiest girl in the school, who is hearing rumors that she stole the
pen, but she didn’t. So she turns to Mickey for help.
Toots finds herself in a jam and goes up to Mickey – a boy
she has never spoken to before – and asks for his help
getting her out of trouble. She tells him the story of the missing pen.
This isn’t just an ordinary pen, but instead it is
Eddy’s dad’s fancy pen that has the White House
logo on it and President Lee Black’s signature. Mickey sits
back drinking his Yoo-Hoo and listens to this beautiful girl. As soon
as she finishes her story, Mickey sets out to find the thief and clear
Toots’ name.
Overall, The
Case of the Pen Gone Missing
is a good book. The story is interesting and I wasn’t able to
figure out the thief’s name too soon. Plus, I like the
character Toots. She was funny and added a lot to the story. Mickey
also is a good detective who will probably solve many more mysteries. I
would have liked the book better, though if it was longer. I was able
to read it in one sitting, so it felt more like a short story. I think
the author could have had a stronger story and more developed
characters if the book had been longer. But, it’s perfect for
a quick read. I would recommend the book for elementary school students
like myself who love mysteries about school.
Special thanks to Andrea Nauert for contributing her review of The Case of the Pen Gone Missing / El Caso de la Pluma Perdida and to Arte Público Press for providing a copy of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2009 — Andrea Nauert — All Rights Reserved — Reprinted with Permission
Have you read The Case of the Pen Gone Missing / El Caso de la Pluma Perdida? How would you rate it?
Mysteries in this series ...
The Case of the Pen Gone Missing / El Caso
de la Pluma Perdida
Pinata Books (Paperback), May 2009
ISBN-10: 1-55885-555-6 (1558855556)
ISBN-13: 978-1-55885-555-7 (9781558855557)
Omnimystery
keywords for The Case of the Pen
Gone
Missing / El Caso de la Pluma Perdida
...
Location(s) referenced: Texas.
