Skip to main content

Review: Fowl Play

By
 
By Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2024. Fiction 277 pages.

Still reeling from her beloved uncle's death, Chloe Alvarez is comforted and confused when at his last will and testament reading, Uncle Will gifts her his African Grey parrot, Charlie. Charlie has a robust vocabulary and loves to make Alexa requests for her favorite songs, but when she starts saying things like, "homicide," and "cyanide," Chloe becomes convinced that Uncle Will may have met his demise by murder instead of a genetic disease, as was previously thought. Ultimately, bringing in her brother, Grammy, and Uncle Frank (and of course Charlie,) Chloe's ragtag and adoring family support her search for answers ---going on stakeouts, engaging in fast pursuits, and searching for clues. But as the suspects stack up and the mystery grows, Chole will learn that the process of death and grieving is complicated, and in the end her Uncle Will's words that, "Family is wonderous," are the truest of all.

Fowl Play is an engaging new take on the kid detective trope that adds layers of depth to the grieving process, while also inserting enough light-hearted (and frequently funny) moments that tweens won't be overwhelmed with melancholy. Chole is a relatable protagonist whose journey to uncover the truth will leave readers with a warm, fuzzy feeling. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The House with Nobody in It

By
  The House with Nobody in It By Jon Klassen Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2026. Board Book.  The House with Nobody in It may very well be your child's first ghost story. The simple story begins with the narrator explaining to readers that this house used to have someone in it, but there is now nobody there. Toddlers and preschoolers will love contradicting this statement as they peek through the house that the board book forms, as the ghost is clearly visible throughout the story.  This unique and imaginative board book is the perfect thing to read during Halloween season! The book itself plays into the experience, with cutouts and clever turns that make it especially interactive. The illustrations are superb, simple but well crafted, adding to the story's theme as a whole. This will likely be a book that gets many repeat reads!
Post a Comment
Read more

Display: Teddy's Top Picks

By Suzanne
  Bear in the Air Written by Susan Meyers Illustrated by Amy Bates New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010. Picture book. When a teddy bear is lost by the child who loves him, the bear begins an adventurous journey to get back home again. -- Editor Blanket and Bear, A Remarkable Pair Written by L.J.R. Kelly Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013. Picture book. When a boy loses his beloved blanket and bear, they travel a great distance to make their way back to him. -- Editor A Bear to Share Written by Jessica Alba, Nora Weinstein, and Kelly Patricof  Illustrated by Alicia Mas New York, NY : Baby2Baby/Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021. Picture book. Tiana loves her teddy bear, Bach. She doesn't mind that he's a little worn and somewhat torn. So when her mother suggests she make room for a new bear, Tiana can't believe her ears! Will Tiana have to lose the one bear she really loves? Or will she find room in her heart for t...
Post a Comment
Read more

De la hora del cuento: La letra "B"

By
  Cuentos La bicicleta nueva Por Darcy Day Zoells New York : Clavis, 2023. Libro ilustrado. "Mari tiene una bicicleta nueva. Ahora el mundo luce diferente. ¡Hay tantas cosas que puede hacer! ¿Hacia dónde irá? ¿Qué descubrirá? ¿Conocerá a nuevos amigos? ¡Acompaña a Mari a descubrir lo más importante que la bicicleta puede llevar!" --Editor Cuentitos Me gusta mi bici Por AG Ferrari New York : Holiday House, 2022. Fácil. "Ilustraciones y texto fácil muestran las ventajas de andar en bicicleta cuando las calles están llenas de otros veh̕culos." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "B" Baby Ballena El oso polar y la bailarina El tejado de Benito Mi abuela es una bruja ¡Hola, Lola! A la bodega
Post a Comment
Read more