Scoop’s dad is editor of the local newspaper and she’s grown up going to events with him, picking up interviewing skills of her own. She writes her own online paper with help from best friend and roving reporter Evie which is going along nicely until a new paper emerges that predicts dark events that happen to the town just after this paper comes out. Who is the mysterious editor, Sonny Fink and can Scoop stop them before they go too far and destroy the town?
Scoop is feisty, curious and has high morals and doesn’t let sentiment get in the way of finding the truth, she definitely has the makings of an excellent newsperson! The story is fast moving and builds up suspense very well, with a few tiny clues to Fink’s identity given along the way for children to hopefully pick up on. For me it was reminiscent of the beloved series of my childhood, Secret Seven and the Five Finder-Outers and Dog although for younger children and with the happy ending this is a comforting story of wrongdoers being punished. Strong themes of loyalty, tenacity and right and wrong throughout with a touch of magic in the mix too. I enjoyed the pictures in my head generated by the descriptions of the daily dark events, I doubt I’ll be the only person to shudder slightly at the thought of thousands of mice running over everything, I don’t have anything against mice in the singular but a plague of them - no thanks! It was good to read an adventure story that doesn’t kill all the parents off as so many others do but keeps them as an integral part of the tale, Scoop’s dad’s self doubt which is dealt with lightly adds a important ‘adults have worries too’ aspect and the warm relationship shown between father and daughter is lovely.
As a librarian the fact that the evil Sonny, who has magical powers, turns out to be the stern town librarian was a little disconcerting …..but I guess we are ‘book wizards’ anyway so it’s not too far a stretch! I would have enjoyed a more positive portrayal of a local library naturally with lots of patrons and a helpful librarian but maybe this will happen in a later book 😉. Scoop is such a great character, encouraging girls to have adventures with such spirit and it was good to see her rediscover her sense of fun at the end of the story. A great read for junior super sleuths, Robin Stevens fans and indeed all middle grade readers would enjoy detecting with Scoop.
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