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Elvis & Olive

Super Detectives (Elvis and Olive)
by Stephanie F. Watson
279p. 978-0-54515-148-1.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4—6—Ten-year-old Natalie (code name Olive) has nominated herself for Student Council Secretary and must prove her ability to serve as a role model by partaking in a Helping Hands project. Meanwhile, nine-year-old Annie (code name Elvis) tries to find out why her mother abandoned her years earlier. As partners in the E & O Detective Agency, the girls effortlessly solve mysteries for their neighbors. Along the way, they stumble upon a distressed elderly couple in need of assistance. In her troubled memory, Mrs. Warsaw claims that a woman named Zadie Zeolite is hiding in her bedroom closet. And Mr. Warsaw, unable to pay for expensive medication, puts their home up for sale. With the help of the local librarian, the girls save the day. Through epiphanies and dead ends, they both discover different sides of one another and uncover hidden inner strengths, leadership skills, and realizations about their personal mysteries. Although moments of heartbreak and sadness appear throughout, their belief in one another outshines all doubt. An inspiring, heartwarming story of true friendship and sassy detective skills.—Krista Welz, North Bergen Public Library, NJ
In their second book, Natalie and Annie are drawn into a challenging mystery surrounding an elderly neighbor. Meanwhile, Annie steps up the search for her long-lost mother and Natalie's student council election day looms. Like in Elvis & Olive, the story strikes a good balance between frothy exploits and serious issues faced by the friends.
Natalie and Annie’s friendship is sweet and believable. Despite the girls’ differences, they’re very supportive of each other. Stephanie Watson has a good eye for detail. Natalie and Annie are observers themselves, but Watson expertly observes them, noting their blind spots and flaws, thereby making the characters more realistic. The girls’ attempts at detective work are funny and touching, and their passion is admirable.

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