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The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity (The Brixton Brothers)

by Adam Rex
181p. 978-1-41697-815-2.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4-6 Aspiring detective Steve Brixton, 12, gets more than he bargained for when he becomes mixed up with crime-fighting and undercover operatives who are alsolibrarians! Steve, an avid reader, has been diligently studying "The Bailey Brothers' Detective Handbook" and has turned into quite a supersleuth. He is working on a social-studies project on early American needlework (definitely not his choice) at the library, and checks out "An Illustrated History of American Quilting" when a man holds a gun to his head. It seems that all books have coded information in their Library of Congress numbers for the Librarians, who are highly trained intelligence agents. This clandestine society of crime-fighters suspects Steve is working for the mysterious Mr. E., who sells America's secrets. They plan on charging him with treason if he does not come clean about his involvement with the villain and his knowledge about a missing historical quilt that has major information embroidered on it. Barnett's fast-moving plot is sure to hold readers' attention, and children will love Steve's ability to outsmart many of the adults in the story. Incorporating mistaken identities, kidnapping, and a secret underground society, this is a fun, humorous adventure."Mairead McInnes, Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School, NY" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.
Twelve-year-old Steve Brixton loves detective stories. After picking up a library book full of the nation's secrets, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of a mystery, and everyone thinks he's the villain. The characters are a little one-note (Rex's digital illustrations help round them out), but the story's action and humor should propel reluctant readers.
Fast-paced and lots of fun; Mac Barnett demonstrates masterful control of the plot and characters. The humor builds over the course of the book as the author creates in-jokes and thereby a community of readers. A delightful read-aloud. Adam Rex’s illustrations make this enormously engaging tale even funnier.

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