Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters

August 15, 2023
Misty, 10, and Zelda, 11, search for their kidnapped dad, Professor Nanigan. Narrator Mr. Whiskers, a pun-loving stray dog who roams the neighborhood looking for a home, calls the sisters the Shenanigans and their father Henanigan. The family lives in a broken-down San Francisco boardinghouse owned by Aunties Tiana and Jada, who can't afford to make much-needed repairs. After a suspicious-looking man claiming to be an FBI agent arrests the professor, and some supposed cops show up asking about stolen coins he was allegedly selling on the black market, the young sisters leap into action with Mr. Whiskers, who has a great sense of smell and some helpful four-legged pals. The girls decipher the meaning of their dad's parting words and discover some old coins in a secret room in the house. Is this what the phony law officers are after? Could this treasure help the Aunties? The girls and their doggy friend must use smarts and strengths to find the professor. The dog-related puns pile up as the narrative draws to a climax. Written by a prolific practitioner of the genre, this lighthearted, fast-paced mystery features an endearing canine lead, two fearless kids, and plenty of wordplay, all of which will appeal to young readers. The Nanigans present white in the detailed grayscale artwork, while the Aunties appear to be women of color. A mystery both gripping and heartwarming. (Mystery. 8-10)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 14, 2023
Loose on the streets of San Francisco, a scrappy stray mutt with a “ruff”-and-tumble vernacular winningly narrates this snazzy mystery caper by Van Draanen (The Peach Rebellion). Canine Mr. Whiskers—so-named by 10-year-old Misty Nanigan and her sister Zelda, who seek him out every now and then to slip him treats on the sly—smells “trrrouble” when a fishy-looking stranger claiming to be an FBI agent arrives at the Merryweather boarding house looking for Misty and Zelda’s archaeology professor father. After “Fishy” uses zip ties to kidnap Professor Nanigan and usher him into a waiting Prius, Mr. Whiskers gives chase, gathering valuable clues that he then brings back to the worried siblings. As girls and pooch embark on their investigation, Misty and Zelda grow closer to their savvy, loyal pet, who’s eager to take a bite out of crime. Using brief cliffhanger chapters, brisk pacing, and humor-infused prose, Van Draanen sustains suspense as the sisters navigate clue-filled riddles and secret passageways, uncover long-lost treasure, and outwit a nasty trio of thieves. Catalán captures key dramatic and heartwarming scenes featuring both people, most of whom default to white, and pup via cozy b&w illustrations. Ages 8–12.

September 15, 2023
Grades 3-5 A stray dog who "nose" his way around detective work helps two newly arrived boardinghouse sibs find and fetch back their "dadnapped" father in this breezy and pun-ishing caper. Hardly have Misty and Zelda Nanigan--dubbed the "shenanigans" by the canine narrator--seen their archaeologist single dad hustled off by toughs than they're on the job, pulled, pushed, and prodded by a ruff streetwise pooch and supported by a network of doggy spies and informants. Along with laying down a trail of juicy clues to sniff out on the way to an exciting denouement, Van Draanen chucks in a stash of pirate gold (a classic MacGuffin if ever there was one) to go with a raft of likewise classic tropes, from a secret room and a hidden staircase to hints of ghostly doings in a ramshackle old San Francisco manor. By the end, the slobbery sleuth will have won over readers just as he does the Nanigan clan, though many will wish for more of Catal�n's well-crafted, detail-rich monochrome illustrations.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2023

Gr 3-7-What fun-loving dog doesn't relish solving a mystery? Well, Mr. Whiskers and his owners, Zelda and Misty, are about to get into a caper that just doesn't "smell" right. This story is told from the perspective of a dog who knows when something or someone doesn't add up. When Zelda and Misty's dad is taken away by a strange man, they go on an adventure through the city streets of San Francisco to help get him back. This is a mystery to start off young sleuths on their love of clues and puzzles to see how Mr. Whiskers and his young owners get their dad back home. Throughout the book, readers witness the characters trying to gather information in different ways. Mr. Whiskers can see, hear, and smell things that Zelda and Misty can't, but by working together, they will discover hidden passages and even treasures. VERDICT A lovely genre introduction, perfect for those starting out to enhance reading comprehension with and enough fun to keep seasoned readers engaged.-BreAnn Weeks

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