Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-The fifth graders at Liberty Falls Elementary are going on a field trip to the Edward Minks Mansion. They will learn all about the eccentric inventor and founder of their town. Many people in the community believe that there are undiscovered inventions hidden in a secret room within the house. Eddie, who happens to be Mink's great-great-great grandson, hopes to find inventions to help his family. Best friends Chloe and Sophie have designs of their own. Aaron, the new kid, just wants to fit in. Meanwhile, Jessie has a bad feeling about the old house, but no one will listen. Hijinks ensue as inventions begin to go missing. The chapters alternate from the various perspectives of the fifth-grade classmates, though not all voices are distinct, which may initially confuse readers. The end of the story is tied up very quickly. Kids will find Mink's inventions humourous and the overall mystery of the hidden inventions intriguing. VERDICT An additional purchase where light standalone mysteries circulate well.-Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
It's time for the fifth-grade field trip to the Minks Mystery Mansion, the home of Liberty Falls' eccentric founder, famous for his thousands of inventions.The tour of the mansion, which is full of zany surprises, gets derailed by an unexpected snow storm. This group is stranded overnightthe perfect opportunity to explore the strange house for the legendary lost inventions, said to be worth a fortune! The story is narrated through short chapters that offer shifting perspectives from several characters, each of whom grapples with a hidden challenge. Aaron, multiracial, is the son of an army sergeant, so the family moves frequently and he never quite feels like he fits in. Jessie, Chinese-American, is lonely when her best friend stays home sick. Eddie, white and a descendant of Minks, feels pressure to help his family save their home from foreclosure. Chloe, implied white, begins to recognize that her best friend is actually the class bully. The four protagonists come together over the course of their shared overnight adventure and help one another learn lessons of leadership, courage, and trust. Oddball adults, pun-filled wordplay, and the founder's obsessive pickling habit keep the tone lighthearted and humorous even as the kids face mild bullying and a potential robbery.A quick-paced, goofy delight. (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
