(The One and Onlys)
by Doug Cornett
Libby audiobook 6 hours
Read by: Maxwell Glick
Published: 2020
Genre: children's mystery
This was cute . . . but definitely written for a young reader. There were a few lines that were poignant and clever, but it was mostly along the lines of Encyclopedia Brown or other kid detectives. It's got some funny lines and silly situations, too. I would highly recommend this for an elementary age reader who is curious or a young middle schooler who likes non-violent whodunnits.
The "One and Onlys" are Paul Marconi, Alexander "Peephole" Calloway, and Gloria "Shanks" Hill. Three eleven year olds who have a hideout and like to discover and solve mysteries. They live in Bellwood, which actually looks like a bell. The biggest annual event is the "Triple B" - Bellwood Bratwurst Bonanza. Someone has filled Mr. Babbage's yard with rubber duckies - but who? And why?
Officer Portnoy is a farce of a person. The situation with Peephole's premature baby sister Trillium was a more serious aspect of the story. It helped Peephole get over his fears. Pokus' change of heart after a decade of grieving over his wife was also more serious and interesting. The encroaching "Conquistador" superstore and the threat it poses to local businesses was also a heavier theme. But most of all, the rubber duckies and the Triple B seemed silly.
