Four mysteries starring Drake Doyle and Nell Fossey include cases involving mass food poisoning and a haunted tree-house, complete with an appendix of science activities dealing with code breaking, phases of matter, and more.
Michele Torrey, author of chapter books for young readers and novels for middle grade, young adult, and adult, is a two-time Thurber House Residency in Children's Literature nominee, plus a two-time winner of PNWA's Zola Award. Among other honors, her books have received starred reviews from “Publisher’s Weekly” and “Kirkus,” been chosen by the Junior Library Guild, and been nominated for numerous state medals.
Torrey holds a degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Washington (’88), and a Master of Arts in Religion from Graceland University (’06). She currently lives on Fox Island, Washington, but has lived and traveled all over the world. She has three sons and five grandchildren. In addition to her writing and traveling, she is a director and co-founder of Orphans Africa, a 501 c 3 nonprofit charity (www.orphansafrica.org). Orphans Africa works primarily in Tanzania, building boarding schools for children orphaned by AIDS.
The science detectives work out in great scientific fashion why people were barfing at a birthday party - a great engaging little story with vomit, mystery and science top notch entertainment for kids. The good series continues. Four out of six completed now.
The Case of the Barfy Birthday is a Science Fiction book is intended for the (I) Intermediate age range 8 through 12 years old, grades 3rd through 7th.
The first story in this book is about whether or not a health drink that was made by a Zoe for Chloe, her sister would have caused Chloe to end up in the emergency room. As Zoe and her friend go over the evidence leading up to her sister getting sick they discover what really happened to Chloe and why she became so sick.
I gave this book a 4 star rating, because I really liked the plot, the theme and just how the characters worked together in a scientific manner to uncover the truth. In this book children decide that they are going to solve a particular situation by their scientific investigation from beginning to end. This story in the book is fun and shows just how children's imagination can some time overtake them. This book also shows how children can collaborate together and come up with a solution quickly. I do believe that this story would appeal to the young reader, because of how the children characters were displayed in the storyline. I would use this book in the area of discovery and scientific using perhaps discovery jars for different outcomes and hypothetical theories from the children.
Once upon a time, I went to a church potluck. That night I started throwing up. Violently. As did everyone else in my family. I wound up in the hospital. Later we found out several other families from the church also had the same illness that happened at about the same time.
The people of the church were angry when I put forth the theory that Doyle and Fossey in this book put forth to those that were having the same reaction after a birthday party. It's SCIENCE people. Not someone trying to malign anyone's potato (or chicken) salad. It's just SCIENCE.
Sheesh.
Love this series. Love how you're invited to think logically about things. Love the experiments at the end. A book series like this is enough to make ME want to do science experiments. That doesn't typically happen. Awesome books!
Even though the print is a bit small, the stories are good reads. Drake and Nell are science detectives and very good at breaking cases. Each of the stories are quick and fun for fourth and five-grade readers. The book made me feel smart and sharp! Can be a recommendation for both boys and girls!
Kind of a weird book, but once I settled in a great pick for kids! There is some mystery, some science, and some interesting kids. I especially enjoy all the science activities in the back.