Gargoyles Gone AWOL

Sesame Seade Mysteries #2

by Clémentine Beauvais

Where have all the gargoyles gone? Sesame Seade is slightly spooked ...

She's Cambridge's number one supersleuth. And now she's taking to the rooftops to tackle her most puzzling mystery yet.

Illustrated throughout with hilarious artwork by Sarah Horne, this series features a smart and sassy heroine with a unique take on life. Also in the SLEUTH ON SKATES and SCAM ON THE CAM.

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Adventure, Mystery, Friendship

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2013

About the author

I was born in Paris in 1989 and though I started to read children’s books pretty early, I somehow never stopped. As a result, I’ve become a writer, reader and student of children’s literature. I’ve now been living and studying in Cambridge (UK) for seven years and have become a doctor. Well, not the type that saves people’s lives. The type that scribbles ‘PhD’ after their name and rambles on about beauty, truth and the value of (all) literature. Worth striving for, I think! More about my academic work here.

The other thing I do is write books – children’s books, surprisingly enough. In fact, it’s not ‘the other thing’. It’s the first thing I ever did, really – long before I heard that you could actually analyse books for a living, I wanted to write books for a living. So I started writing, and ultimately getting published – in French first, and now in English as well. My first series of children’s books in English, led by self-made superheroine Sesame Seade, is being published in 2013 by Hodder Children’s Books!

I am represented by Kirsty McLachlan of David Godwin Associates.

‘How’s your name pronounced???!!!!!’

Clementeen Bovay.

But that’s not even all there is to it. My full name is Clémentine Morgane Mélusine Hécate Beauvais.

As Sesame Seade would have it: ‘Seriously! Parents!’

- from her website

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super smart Sesame Seade always seems to be at odds with her parents, one a minister and one a professor, not to mention her teacher, Mr. Barnes, known by the students as Mr. Halitosis. When gargoyles start disappearing from the rooftops over Cambridge in this import from Great Britain, Sesame and her two friends try to unravel the mystery. But as she quickly realizes, there is more than one mystery. What animal is leaving the odd tracks on the ground? What's wrong with her cat Peter Mortimer? Who or what is slipping into her eucalyptus-scented room? Strangely enough, all of these questions turn out to be related, and Sesame uncovers an experiment possibly going awry as well as a network of animal activists. Although some of the issues Sesame is tackling are serious enough, the book is also filled with hilarious scenes and commentary from its protagonists as well as attractive black and white drawings of Sesame and her accomplices. The book requires readers to do some thinking from themselves while featuring a most admirable main character in Sesame who proves that youngsters just may know more than most adults give them credit for knowing. The scenes featuring Herbert the hornet provide deliciously painful anticipation that someone is going to get just what he/she deserves. This series is a worthy addition to late elementary classrooms chiefly because of Sesame. It's hard not to see the connection between her fondness for her unlovable cat and her desire that her parents will love and accept her as she is.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit that when I read the first "Sesame Seade Mystery" I was underwhelmed. The series is imported from Great Britain and, while it has touches of humor, not everything translates well. However, upon reading this second book in the series I must say that either the series is getting better, or it grows on you. Sesame Seade has stick-in-the-mud parents who don't understand their roller-skating sleuth daughter. Now gargoyles are going missing at Cambridge University, lab mice are invading the house, a nasty cat is quite lethargic and Sesame is on the case. Her devil-may-care attitude, and ignoring of conventions, get Sesame in trouble but also provide the delight in the plot. I find I may actually be looking forward to the next book!

[Clémence Alsteen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un petit jeunesse, drôle et sympa. Malgré qu'il soit "destiné aux enfants", la plume de Clémentine Beauvais est très bien travaillé et le suspens de l'enquête est présent. On ne s'ennuie pas et on s'amuse, parfait pour passer un moment chill et joyeux.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never mind the complicated mystery involving adults and some pretty serious issues that Sesame intends to solve, the entirely reckless way she leaps into dangerous situations for thrills as much as effectiveness, or even her obviously high intelligence that she aptly puts to use for both good and bad. While those are all very entertaining facets to this book and contribute to its appeal, they aren't what drive my 5-star rating. What makes me adore this series is Sesame's narration. She hilariously spins every situation from her precocious viewpoint with a combination of dry wit, irreverent sarcasm, perceptiveness, and outrageousness. She is a maker and solver of mischief. She is gleefully fun.

The team immediately understood what the next move was. It pleased me to have chosen such switched-on friends. Gemma and Toby gave me a leg-up on to the windowsill, and in no time at all I was standing on the edge of the slanted roof next to the missing gargoyle.

Through the open window I could hear Jeremy bawling, "Sesame! Sesame! Come back inside immediately!" Typical of adults to ask you to do things and then get all fidgety when you actually do them the most efficient way.

-----

And after dinner, just like that, they left! The cheek of it! Not telling me off for being a walking disaster--not worrying about me burning down the house--nothing. Irresponsible parenting at its finest. Vaguely worried that I'd lost my legendary talent at terrorizing the old and wrinkled, I waited until they left the house, then skipped across the First Court of college and leapt into the Porters' Lodge in the manner of the pouncing grizzly bear.

-----

"I was just coming to see your parents."

"Tough luck, they're out. You can leave a message after the tone." We both waited for the tone. "Beep!" I said.

"Hello, Professor and Reverend Seade," said Anthi. "I was just calling to give you the soothing essential oil I was telling you about this morning. Here it is. Goodbye!"

"To re-record your message, key hash," I declared. She didn't seem to want to re-record. "Right," I said. "What's that about?"

Anthi handed me a small green bottle. "Well, your parents told me you're . . . er . . . an energetic child . . . a little bit turbulent, let's say--and I mentioned that I sometimes use essential oil to calm down and focus. I offered to bring some round to see if it would work on you. You just have to leave it open in your bedroom and it will spread into the air."

"Wonderful," I said, plowing as furrowed a brow as I could. "An international conspiracy to pollute my airspace with toxic molecules of good behavior."

-----

Discreetly, I crawled up the roof and started walking on the tiny flat ledge at the very very top of it.

This is when having done a year of walking on a beam becomes a pretty good skill. In fact, I remembered I'd also learned that year to do cartwheels on a beam. I wondered if I could still do it with the added fun of a drop of death on either side. I tried and managed it absolutely fine. I was going to try another one, until I realized that a pair of bespectacled eyes was gaping at me. There was a long, awkward, heavy silence.

-----

On my tombstone would figure the following epitaph: Sesame Seade, sensational supersleuth. Sufficiently scolded, seldom scared.

So, to live up to that epitaph, I launched myself into the skies.

-----

"What's that pill for, then?" asked Toby.

"Making wild animals less wild, apparently," I replied. "If you want to put them in zoos or something, I guess."

"But why would they check if it works on humans?"

That hadn't struck me until now. "I don't know . . . I guess, maybe some humans . . . would need to be calmed down?" But as I said it I realized how chilling that sounded. And I remembered Mum's voice--"Especially children."

"Oh, I think I know," I murmered. "They want to give it to kids who are too active. To calm them down, like Anthi's Euca-licious essential oil, except that one would work."

"Blimey," whispered Toby. "When that drug comes out, Sess, I bet you'll be the first on the list of victims."

He was tragically right. I pictured a future where I would be a pale, plaited, plain, placid little teenager offering custard creams to guests and spending hours learning the harp.

"Will you still be my friend when I've become a huge bore?" I asked Toby.

"Don't think so," he replied. "But don't worry about me, I'll find someone else to hang out with."

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Seade (aka Sesame Seade) is a supersmart superslueth who solves mysteries with the help of her friends Toby, Gemma and Jeremy. A lot of strange things are happening in Cambridge. Gargoyles are missing from university rooftops, lab mice are running amok, strange footprints have appeared outside Sesame’s house and Peter Mortimer, Sesame’s pet cat, has become a lazy lump. Are all these strange occurrences connected? Sesame’s humor and gumption can get her out of even the trickiest situations. She’ll need to use all her wits and skills to solve the case of the Gargoyles Gone AWOL. First published in Great Britain, some of the jargon may be unfamiliar to readers. They may also not understand some of the humor. The ending was unsatisfactory. It was like reading about someone searching for and digging up a buried treasure, but never knowing what’s inside the chest. Still a funny and exciting read. Recommended for school and public libraries, 4th – 6th grade.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters in this book portray attitudes that I prefer my kids not emulate. I'll equate Sesame Seade to Junie B. Jones. For example, she is disrespectful of adults. She calls her teacher "Mr. Halitosis" (which my kids didn't get because they don't know what halitosis means) and thinks her mom is the worst person ever and doesn't hesitate to tell her so. The author also uses big words my high schooler wouldn't even know. Having to stop and explain so many words takes the fun out of reading out loud. Less bothersome was the fact that they didn't understand U.K. English, i.e. a hoover is a vacuum. I didn't think the mystery was well written either. It took a long time for Sesame to make any progress on the case and in the end everything "magically" came together. I prefer mysteries where you at least have a chance of trying to figure it out. Cute cover design, but pass on the story.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second installment of the “Sesame Seade Mystery” series involves fearless eleven-year-old Sesame as she tries to solve the mystery of the missing gargoyles atop Great Britain’s Cambridge University. She is on the case with her roller skates and friends Toby and Gemma. After a series of puzzling events (a koala in her closet, an invasion of mice, her cat’s odd personality change), Sesame is able to sort through the clues, connect the dots and bring the mystery to a rousing close. The quick read is interspersed with imaginative black and white illustrations. The humorous text has many British idioms and some complex vocabulary that may be off-putting for some. However, Sesame’s irreverent comments and snappy dialogue should delight most readers. Order if you have Anglophiles and mystery fans.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from Goodreads First Reads Program in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first ever book of A Sesame Sead Mystery Series and I've got to say, this one rocks! I totally enjoyed reading this. It has a touch of mystery and comedy in it, that you wouldn't have to endure a boring chapter. I highly recommend this book for youngsters and adults as well.

[Daphne (Illumicrate) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guys. If you didn't love Sesame Seade enough, this will do it. It's got a KOALA. That alone should sell this book! Already passed it on to spread the love. Wonderful, and full review to come!

[Karen Cossey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read, I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud. I highly recommend this series

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[The Contented · Rating 3 out of 5]

A jolly good read. Adorable children's fiction.