The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit (Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective #1)

by Octavia Spencer (Author) Vivienne To (Illustrator)

Meet Randi Rhodes, the world's first ninja detective! Mystery abounds in this delightful new middle grade series from Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer.

Deer Creek is a small town whose only hope for survival is the success of their Founder's Day Festival. But the festival's main attraction, a time capsule that many people believe hold the town's treasure, has gone missing.

Randi Rhodes and her best friend, D.C., are Bruce Lee-inspired ninjas and local detectives determined to solve the case. Even if it means investigating in a haunted cabin and facing mean old Angus McCarthy, prime suspect.

They have three days to find the treasure...the future of their whole town is at stake! Will these kids be able to save the day?

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Kirkus

A quick read about a girl sleuth whose fiery determination will leave readers wanting Book 2.

Publishers Weekly

Academy Award-winning actor Spencer debuts with an assured, entertaining whodunit that launches the Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective series. Still smarting from her mother's death, 12-year-old Randi finds comfort in solving neighborhood mysteries, mimicking the heroine of her father's detective novels. A black belt in Tae Kwon Do, headstrong Randi resents her father's overprotectiveness and his decision to relocate from Brooklyn to Tennessee. It proves to be a saving move for Randi, who swore off friends after her mother died ("It was easier to be alone than it was to feel pitied all the time"). She lets her guard down and befriends two boys who help her locate a missing time capsule. The curlicue mystery involves some silly small-town drama and a few extraneous loops, but also considerable suspense. There are genuinely affecting moments, too; one of Randi's friends, whose father abandoned his family, tells her it's okay to cry: "You don't have to be tough all the time." To contributes polished, cinematically lit illustrations (not all seen by PW), and appendices outline tips for aspiring sleuths. Ages 8-12. Agent: Andy McNicol, William Morris Endeavor. Illustrator's agent: Shannon Associates. (Oct.)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6--Randi, 12, a reluctant new resident of sleepy Deer Creek, Tennessee, is a black-belt karate expert and a budding detective. She and her father, a famous suspense writer, are mourning the recent death of her mother. Randi meets D.C., an asthmatic, bullied, wannabe Bruce Lee, and together they decide to find the missing time capsule upon which the economically depressed town has pinned all its hopes of revitalization. Mysterious Pudge Taylor rounds out the group. If they don't locate the treasure everyone believes is in the time capsule, the mayor and his cronies will buy up the town and turn it into a luxury golfing lodge. Ghosts, an angry old guy, suspicious federal agents, and town founders all factor in to the exciting mystery. Spencer keeps up the pace and the sense of danger. The characters are interesting, and each one deals with some pretty serious issues. All in all, this is a promising start to a series that should appeal to both boys and girls, including reluctant readers.--B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Octavia Spencer
A veteran character actress and one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents, Octavia Spencer has become a familiar fixture on both television and silver screen. Her critically acclaimed performance as Minny in the DreamWorks feature film The Help won her a 2012 Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a SAG Award, and a Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Award, among countless other honors. Octavia is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. She lives in Los Angeles. Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit was her first novel.

Vivienne To has illustrated several books, including The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins and the Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective series by Octavia Spencer. As a child, she had two pet mice escape. She currently lives in Sydney, Australia, with her partner and her ginger cat. Visit her at VivienneTo.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781442476813
Lexile Measure
680
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date
October 15, 2013
Series
Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
Library of Congress categories
Tennessee
Mystery and detective stories
Detective and mystery stories
Moving, Household
Community life
Single-parent families
Buried treasure
Treasure troves
Time capsules

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