Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway by Wendelin Van Draanen
July 29, 2007 — Mary Childs
This was my first Sammy Keyes book in a long time, so I was again surprised by how much fun she is as a character and the major-league mysteries she becomes involved in.
Remember, Sammy, now almost done with 7th grade, is secretly living with her Grams in Grams’ senior citizen apartment while her mom is off in Hollywood trying to be an actress. She is fearless, outspoken, and always ready to investigate something that doesn’t seem right.
This time she has a few things to deal with: 1) her teacher’s lovebird, Tango, that she kills accidentally, 2) knowledge of something her arch-enemy, Heather Acosta, has done and what to do about it, 3) the possibility of corrupt local politics involved in a move to acquire the home through eminent domain of an older lady whose dog Sammy walks, and 4) the end-of-the-year dance that’s coming up!! (Why CAN’T she just wear her hightops??)
Fun to read. Makes you want to ready more Sammy Keyes!
