The Sherlock Society…These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

The Sherlock Society by James Ponti

1st Favorite Thing- I loved all the references to the Sherlock Holmes stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle.

2nd Favorite Thing- This book is not a difficult read, but it has depth. That is not an easy combination to find. A teacher could take several of the mysteries that the kids take on and use that as an opportunity to have the class research topics such as Al Capone, the Everglades, counterfeit money, how newspapers work, and illegal dumping. One of the main mysteries that kids have to solve centers around illegal dumping and its impact on the environment, specifically the environment of the Everglades. If a teacher wanted to, there are many discussions that could happen around the topic of illegal dumping and its impact on the environment.

3rd Favorite Thing- The mysteries in this book are solid. They have enough complexity to keep the reader interested, but not so much complexity that an elementary student cannot follow it.

4th Favorite Thing- The grandfather in the story is the character that helps the kids pursue the mysteries that come in the book. He was a reporter in Miami before he retired. He helps the kids think through the different mysteries that they encounter. One of the tools he teaches the kids is to think through is the who, what, when where and why of a mystery and/or story.

5th Favorite Thing- The story takes place in Florida where I was born and raised. It was fun to read a book where I knew many of the places that were being mentioned.