Ferraiolo, Jack D. Quick Fix.

Ferraiolo, Jack D.  Quick Fix.  

Abrams, Harry   291p $15.95     978-0-8109-9725-7 2012  ms    E-BN        Realistic Fiction

This is a sequel to The Big Splash, in which the middle-school Mafia run by Vinny Biggs lost its chief hit man.  Now a seventh-grade detective, Matt Stevens has multiple clients all hiring him to find the same mysterious wooden puzzle box.  It appears that the contents are being used to blackmail the organization’s kingpin (Vinny).  Can Matt find the box, figure out just what was in the box, determine who is the blackmailer, and not become a target for water-gun-toting middle-school goons?

 

This title has loads of hysterically funny situations requiring some pretty quick thinking.  As the reader is led to come to one conclusion, a new wrinkle is introduced to keep him or her guessing.  The conclusion screams for a third title, in which Matt will attempt to clean up Franklin Middle School for good.  Middle-school readers will love this title, especially boys.                 

Middle-School Stories, Humor–Fiction                        --Joan Theal