Gr 8 Up–Mr. Ford was the sole teacher who made Gigi believe she “was better than an angry, violent” person with “barely two brain cells to [her] name.” Now he’s dead, and Gigi’s sure it was no accident. The Westbridge High Mystery Club has never had an actual mystery to solve, but now they’re looking at murder—and the murderer starts targeting the club members as they approach the truth. All that violence might not seem funny, but the one-liners and zingers, especially about poop (Gigi has irritable bowel syndrome and doesn’t mind commenting often it) never stop. Neither do the constant didactic reminders against any remotely offensive language or situations, including self-chiding against ableism while lying in a hospital bed. Even Littrell doesn’t seem quite sure about the (inappropriate) timing, reading as if she’s got an eyebrow constantly raised.
VERDICT Littrell remarkably manages the extensive cast, both endearing and exasperating.
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