Friday Barnes wasn't anticipated. The fifth child in the family, she taught herself most of what she knew about the world, and staying invisible to the average citizen-her idea of a comfortable life. But her life changes forever after she solves a bank robbery, earning herself $50,000, and going off to a posh boarding school. While there, she meets a strew of characters, ranging from popular mean kids, to sweet roommates, and solves their mysteries for them. This was the best combination of Matilda and Nancy Drew that I've read! I loved how all the mysteries concluded to an amazing finale, and the cliffhanger was really gripping! I'll definitely read the next book in the series, and I couldn't pick a better series to become the new Nancy Drew!
Friday Barnes, Girl Detective (Friday Barnes Mysteries)
By R. A. Spratt
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 3 - 6 | n/a | 5.8 | 39125 |
“A must-have series for middle-grade readers.” ―Booklist
A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, 2017
Imagine if Sherlock Holmes was an eleven-year-old girl!
When Friday Barnes, girl genius, solves a bank robbery, she uses the reward money to send herself to Highcrest Academy, the most exclusive boarding school in the country―and discovers it's a hotbed of crime!
Soon she's investigating everything from disappearing homework to the terrifying Yeti haunting the school swamp. But the biggest mystery yet is Ian Wainscott, the handsomest (and most arrogant) boy in school who inexplicably hates her. Will the homework be found? Can they ever track down the Yeti? And why is Ian out to ruin her?
With black-and-white art throughout, Friday Barnes, Girl Detective is the launch of an exciting new mystery series that "will keep readers laughing from start to finish." (Publishers Weekly)
Book Reviews (23)
Friday Barnes isn't your average 11 year old. She is the fifth child in her family, and was a "surprise baby" to scientist parents who plan everything. Friday basically raised herself and taught herself to become invisible to those around her. When she was young she read thousands of books in a year-mostly science books and as a result became incredibly intelligent. Teachers can't teach her anything new, so she sits in the back of the classroom undisturbed reading her detective novels. One night Friday helps her uncle at his work as a private investigator-and solves the impossible case. Finding herself rich, she sends herself to one of the best private schools in the country, and from there on out she solves all the "rich kid" problems. Friday easily solves many mysteries that all tie together in the end. The pictures were cartoonish but fit well into the story. The one problem I have with this story is that Friday doesn't deal with much conflict-not till the end of the book. I will warn you, the book ends on a cliffhanger(terrible!!) and the next book doesn't come out until August 2016. I can't wait! This book is a perfect detective novel, and I recommend it to kids who enjoy mysteries and kids who act like mini-adults. I think this book is meant for younger kids, not teens. However, I still enjoyed it very much and will continue reading the series. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes meets it's new hybrid... Introducing Friday Barnes with her infamous brown cardigans and silly hat (the youngest of five children, a kid-genius, and who might have a crush on the "Greek god" ... because who knows) solves so many mysteries and problems that it's hard to count! Who knew that once Friday Balmes... I mean Barnes would encounter a missing clock, discovering fake tans, having a pencil explosion, finding out teachers flirting with each other, being named as the scholarship kid, extracting a dog's poop (and no... I am not lying), looking for the yeti with Ian, counter smuggling unit (toilet paper rolls), and many more just by earning money from finding out who took the missing diamond(**cough* *cough* *someone's dad* *cough* *cough*)... This book is compacted with so many mysteries that tie in smoothly together... Because she is a genius you can't really expect her to be wrong... ever... because she is right all the time... Like seriously I should hire her to find out who took my red velvet cupcake... anyways did I mention Friday also found out who took Miss. Piddock's lemon tart... A twist with humor and mysteries ... it certainly goes well... Especially with the cool drawings gives the book a bit more "oomph" to it like adding sprinkles to a hot fudge sundae... And this is somewhat like a spoiler alert to get you ready is that there is sadly a cliffhanger at the end... And now I'm so mad because I have to wait until August 2016... So even though this book looks thick... don't judge it because it was a really quick read... And be ready to laugh a lot... Seriously the author is so creative with coming with the mysteries and the culprit, like it's not even funny anymore... Like I know for a fact that if Friday was alive, and I wanted to be a detective... I have no chance of being a detective... Like Friday is that smart and can even outsmart you! And I can't describe how awesome this book is... Like AHHHH... You just have to find out and read it yourself... Be ready to embrace the world of mysteries... So READ IT!!!
Gah, I am not cut out to be a detective at all - I mean, I knew that already but it's disappointing now that I think it over again - and I hate cliffhangers too and I hate that I have to wait until August 2016 - I'm already really excited to read it after reading the preview!
It's okay... I feel your pain XD... Same I can't be a detective whatsoever... On the bright side... at least we have DOGO and books that can subdue our pain. OMG>>>>EXACTLY... seriously you're the only one who gets me... Once I see a cliffhanger, I'm like "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO" and my friends are like "whatevs..." SAMEEEEE the preview seems so good!!!!
Oh and then sometimes there are books that are really good, but at the end there's a cliffhanger.. and then I look at the book, then I look at the Internet - no mention of a sequel whatsoever. GAH GAH GAH
I know right... XDDDDD