mystery – Page 3 – BookBunnies

Marshmallow reviews Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer

Today Marshmallow reviews the second book in Nancy Springer’s Enola Holmes series: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, first published in 2007. Sprinkles, who loves detective stories and has already read the first book in the series, is asking questions and taking notes.

Sprinkles: So Marshmallow, tell us about this second book.

Marshmallow: Well, it is another book with Enola Holmes as the main character. This time she is working in London as a detective, or rather a finder of things, under the name of a man. So the man is totally made up ,and she is acting as if she is his assistant because she knows that nobody will hire her if they know she is a woman.

S: I see. That makes sense.

M: Yes. And she uses all these disguises to get answers to questions she could not have gotten otherwise. I thought this was very clever. In fact the whole book is full of clever ideas like this, which made it a very satisfying read.

S: That sounds great Marshmallow! So tell us about the left-handed lady from the title.

M: So there is supposed to be a girl who is “kidnapped” and she is noble so she is a lady.

S: What do you mean by “kidnapped”?

M: Well, people think that she ran away with a guy. So the mystery is not publicized because the family is embarrassed.

S: So they discreetly hire Enola Holmes?

M: Yes, they hire her cover person. And Enola goes to examine the evidence as his assistant, because they would not take her seriously if she were not working for a man. Really annoying!

S: I can see that!

M: She discovers these paintings made by the girl who disappeared. And they lead her to realize that the girl is more interested in socioeconomic issues rather than a man.

Marshmallow is reading Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer. — Marshmallow is reading *Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady* by Nancy Springer.

S: So that plot sounds nothing like the second Enola Holmes movie.

M: Yes, that is true. They are both about a lost girl but the girl in the movie is not a noblewoman.

S: I understand that the movie version is actually about a real person named Sarah Chapman, who led a women workers’ strike.

M: That sounds really cool! The book is totally fictional, as far as I can tell. But there are a lot of political issues that are mentioned.

S: That sounds neat. I found the first book really easy to read, and it kept my full attention the whole time. Is this second book like that, too?

M: Yes. I did feel the plot was a little bit more complicated however. The other felt more like a game set up, but this was wilder somehow… Still a lot of fun to read!

S: So does that mean you will go on to reading the next book?

M: Yes, I hope to read it and review it next.

S: Sounds great to me! In the meantime, I will happily take this off your hands and read it myself.

M: Sure, you do that, Sprinkles.

S: Okay, so as we wrap this up, how would you rate the book overall?

M: I’d rate it 100%. It is a neat mystery, and the social commentary is very much welcome, too.

S: Great! So what would you like to tell our readers?

M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!

Marshmallow rates Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer 100%. — Marshmallow rates *Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady* by Nancy Springer 100%.

Caramel reviews Spy School Goes Wild by Stuart Gibbs

The book bunnies are fans of Stuart Gibbs and his books. While Marshmallow has been an avid fan of Gibbs’ FunJungle books, Caramel has read and reviewed all his Spy School books. So last week, he was delighted to finally get his paws on Spy School Goes Wild, the new Spy School novel that just came out on September 24. In the post below, he shares his thoughts about this book. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, we are at book twelve now. Tell me what is going on with Ben Ripley this time.

Caramel: He is still a spy at the training facility in Alaska like in Spy School Goes North, the previous book. And he is supposed to be sent for a secret mission. The principal of his school takes him on a plane for this mission but betrays him and turns him over to Murray Hill, his arch-nemesis.

S: Well, that sounds awful.

C: It is but it gets much worse. The principal double-crosses Murray as well, and Ben and Murray are stuck in the African wilderness together. And that is not all of it, either. There is an unexpected enemy who is trying to take revenge on both of them, so they are in serious danger.

S: That sounds dangerous!

C: And it is dangerous!

S: But I am assuming our hero Ben will figure things out in the end, as he always does.

C: Ye of course, but the way he gets there is all around awesome! This was again a lot of fun to read.

Caramel is reading *Spy School Goes Wild* by Stuart Gibbs.

S: You have been waiting for this twelfth book for some time now.

C: Yes, it has been more than eight months since I read and reviewed the eleventh book. Then I tried to wait around and read the graphic novels while waiting, but there are only three of those: Spy School: The Graphic Novel, Spy Camp: The Graphic Novel, and Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel. It is so hard to wait!

S: I know! Especially for a little bunny like you! But the wait is over! You got a twelfth book!

C: Yay! I am excited to have the twelfth book. But-

S: What?

C: You know what I am going to say.

S: Hmm, I think I do. Go ahead; say it then.

C: I am excited to have the twelfth book. But now I read it. So I need the thirteenth book now!

S: Well, you might have to wait a bit. You know it takes some time to write a book. Even a prolific author like Stuart Gibbs will need some time to get a new book out.

C: I know, I know. But you know me, I like to always keep reading my favorite series. I guess I will simply go back and reread some of the earlier books.

S: Sounds like a good compromise to me. And there are other books out there, too. Maybe we will find a new series.

C: Maybe.

S: Okay, Caramel; this is probably a good time to wrap up this review. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Spy School Goes Wild by Stuart Gibbs: he had missed Spy School! — Caramel loved reading *Spy School Goes Wild* by Stuart Gibbs: he had missed Spy School!

Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer

Caramel has been going through the Artemis Fowl books one by one. He has already read and reviewed the first seven books: Artemis Fowl, Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code, Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception, Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony, Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox, and Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex. Today he is finally ready to talk about book eight: Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian, originally published in 2012. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: Okay, Sprinkles, we are finally talking about the last book in the series. And it is perhaps coincidentally called The Last Guardian.

Caramel: Why do you think it is coincidental?

S: Well, I thought it was a coincidence that the title of the last book has the word “last” in it. But are you implying that this is not at all a coincidence? Like this is also the end of Artemis Fowl and the last we will see of him?

C: Well, that is kind of what I am implying. Artemis Fowl does die-

S: What, really?

C: Yes, really. But of course he comes back!

S: Hmm, you got me worried for a bit there.

C: Yay! Mission accomplished!

S: Hmm, I am not terribly happy you got me worried intentionally there. But okay, let us get back to the book. Who is the last guardian? What is happening in this book? And how does Artemis Fowl die and then come back?

C: I am not sure, but I think it might be Artemis because he sacrifices himself, to defend the fairies and their world as well as the human world. The evil character Opal Koboi is once again the villain and causes both the fairy and the human worlds to lose most of their technological tools and systems. And Artemis does come back but he forgets everything. Almost everything, and then the book ends in a strange way.

S: I feel like we are approaching serious spoiler territory here.

C: Yes. I guess I should stop.

Caramel is reading Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer. — Caramel is reading *Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian* by Eoin Colfer.

S: Okay, so the book is done, and the series with it, too. Tell me, what is your overall opinion of the series?

C: Can I give a percent rating like Marshmallow does?

S: Okay, let us see.

C: Yay! I would rate the series 99%!

S: Hmm, so you love the series but you are still holding on to that one percent.

C: Yes, remember you told me that when you were in high school, your English teacher would never assign a grade of 10 out of 10 for anybody.

S: Well, yes, she said 10 was reserved for Shakespeare only.

C: So I am reserving 100% for a new Wings of Fire book. If it is good.

S: So out of all the series you have read till now, Wings of Fire is still your favorite?

C: Yes. But Artemis Fowl is a close second. The main character is pretty cool. And the books are always action-packed and fast-paced and have all sorts of weird things, like magic, time travel, and a no-longer-evil boy genius! What is not to like!

S: So would you recommend that I read them too then?

C: Yes, I think you would like them, Sprinkles.

S: Hmm, I think I will give them a go then. While we are at it, I wanted to check. You know there are more Artemis Fowl mysteries, right? They have his twin brothers as the central characters. Are you interested in checking those books out too?

C: Yes, of course. That’s kind of a silly question, Sprinkles. Kind of like you are asking me if I want more ice cream.

S: I get it, okay. Maybe we will find those books then. So let us wrap up this review then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer and is now a bit sad that the series is all over. So he will probably go back to the beginning and reread it all over again. — Caramel loved reading *Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian* by Eoin Colfer and is now a bit sad that the series is all over. So he will probably go back to the beginning and reread it all over again.

Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer

In the last few months, Caramel read and reviewed the first six books in Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series. Today he is reviewing the seventh book, Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex, first published in 2010. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

{In case you are interested, here are Caramel’s reviews of the previous six books: Artemis Fowl, Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code, Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception, Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony, Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox.]

Caramel reviews Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer. — Caramel reviews *Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex* by Eoin Colfer.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, we are coming to the end of this Artemis Fowl series.

Caramel: Unfortunately.

S: I know! There is one more book left after this one. But I understand there are a few more books about Artemis’s twin brothers.

C: Maybe I could read those, too. But I really like Artemis, so I will miss him.

S: Well, the good news is that you do not have to miss him yet. We have this seventh book to talk about today, and then there is an eighth book to look forward to.

C: True.

S: Okay, so without any more delay, let us dive right in. So the title mentions the Atlantis Complex. What is that supposed to be?

C: It is a disease that causes the person that gets it to sort of lose their mind. And of course, Artemis Fowl catches it.

S: That sounds terrifying. But then again, Artemis has faced so many mind-boggling and frightening challenges before, I don’t know if this is scarier.

C: Maybe not, but the story is just as exciting to read!

Caramel is reading Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer. — Caramel is reading *Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex* by Eoin Colfer.

S: So how does he catch this disease? And is that the main plot line? I mean, is that the main story?

C: Yes, pretty much. It all starts with Artemis and his friends on a glacier in Iceland, with Artemis introducing his new device to fight global warming. As he is giving a speech, people start realizing he is not alright. Then his friends try to save him. And of course they get into all sorts of outlandish trouble.

S: That is a fancy word you’re using there, Caramel!

C: Well, I think it is the right word.

S: Okay, I believe you. You mentioned friends. So do we see a lot of characters from the earlier books, then?

C: Yes. Holly and Butler are there. And Foaly and Mulch Diggums and Butler’s daughter Juliet. And so on.

S: Okay, so this was book seven. Looking back would you recommend other young bunnies to get their paws on any book in this series?

C: Yes, all of them! I told you before. I like all of these books.

S: True, you did tell me that. So this book was also great, and your opinion of the series has not changed.

C: No it has not. It is still good. And fun.

S: So how would you like to describe this book using three to five words?

C: Amazing adventures in ice and sea.

S: Ooh, that sounds fun!

C: It is.

S: Okay, so let us wrap up this review so you can move on to the last book.

C: Oh, that makes me sad and excited at the same time.

S: I totally understand Caramel. But all good things come to an end.

C: So they say.

S: And what will you say, before we end this review?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews! And blurbs!

Caramel loved reading Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer and is ready for the last book of the main series! — Caramel loved reading *Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex* by Eoin Colfer and is ready for the last book of the main series!