Smashie McPerter and the Shocking Rocket Robbery by Kate Hindley, N. Griffin
Published by Candlewick Press on February 8, 2022
ISBN: 0763694703
Pages: 272
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
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Smashie McPerter and her best friend Dontel are back and working together to solve mysteries! This time they have several mysteries to investigate on the day of their field trip. Someone stole Dontel’s technically correct drawing of a space rocket, right out of a backpack! Then, on the way to the planetarium, the class’s special space snacks kept disappearing and someone stole one of Smashie’s fancy hats! The two start their investigations, but then Smashie becomes a prime suspect, putting their friendship, and the investigations, in jeopardy.

This is the third book in the Smashie McPerter mystery series and readers who enjoyed the previous books will no doubt enjoy this one as well. The nice thing about this series is that each book works as a stand alone; readers do not have to read the previous books to understand and enjoy this one. The book is fast-paced and there are clues and red herrings throughout that keep readers thinking. Appropriate for upper elementary readers, this book will appeal to mystery fans and would be a great book to check-out.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library, Orono, ME