4 out of 4 stars
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Serendipity Mystery review draft 3
As a middle-aged woman, I didn’t think that I would enjoy reading a children’s book as much as I did. But, I truly loved reading Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R.F. Kristi. I rate this 4 out of 4 stars.
It’s the story of an investigative Siberian cat named Inca and her family, who are on vacation in Sri Lanka. As they are enjoying fun in the sun, and meeting new animal friends (such as a turtle named Rani and a baby elephant named Mena), she stumbles upon a mystery. The curious cat cannot help herself but takes risks to solve the mystery of a sword that was stolen from the museum. Along with their dog friend Terrence, her brother Fromage, and her new friends, Inca will not stop until this case is solved.
I found the character Inca to be very loveable and enjoyed reading her diary as she tells of their adventurous vacation. I loved the beautiful color illustrations of the adorable characters by artist Jorge Valle. I felt that they enhanced the story and reading experience. R.F. Kristi uses lovely, descriptive prose throughout the book, and doesn’t water down her writing for children, as some authors tend to do. Geographical information is written seamlessly into the story; which educates as well as entertains.
The pets face danger, but nothing that is too scary for younger children. I really love the scenes where the pets interact with wild animals, especially the leopards.
The use of words like “yippee!” and “oodles” peppered throughout the prose seemed a little annoying, but then I remembered that this is a story for children. It’s cute without being annoyingly cutesy. And, Inca is not a Mary Sue but a very sweet, endearing character that will remind children of their own household pet. Maybe teens and tweens wouldn’t be interested in it and find it a little too short and sweet. However, I’d definitely recommend it for ages 8-12.
The story is easy to follow, and you don’t need to read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one. However, I think this book is likely to spark interest in the rest of the Inca series.
I am pleased to say I found very few errors. Only one run-on sentence, and the use of the word “sneaked” where I felt she should have used “snuck.” So hats off to the editor, and the author as well.
This was truly a sweet, delightful mystery for young readers.
******
Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat
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