Author Douglas Quinn introduces a new series aimed
primarily at girls ages 8-12 with The Adventures of Summer McPhee of Ocracoke
Island: The Midnight Skulker.
This is a series spun off from the book The Adventures of Quinn Higgins
Boy Detective: The Cave of Blackbeard’s Treasure where
Summer McPhee
was introduced. Summer lives on Ocracoke
Island on the outer banks of North Carolina with her mom.
Her biggest problem as the book opens is that it is
Spring Break and she has a school writing assignment. She is supposed to write
a short story over the break and is stumped. She is saved from thinking about
it when a friend calls and wants to hang out. Summer meets up with her friend
Angie and soon learns a classmate, Missy, has been arrested and is accused of
stealing clothes.
Missy has trouble at school because of bullies and
some issues at home. Missy’s life was hard enough and things are much worse now
as she’s been arrested for stealing clothes off the line hanging in somebody’s
yard. Ultimately she may be removed from her home and wind up in juvenile
detention. Summer decides there is something very wrong and decides to look
into things.
Despite the twists and turns of the case and the law
of unintended consequences, Summer remains convinced Missy is innocent. Proving
Missy innocent is going to take some time and is no sure thing in this fast fun
read.
This new series features all of the positive
hallmarks of the Quinn Higgins: Boy Detective series. Summer is, like Quinn, a
young person that helps the kids being picked on, is supportive of others, and
has a positive outlook. The hot button topic of the day--- bullying--- is
subtly addressed here as well as a couple of issues very relevant to kids at
this age group. Along with the subtle lessons at work behind the scenes there
is a strong obvious mystery at work here for young minds to ponder.
While aimed at the 8-12 year old girl group, this
book truly knows no gender. Just like the series for boys, this new series for
girls works for any reader. As always the book is well written with no loose
storylines, grammar issues, or technical flaws. Both series feature books that
parents and caregivers can not only read and enjoy but have no concerns
regarding reading material, language, themes, behavior of characters, etc. Single
parents are shown in a positive light where they are in charge and respected. A
fast fun read that imparts a little knowledge along the way while entertaining readers
of all ages.
The Adventures of Summer McPhee of Ocracoke Island: The Midnight Skulker
Douglas
Quinn
AAS
White Heron Press (via CreateSpace)
April
2012
ISBN#
978-1470181260
Paperback
115
Pages
$6.95
Material once again supplied by the author’s
publicist, Donna Higgins Colson, on the author’s behalf.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2012
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