Beetle Boy

Reviewed by: Kris Zuidema - retired school librarian, Standish, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 7, 2017

Review

Since Darkus Cuttle's mother passed away he has looked after his grief stricken father, Dr. Bartholomew Cuttle, the Director of Science at the Natural History Museum. One day Dr. Cuttle mysteriously disappears from a locked vault in the museum. Darkus comes under the care of his uncle, a famous and eccentric archeologist. The uncle's neighbors have a beetle infestation where Darkus finds a large beetle that attaches itself to him. The beetle is highly intelligent and is able to communicate using gestures and sounds. With the help of Darkus' two friends, his beetle, and other intelligent beetles, Darkus searches for his father. This well written and humorous novel draws the reader into an unusual story with an interesting cast of characters and a mystery waiting to be solved. The author weaves scientific facts into the rousing narrative. At the end of the book is a dictionary pertaining to insect terms. I highly recommend this enjoyable novel for middle grade readers. It is the first of a trilogy.

Overall Book Score: excellent