The Impossible Clue

Reviewed by: Phyllis Fuchs - Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 12, 2017

Review

The lively and colorful dust jacket showing twelve year old Alice Jones who is labelled "code maker, crime breaker" should attract upper grade school girls who enjoy reading mysteries. Math whiz Alice is not a "people person" but she is smart, fearless and likes both a challenge and figuring out problems. The problem here is the disappearance of a famous scientist from a locked room! Alice accepts the problem when asked by a classmate's egocentric father. She is determined to find the scientist. Readers are shown the difference between solving math problems and solving life's problems. Other problems that engage Alice are her journalist father who focuses entirely on his current assignment and her twin sister who wants only to be a star in show business. Recommended to readers in upper grade school and junior high who enjoy mysteries and perhaps math as well.

Overall Book Score: good