Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 11, 2018

Review

Ginns has found the winning answers to a fast-action, puzzle-solving romp throughout the world with this first novel in a planned series. The Spinners, a slightly eccentric family, must change their routine when Uncle Paul, and his strawberry waffle making skills, quietly disappears. Eleven-year-old Samantha is determined to solve the puzzles around her beloved uncle's disappearance, even after he only leaves her a rusty, red umbrella while her siblings and even her dog are left comically over-the-top, gigantic gifts. Samantha and her brother put sibling fighting aside when they embark on a trip to unknown places on the Magtrain, a fast-moving underground magnetic train. Their amazement of arriving in France is cut short when ninja shuriken stars start whizzing past. Thank goodness for week old baguettes! As they travel and find themselves in Egypt, glimpses of Uncle Paul pervade the different clues and facts along the way. The book's layout includes factual information pages scattered throughout that foreshadow various places with secrets. Fishinger's black and white illustrations provide some clues and other times comical parts of the story line. Ginns has provided many puzzles throughout the book with a chapter of super-secret answers in the back. The website provided puts another layer of enjoyment into the mix. This will have wide appeal from "Captain Underpants" lovers to "Chasing Vermeer" fans.

Overall Book Score: good