There’s a rumor going around school that Mickey Rangel, detective extraordinaire, has competition! Apparently, Tina has gotten an online license just like Mickey. He can’t believe it! Doesn’t she know detectives are guys? Look at all the greats: Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Colombo, the Hardy BOYS!
But when a pack of baseball cards—a collector’s item worth a lot of money—donated to the school’s fundraiser is stolen, Principal Abrego wants Mickey and Tina to work together to solve the case. The dynamic duo, she calls them! Mickey is determined to show the girl detective who’s who and he expects her to understand that they are not equal partners; she’s a rung or two below him.
Almost immediately Tina takes charge of the investigation and starts giving him instructions! “Who does this girl think she is?” Mickey wonders. But he isn’t counting on the fact that she is extremely smart and well-prepared. And when he lets his biases blind him to the facts of the case, it’s Tina who schools Mickey on the fine art of detection! How could he have possibly thought girls can’t be private investigators? Will she ever forgive him for his misogyny?
Kids will enjoy sharpening their detecting skills while getting a lesson in gender equality in this sixth book in René Saldaña’s bilingual series for intermediate readers, the Mickey Rangel Mystery Series/Colección Mickey Rangel, detective privado.
Praise for the Mickey Rangel Mystery Series:
“Accompanied by an excellent Spanish translation, this title is a good introduction to the hardships of immigration for young children, with the trappings of school mystery. Kids will enjoy this solid addition. Recommended, especially for public libraries with bilingual collections.”—School Library Journal on A Mystery Bigger than Big / Un misterio más grande que grandísimo
“Mickey is a great kid private eye in the tradition of Encyclopedia Brown and the Three Investigators. Saldaña cleverly inserts some lessons about spelling and grammar into the fast-moving plot, which revolves around the fact that the graffiti-writer can’t spell. This is ideal for reluctant readers.”—School Library Journal on The Mystery of the Mischievous Marker / El misterio del malvado marcador
“The brief, fast-moving mystery appears first in English, then Spanish, in Villarroel’s translation. His prose is peppy, and his mystery, while quickly solved, hammers home a solid grammar lesson as a bonus. Though he’s no teacher’s pet, Mickey’s smarts make him a welcome protagonist.”—Kirkus Reviews on The Mystery of the Mischievous Marker / El misterio del malvado marcador
“Important lessons are learned in this timely tale that will engage curious readers and spark important conversations. Short chapters make this book ideal for reluctant readers and a strong addition to any intermediate collection.”—School Library Journal on The Curse of the Bully’s Wrath / La maldición de la ira del abusón
“A solid resource for younger kids to learn about how best to tackle a bully and how to find your voice and speak up for not only yourself, but those around you.”—Kirkus Reviews on The Curse of the Bully’s Wrath / La maldición de la ira del abusón
“This entertaining bilingual chapter book that will engage readers and draw them into the mystery.”—School Library Journal on The Lemon Tree Caper / La intriga del limonero
“This brisk novella in English and Spanish offers two nifty whodunits for young mystery lovers.”—Kirkus Reviews on The Lemon Tree Caper / La intriga del limonero
“Lively and entertaining narrative coupled with attractive illustrations will make this book a favorite among young mystery readers.”—Críticas on The Case of the Pen Gone Missing / El caso de la pluma perdida
“This bilingual chapter-book edition, the first in a series of Mickey Rangel Mysteries, will engage intermediate readers in both languages, English and Spanish, and offers multiple possibilities for school projects, group discussions and read-aloud sessions. Villarroel’s well-crafted translation into Spanish maintains the suspense and humor of the original English version, narrated by Mickey in fine, hard-boiled style. Mora’s illustrations add a refreshing touch, effectively breaking up the text in this appealing introduction.”—Kirkus Reviews on The Case of the Pen Gone Missing / El caso de la pluma perdida
RENÉ SALDAÑA, JR. is the author of the five previous books in the Mickey Rangel Mystery series: The Curse of the Bully’s Wrath / La maldición de la ira del abusón (Piñata Books, 2018), A Mystery Bigger than Big / Un misterio más grande que grandísimo (Piñata Books, 2016), The Mystery of the Mischievous Marker / El misterio del malvado marcador (Piñata Books, 2013), The Lemon Tree Caper / La intriga del limonero (Piñata Books, 2011) and The Case of the Pen Gone Missing / El caso de la pluma perdida (Piñata Books, 2009). His books for teens include A Good Long Way (Piñata Books, 2010), The Whole Sky Full of Stars (Random House, 2007) and The Jumping Tree (Delacorte, 2001). He lives in Lubbock, Texas, where he teaches in the College of Education at Texas Tech University.
LEXILE: 730L
LEXILE Spanish: 670L
