REVIEW by Janelle Ekpo
Meatball Man Head Detective: The Case of the Missing Pepper Shaker (Monarch Publishing, 2024) by author illustrator Sandy Whiting is not for the faint of heart. This story is fun in itself, detective foodlings searching for the missing pepper-shaker, but the distinct, over the top voice of Meatball Man makes the adventures an even greater delight to read.
In Meatball Man’s first adventure we see a lot of friendships and team work. Refreshingly, these themes are presented in new, fun ways. The characters argue. The friends have to discuss ideas in order to move forward in their investigations. Throughout the story the characters make assumptions that are challenged and found to be wrong. They have to retracetheir steps in order to come to the right conclusion.
My favorite characters are Marty (Meatball Man!) And Sally the Salt Shaker. Meatball Man has a strong, overconfident personality – the kind that’s almost impossible not to like. Sally the Salt Shaker is just memorable. So incredibly emotional, crying salt all over the place, and with her dedication to finding her missing husband – she’s a fun, dramatic character.
Sally Salt Shaker enters Detective Meatball Man’s office after her husband, Petey Pepper Shaker went missing.
Besides the characters, voice, and story, there are the cute illustrations. They’re descriptive and match not only the story well, but also the personality of the characters. They add more depth to the story and world.
Meatball Man, Bread Stick, and Cheese Stick playing cards.
The story of Meatball Man is great for younger middle-school kids. The story is a cross between a picture book and a chapter book, a great bridge for younger kids into the world of reading. Beside that, this book also serves as an introduction into the genre of mystery, as well as introducing the fact that authors can have distinct, fun voices!
A confused Petey Pepper Shaker.
What are you waiting for? Check this book out at your favorite indie bookstore, Bookshop, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.
Janelle is a rising junior from South Carolina who is passionate about Christian fantasy, realistic fiction, and writing. She often helps students with their papers and writes book reviews to encourage people to read quality books. She is working on growing her personal library. She last reviewed The Groundworld Heroes.
Review by Eleanor Edgar
This is Eleanor and I am 9. After my grandma read this book to me, I thought it was funny. I think it would be fun being a detective, but who wants salt all over their office floor? Not me! The ending was really good because Sally Salt finally got her husband, Petey Pepper, back. And the little Sugar Cube was happy to have his daddy home.
Eleanor is a rising fourth grader at Claritas Classical Academy. She likes reading, playing with her brothers, horses, and holding her baby sister. She does NOT like spiders.
GIVEAWAY
Leave a comment by August 15 to win this book for a special young reader. It would make a great gift to a teacher for her classroom library. Share this post on social media OR decide to follow my blog and I’ll add your name an extra time. US addresses only.
Make sure to check out the other middle grade book reviews on Greg Pattridge’s MMGM blog!
I love detective stories! This one sounds fun!
Thanks, KIm. YOur name starts the list!
This sounds like a fun detective story but sounds a little young for me. I’ll let someone else win it. Thanks for the great review.
Thanks for the fun review. Please remove me from the drawing.
Thanks for the comment, Beth.
Thanks Natalie. It definitely leans to lower MG. I apprecite you stopping by!
A very unique and creative story line. I’ll have to pass on the giveaway and let someone else win. My stack of books to read will take me well into next year.
Thanks, Greg. It is unique, for sure!
Sounds like a unique book and great story! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Janelle!
Thanks, Stephanie. Your name goes in the hat!
Good books for emerging readers are so important. This one sounds fun. Thanks for the excellent review. I will pass on the giveaway.
Thanks for commenting, Rosi.
Two more super young reviewers on your team, Carol! I don’t know where you get them :) Two different styles/approaches, together give a great insight into this fun book. Janelle gives all the information we need to know, and highlights its strengths (and thanks for sharing the illustrations!). I chuckled at Eleanor’s, she gave great insight in to the fun element of the story (although I wonder how sale and pepper produce sugar!! I hope we’ll see more reviews from these talented young reviewers! Thanks for sharing :)
Ha ha, Valinora. At nine-years-old I doubt whether or not Eleanor thought about how Salt and pepper produce sugar!! But then again, who ever heard of a meatball being a detective? Thanks for your comment! ANd I bet you could enlist young people to review books for your blog too!