Diane Chen

The Sherlock Files
May 18, 2008

Ever read a new book and think to yourself, "AHA! I am the discoverer of a great new book that's going to be very popular." Then you look in the mail/online and find a review of it by someone else that beat you to it? That happens all the time for me so I'm giving up on being first and I'm going to focus on being most practical. 

This week I enjoyed Tracy Barrett's The 100-Year-Old Secret (The Sherlock Files #1) published by Henry Holt and Company. While I was reading, I found myself captured by the searching and mental processes of the main characters - brother Xander and sister Xena - who are direct descendants of Sherlock Holmes. ICT skills in action! 

I enjoyed it so much that I took it to show my colleagues. Imagine my reaction when I open the mail from Junior Library Guild to find this is a featured selection. Once again those JLG reviewers are on top of the game. 

So what can I share about this title that you won't have already gleaned from the website by Tracy Barrett, the publishing company Henry Holt's site, Susan Sales Harkins' review, the Kirkus review,and goodreads? Let's chat about this type of series.

As a child, I read voraciously every series I could. I knew even then which books were fluff, but reading was something so necessary to me that I couldn't rest until I had calmed myself with my "fix" of fiction and nonfiction daily. I knew which books had mysteries that were solved too easily. I knew which ones didn't give me all the clues so when the character solved it, I was saying, "No fair! The author should have told ME that." I recognized which ones had children doing impossible things because all adults couldn't be that simple-minded and oblivious. I even recognized the implausibility that the main characters ALWAYS ran into some descendant of the famous person in the story. 

Did I care? No way. I wanted a fun story without tremendous social problems that simply allowed me to feel like I was part of the story and could attempt to beat the characters to the solution. I know there are still many young readers out there like that so take heart. This new series will become a favorite of your students very quickly. 

Did I find myself questioning Xander's photographic memory? Absolutely. It is a device that makes Xander different from us and more capable of solving mysteries. But I have a memory that allows me to recall where I read something in relationship to which paragraph, side of the page, etc. (It comes in handy when you read all the manuals for new equipment & software because later you know exactly where to go back to the info.)

Did it take away from the story? No way. I still had tremendous fun pretending I was one with them running around London trying to solve mysteries that Sherlock Holmes just ran out of time to complete. 

One area that did concern me was the audacious actions of Americans abroad. Towards the end I thought, "How dare they just go in there and do that? What about respect for others, particularly the host country?"
 
When I lived abroad, I was extremely conscious of the fact that I might be the only American someone there ever met. If I behaved like a buffoon, they might think all Americans were buffoons. I took very good care to protect the image of Americans and not to ever assume I was better. I did attempt to work WITH everyone.

Relax, reader. Xander and Xena do behave like children (albeit smart ones); they are not perfect angels so their behavior fits with their personalities. Tracy Barrett brings strong characterizations to this story so you are willing to forgive their actions simply because they aren't perfect. 

I will happily purchase more of these titles for my 3rd and 4th graders because there are many readers out there that will enjoy this series. Since I had some questions about their actions, I am emailing the author right now to give her the chance to argue with me or add more details. It helps that I met Tracy Barrett several years ago when she told me about a grant that would enable me to simply READ all summer long. With Tracy living in Nashville, I hope to get together with her and chat more about this title. Stay tuned, oh mystery lovers. 

Posted by Diane Chen on May 18, 2008 | Comments (0)