Summary: Connect The Dots
Oliver and Frankie are 6th-grade besties trying to get through each day and avoid the lunch room bully when a new girl, Matilda, moves into their neighborhood and a slew of random, but not really random, things start happening. First, a mysterious chutney takes down the lunch room bully, then Frankie gets a dog walking gig, and finally, Matilda discovers that someone in a black car is following Oliver. This story of brilliant coincidences and a growing friendship is only the cover for a more sinister plot the three kids have to cover before someone they love gets hurt.
The Good
This was such a fun story and a really well-done audio production, too. It takes a while to really come together and feels confusing in the beginning, but the author leaves just enough breadcrumbs and humor in every chapter to keep readers hooked. The central element of the story is about a genius with superb mastery over chaos theory. I know nothing about chaos theory, and I hated physics in high school, so trust me when I say that the author breaks everything down to readers like they’re five without too much info dumping.
I loved Oliver and Frankie’s friendship, and I think Matilda balanced them out perfectly. Matilda is also a great character: smart, mysterious, and dynamic. I loved seeing her relationship (purely platonic) with the boys blossom. I loved these kids’ sense of humor, and I laughed out loud many times while reading this story. The narration is witty, and there are several high-action scenes, including a chase scene where the villain goes after one of the kids. Yet everything stays wonderfully age-appropriate.
I’m not sure how this flew under the radar for me (maybe the unappealing cover?), but more kids should be reading it! Once you can get them started, they’ll hooked.
Content Notes
Here are some specifics to know about the content.
Content Warnings
- Death: None
- Sexual content: None
- Violence: Mild
- Language: None
Diversity
- Ethnic: Most of the characters are white
- Sexual orientation: None
Recommended for ages: 9+
Good for Kids Who Like:
- Nerdy, twisty mysteries
- Friendship stories
- The Parker Inheritance
- Liar and Spy
- Action-packed stories
Publisher Details
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