This children’s book follows Candace McFly, a sharp, puzzle-loving third grader who’s more into solving mysteries than fixing her hair or joining beauty pageants. Her best friend, Arnold, is this quirky, potato-obsessed kid from Idaho who somehow makes everything more entertaining. Together, they stumble into a strange case involving pageant drama, allergic reactions, and a whole lot of small-town weirdness. It’s got mystery, humor, and just enough heart to make it really sweet.

I loved how Candace thinks. She’s smart but not show-offy, curious but still super relatable. Her friendship with Arnold cracked me up more than once. He’s a total goofball, but in the best way. Some of the stuff he says made me roll my eyes and laugh at the same time. The writing feels real, like how kids actually talk, and the mystery, while light, kept me reading just to see how they’d piece everything together. It’s like Harriet the Spy meets Nancy Drew for the younger crowd, with a Southern twist and a dash of sass.

There were a few parts where I felt it rambled a bit, especially when Arnold got off on a tangent about potatoes or pageants, but it kind of added to his charm. I liked how Mansfield didn’t make every adult in the book clueless or annoying, either. The parents and teachers actually felt present, which made the world feel fuller. The story balances humor and mystery so well that even when things get a little over-the-top, it still feels believable in that fun, small-town, kids-solving-cases kind of way.

If you like clever kid detectives, funny best friends, and stories with a lot of heart, this one’s for you. I’d totally recommend it for kids around eight to twelve, or honestly, for any grown-up who misses the days when summer meant solving “cases” with your friends and a flashlight. It’s light, cozy, and full of charm.

Pages: 272 | ASIN : B0B57QZ749