Creepy Crawly Crime (Joey Fly, Private Eye) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Neil Numberman (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: pencil box, Joey Fly

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6–Hardboiled insect detective Joey Fly and his assistant, a young scorpion named Sammy Stingtail, search for a missing diamond pencil box belonging to Delilah, a femme fatale swallowtail butterfly. Simple, whimsical drawings and humorous dialogue give the book child appeal. The illustrations&' gray and sepia tones reference film noir, but this may be lost on younger readers, many of whom probably prefer more color in their comics. The clever writing doesn&'t keep the story from lagging at times: the case of a missing pencil box, in the end, can&'t sustain the most gripping narrative. Unique and witty, but not essential.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
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From Booklist

In a city totally inhabited by insects, Joey Fly is a private eye combating crime for a fee (which for a housefly is usually crumbs). Recently, Joey reluctantly hired a junior partner, a tough but clumsy scorpion named Sammy Stingtail. Together, the two are hired by a damsel in distress, the beautiful but airheaded butterfly Delilah, to recover her diamond pencil box. Delilah suspects her former friend Gloria the ladybug, but upon further investigation, Joey and Sammy have other ideas. Young readers will be amused by this noir-type story filled with classic detective dialogue and swarms of insect humor. The plot, characters, and setting in this graphic novel are all inspired from the novels of hardboiled-detective legends Hammett and Chandler, but Reynolds expertly injects a buggy layer of hilarious high jinks. Numberman takes it one step further by using the dark color schemes most associated with film noir combined with clean, detailed art. Kids will get caught in the web of this classic mystery cleverly disguised as a simple bug’s tale. Grades 3-5. --Kevin King

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1 edition (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805082425
• ISBN-13: 978-0805082425
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #720,241 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was like a modern day "pulp" in a graphic novel format. Joey Fly, PI, is an absolutely hysterical bug!, October 25, 2009

By	D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Creepy Crawly Crime (Joey Fly, Private Eye) (Paperback)

Joey Fly was a private eye and living in the city he had plenty of business because as he claimed, "Crime sticks to this city like a one-winged fly on a fifty-cent swatter." He was lounging in his office waiting for another chump to show up and hand him a case (for a price that is), when all of a sudden unexpected guest burst through his door. It was a kid named Sammy Stingtail. He was a "crusty arachnid type" scorpion who was "young, barely hatched" and looking for work. He looked like a royal pain and as green as they come, but Fly figured he might as well give him a chance.

Fly had "more cases than a flea has dogs" and before you know it a swallowtail butterfly came through the door with a case. She was a great looking dame named Delilah AND was missing a diamond pencil box. He could see she was "one ant short of a picnic," but a client was a client and he was going to take the case. "Give me the long and short of it." She accused Gloria, a ladybug, of stealing it because she had "always been jealous of it." Between his clumsy assistant, who seemed to wreck everything in sight with his tail, and this dame he had his work cut out for him. It was time to gather some evidence. Flittany, Delilah's best friend had been talking to Gloria all night at the party . . .

Graphic novels are difficult to judge. Some you think young people will grab and rave over, sit on the shelves while others WOW them. This story of Joey Fly and his young assistant was absolutely hysterical. There were numerous lines that had funny little twists to them that appeared to be takeoffs on old television detective shows like Dragnet. "The facts were starting to line up like centipedes at a shoe sale." The panels tended to stick to one color and then change when there was a flashback or total change in the plot. This book was like a modern day "pulp" in a graphic novel format. I really enjoyed it and had several guffaw moments, but I haven't got a clue as to what any other reader will think. Maybe we should hire Joey Fly, PI, to figure that one out!