Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls [Paperback]

Bennett Madison (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lulu Dark | Publication Date: May 18, 2006

Lulu Dark is the anti-Nancy—a chic, tough-talking city girl who never meant to get involved in a mystery. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–While at the Big Blonde club, Lulu loses her purse–the one with gorgeous Alfy Romero's phone number in it–and she wants it back. Along with her friends Charlie and Daisy, she sets out to find it and becomes enmeshed in a wild case of identity theft and homicide. Why do people keep telling her that they saw her dancing on tables the night before when she was in bed at 9:30? Just who is the mysterious "Sally Hansen" who spies on them and simultaneously gives herself a manicure? And who is the dead body sporting the silver-shark tattoo that was found in the river? With a flip buoyancy that bops off the page, Lulu Dark and her buddies tackle purse snatchers, apathetic police detectives, society matrons, and murderers with aplomb. Halo City is also a big player in this book, evoking scenes of Gotham City and all of its character. Teens searching for a lighthearted mystery will adore Lulu, and they will eagerly await the next installment in the series.–Lynn Evarts, Sauk Prairie High School, Prairie du Sac, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. Lulu Dark insists that she has nothing in common with Nancy Drew: "Girl detectives are prissy busybodies who investigate the disappearance of stolen brooches for old heiresses." Still, after her favorite purse is stolen, Lulu, a junior at a tony high school in fictional Halo City, finds herself chasing down suspects and uncovering a bizarre case of identity theft that leads her to her own doppelganger. The central mystery is somewhat convoluted, the connections are a bit weak, and some readers may find Lulu's sharp tongue (a friend calls her an "uber-bitch") a bit off-putting. But many teens, particularly Gossip Girls fans, will enjoy the almost campy narrative, which is filled with references to fabulous clothes and stylish clubs, as well as the many girl-power asides ("Change your whole personality because a boy tells you [to]? Someone get Gloria Steinem . . . "). Yes, there's mystery, but teens may be more interested in Lulu's growing relationship with gorgeous, patient Charlie, who shifts slowly from best friend to romantic leading man. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill (May 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595141049
• ISBN-13: 978-1595141040
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,094,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bennett Madison grew up in suburban Maryland, where he spent most of his youth skipping class and not doing his homework. He attended Sarah Lawrence College, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he writes the Lulu Dark series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, but Little More Than That, November 13, 2005

By 

Captain Indigo - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls (Hardcover)

If you're looking for a quick read (that mirrors those notorious chick-flicks), look no further. Lulu wasn't a bad book, it just was a little over-clichéd in some parts. I didn't feel like I got very much from it...it was like watching a TV show.

However, it reminded me of the Georgia Nicholson series, always a plus. It was a good laugh, but nothing worth buying or reading more than once. Definitely a good book to relax with.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for jaded teens., June 5, 2005

By 

R. Holsey "assistant to Mr. Bernie Almond" (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls (Hardcover)

This book is an utter delight. It's witty and a little campy, but the author manages to keep the tone relaxed. You'll cheer for the mean but well-intentioned Lulu. You'll fall in love with the sensitive Charlie (swoon) and you'll cringe at the evil-hearted Swede Svenska. Mr. Madison has constructed a mystery for the everygirl. If you hate girls who wear sequined tube tops or cringe at the thought of losing your knockoff Prada purse, this book is for you.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome! So smart and entertaining!, June 1, 2005

By 

Rachel J. Cox "I'm a reader. I can read." (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls (Hardcover)

Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls at first brought back memories of my own reading material when I was a pre-teen, but after the first few chapters I really got into the plot and forgot that I was reading a book aimed at young adults. The first person narrative is witty and smart and draws on a lot of pop culture references that I was fortunate enough to get. I think that young girls who are looking for something a little different from the mainstream books that are usually marketed to them will really enjoy this change of pace. The characters are snarky and a little jaded for their age, but they always remain morally centered and essentially honest. The twists and turns of the mystery will also keep them intrigued until the last chapter.