Customer Reviews

The X'ed-Out X-Ray (A to Z Mysteries)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book series is clever, and this installment upholds it's duty and more. Any true fan would love this book. This story is like the K and P books because it has two clear suspects and sticks to them. But get ready for a twist you won't soon forget and an ending you won't believe. I give it five shining stars.

Synopsis: The book starts off in a Friday afternoon, with Josh, Dink and Ruth Rose having lunch in Ruth Rose's backyard. Dink and Ruth Rose convince Josh to come with them to the Penelope Gwinn concert dressed as a penguin. At the concert they notice Penelope wearing a diamond penguin pendant around her chain. After Penelope sings for a while, there is an intermission, where the three friends buy some hot dogs and decide to ride a carousel. While they are riding the carousel, Dink hears yelling from over the stage, and when he tries to find out what the commotion is about, he falls down and hurts himself. They find out that Penelope Gwinn got robbed by someone stealing her diamond pendant. Dink goes to the First Aid tent where he is tended by Dr. Fleming, who puts a bandage on Dink's arm and takes him to the hospital to get it x-rayed.

As all the audience members were wearing penguin masks that was provided at the entrance, Penelope did not get a chance to see the culprit's face as he took the pendant from her. Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose suspect a few people who could have taken the pendant, such as Frank, the hot dog vendor who was in a hurry to leave his stall to get Penelope's autograph, or the woman who was sitting in front of Dink who got up as soon as the intermission started to get Penelope's autograph. Little to the gang realize that Dink's x-ray holds a big clue to their solving the mystery.

Review: I thought this was fun book to read. There are a lot of suspects added to the book, so it was interesting to find out who the thief was and how they planned it. At first, I thought the two stories, of one of the stolen diamond, and the other of Dink's accident, would be unrelated to one another, but I enjoyed how the author brought these two stories together.I also like how the author added new words like `purloined' into the story for young readers to learn.

Some of the parts which I enjoyed were when Dink and Ruth Rose convince Josh to go to the concert, when they see Hans going into the jewelry store, and when they realize who the culprit is.

There illustrations were also very nicely drawn by John Steven Gurney, and I liked the ones where the group goes to the concert and everyone is wearing penguin masks, and when they are all riding the carousel.

Overall, I thought this was a very nicely written book to the series, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading a good mystery book.

You have to read it!!! It was that good. The beginning is funny and the end is suspenseful. There are many suspects and you would never guess who really did it. Characters include a bandit,a doctor,a hotdog-man along with Dink,Josh and Ruth-Rose. I hope you enjoy it.

(LivyLoo)

Reason for Reading: As every year, I am participating in the AtoZ Challenge. For the first time, this year I only have the X's left and I will have completed it so I decided to actively search out books. My niece did a little research and came up with this title for me. I had heard of the series before.

The kids, age unspecified, have tickets to go see a famous singer who is coming to town with the nickname "Penguin". One of their Dad's takes them to the outdoor concert but while there during intermission Dink injures his arm. While this is going on the singer's special diamond penguin necklace is stolen. The kids get involved in the mystery and think they know who may be behind the robbery.

Going into this book blind, not knowing whether the series has positive reviews or not I didn't know what to expect. So I was pleasantly surprised to find myself with a fun little mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed for this early reading level. Well told, interesting, with several possible suspects it should keep young mystery fans entertained. I found myself quickly reading the book in one sitting and deciding to get the first book in the series for my son since it is on target for reading level for him. He is a reluctant reader and this series may just catch his fancy.

I think the A to Z Mystery book called The X'ed-Out X-Ray is a really good book. There are so many clues and suspects. The mystery is who stole Penelope Gwinn's diamond pendant that is shaped like a penguin. The client Penelope Gwinn won't sing in another concert until she gets her pendant. Josh, Dink, and Ruth Rose the detectives go out to talk to people and look for suspects. This mystery will get juicier and juicier as it goes on. There will be some x-rays that you should look out for that will help you to figure out this page turning mystery. I hope you enjoy this book!

A fun little mystery for kids, where the thief is the one not suspected until the last minute. The kid-detectives use realistic methods to get clues, and are able to catch the culprit with the help of their policeman-friend.