The case of the musical mishap

Gr 2--4--Three young "spies in training" are set on solving a mysterious occurrence at their school. As the school band prepares for their big concert, musical instruments start disappearing left and right. Peggy, Rita, and Dot respond to this call to adventure enthusiastically! This early chapter book, with illustrations on every page, will be a quick read for advanced readers, but will deter some with the complex situational vocabulary throughout the text (clandestine, diminuendo, mustachioed). A cameo by Josephine Baker, a real-life "lady spy," is exciting for the characters in the book, but there is no context for her existence in their time line or description of her life experience. VERDICT Aside from some gendered terms and ambitious vocabulary, this fast-paced series will be enjoyed by many, as each book can be read as a standalone.--Ellen Sulzycki