![]() This was a quirky, somewhat clue-oriented mystery. Agatha, the somewhat surly older neighbor. Amelia acquires and uses a lot of good skills is trying to identify clues and think critically about the situation, and I enjoyed Dr. I appreciated that the family took such good care of Doc, but made sure that the vet scanned him for a microchip and made an effort to find his owner. Strengths: Amelia and her large family have a lot of freedom to wander around their colorful, close knit town and have adventures, but there are also a lot of serious issues brought up about the environment, local economies, and social justice. Just when she is closing in on the thief, a mudslide cuts off Urchin Beach from the rest of the world. A lot of suspicion falls on new neighbors, twins Dot and Dash Morse, as well as Amelia's own mother. Agatha and a library book on detecting, Amelia works hard to solve the mystery. If the Dragonfly festival fails, they will definitely not get to keep the dog. The McGuffin children have found an abandoned dog, whom they name Doc, that they have taken in even though their parents have said they can't afford another mouth to feed. Amelia and her friends Birdie (whose family runs the local newspaper) and Delphine try to investigate the thefts. The wet weather has also wiped out a large portion of the dragonflies. More seriously, storms have damaged a lot of the beach area, and require extensive repair. Not only that, but there are numerous small objects that are also going missing. Her parents run the local general store, and struggle to keep their house repaired and their five children organized! They depend on the tourists who come for the local Dragonfly Day festival every year, but this year there is a problem: the dragonfly staff, which plays a large part in fundraising, has been stolen. This will make a fantastic read aloud.Īmelia McGuffin lives with her large family in Urchin Beach near the Pacific ocean. ![]() Now I ask you, what’s not to love about an eleven-year-old determined to becoming a top-notch detective and solve mysteries, a town with a gusty mayor and a persnickety realtor who seem at odds but are secretly sweethearts, plus other quirky but heartwarming locals, including a writer who may or may not be dastardly, the preservation of an essential habitat and its occupants, and the saving of a dog? Tender, tense, and truthful, this book is middle-grade gold. Then, a stray dog, quickly fostered by the MacGuffin children and named Doc, adds an affectionate twist to the events unfolding. Amelia has yet to fulfill her dream of having a gift all her own. To Amelia, everyone including her two best friends, Birdie and Delphine, and the seventh grade twin new neighbors, Dash and Dot, have a special talent. Her hard-working and loving parents own the Pacific General Store. “There’s no magic more fragile than trust.”Īmelia MacGuffin, about to start sixth grade, is the oldest of five children. They believe their usual good fortune has shifted, placing their very livelihoods and homes in jeopardy. The thefts multiply, setting the entire community on edge. Initially, the thief steals that which makes this community a star attraction during the Dragonfly Festival Day held annually. A thief has ventured into the town, their voice told in chapters interspersed throughout the narrative. ![]() The setting is the small seaside town of Urchin Beach. Today I finished To Catch A Thief by My copy, as you can see, contains more than a few sticky notes marking Martha’s fabulous storytelling.
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