Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers

March 11, 2019
In this entertaining middle grade mystery series opener, an 11-year-old would-be detective may have bitten off more than she can chew when she investigates a rash of local dognappings. Japanese-American Kazuko Jones’s “passionate pursuit of truth and justice” has left both the local police and her parents exasperated by her persistence and false alarms. So when she finds a genuine lead in what she’s sure is a dognapping ring, she has no choice but to enlist her hacker best friend and take care of business herself. After several classmates, including Kazu’s nemesis, lose their prized pooches, Kazu reluctantly recruits them onto her team. But when all clues lead to a mysterious neighbor, their investigation takes a dangerous turn; worse, Kazu’s own beloved Japanese mastiff, Genki, is the next to disappear. In this spirited debut, Holyoak introduces an indefatigable heroine whose distinct voice and loyal canine companion contribute to her considerable appeal. The diverse allies, plot twists, and delightful dogs make this a memorable beginning for Kazu and her friends. Ages 8–12. Agent: Carrie Pestritto, Laura Dail Literary Agency.

February 1, 2019
A young detective and her friends investigate a recent string of dognappings in her neighborhood.Biracial, Japanese-American fifth-grader Kazuko Jones is a young detective always looking for clues and trying to solve cases. On her paper route one morning, she spies some suspicious activity she thinks must be linked to a chain of dognappings and reports it to the police. When her suspicion turns out to be wrong, she is told to stop meddling. But when her neighbor's pet is taken due to her mistake, she is determined to find both the culprit and the missing dogs. Along with her BFF and ginormous, loyal dog, Genki, she finds evidence that points to a suspect. Unfortunately, the police don't believe her. But as more and more dogs disappear, Kazu knows she must solve the case without putting herself, her friends, and Genki in too much danger. Holyoak creates a well-paced mystery with approachable characters and issues. The dognapping case and the go-get-'em attitude of Kazu provide just enough suspense and action without being too scary. Holyoak sprinkles in topics of growing up, including friendship, relationships with parents, mean people, and telling the truth. With Kazu's mom a second-generation Japanese-American (her dad seems white), Japanese language, food, and cultural concepts are interwoven into the story. The book otherwise adheres to the white default.A not-too-scary, diverse mystery for those who love action, dogs, and spunky heroines. (Mystery. 8-12)

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July 1, 2019
Denver tween Kazu Jones uses her daily paper route to hone her detective skills. A dognapper is on the loose, and Kazu (with the help of her sometimes-reluctant friends) starts building a case against a creepy-seeming neighbor. Then her own beloved pup is snatched, and Kazu's motivation--and the danger--increases. Many exploits strain credulity, but themes of kid-power and animal friendship come through.

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