Horrible Harry Cracks the Code

Horrible Harry thinks he's the world's second-best detective (second to Sherlock Holmes, of course), but the rest of the kids in Room 3B aren't as sure. So he's determined to prove himself by solving the latest mystery at South School: a cafeteria contest has just begun, and Harry wants to figure out how to win it. He knows Mrs. Funderburke is using a mathematical code to decide each day's winners, but can he crack the code before Mary tattles on him? Or will his private-eye days come to a horrible end?

Children's Literature

Reminiscent of Nate the Great, third grader Harry puts on his version of a Sherlock Holmes' hat to solve the mystery behind the selection of winners in a cafeteria prize give-away. Harry's sense of fun and adventure never falters even through a ketchup war, moments of self-doubt, and a classmate's betrayal. To solve the mystery Harry must apply a famous number pattern, but first the young detective must rediscover what it is! Woven into this well-plotted story are facts about the sense of smell, healthy eating habits, and the application of patterns to problem solving. The humor, fast pace, and engaging characters will keep young readers turning the pages. Text is interspersed with about three ink drawings per chapter to support young readers. A short bio about the mathematician Leonard Fibonacci is also included as back matter. This selection from the Horrible Harry series would work well to introduce a unit about the sense of smell, a math unit about using patterns to solve problems, or for reading instructions with a follow-up lesson about cause and effect, making this book a great choice for libraries or elementary schools. Reviewer: Carol Kirkham Martin