The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match by Elizabeth Eulberg
Review by Lauren
source: copy for review; all opinions are my own
Official Summary (add on Goodreads): Being friends with a super sleuth isn’t easy, especially when she’s nine years old and four feet tall, and full of attitude. But for eleven-year-old aspiring writer John Watson, being friends with Shelby Holmes is just the adventure he’s looking for.
In the few weeks since moving to Harlem with his mom, Shelby has been training John in the art of observation—a skill that comes in handy on the first day of school. John’s new teacher, Mr. Crosby, is acting suspiciously, and Shelby knows this is a mystery worth investigating. But as Shelby and John dig deeper, they discover that there may be someone unexpected involved—someone who may have Shelby beat.
Review: I read and loved the first in the Great Shelby Holmes series and the sequel is just as entertaining! I love that the book is told in John’s perspective, which is how the original Sherlock Holmes stories are told. This gives readers a correct look at how the cases unfold, at least in terms of what Watson knows or is told by Shelby. As for Shelby, it’s obvious that Watson considers her a good friend, even if he wants to have other friends that aren’t as socially inept as Shelby. I appreciated that Eulberg had Watson stick up for Shelby in this book, as it’s a good “lesson” for middle school readers that you can be friends with whoever you want, even if other people think they are weird. Each book in the series follows a specific case, and in The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match, Watson and Shelby are looking for their teacher’s stolen watch – except there is much more to the mystery than they first realize.
The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match: A Young, Female Sherlock! #sherlockholmes Click To TweetIf you know the Sherlock Holmes stories, or have seen the movies/BBC Sherlock, then you probably recognize the name, Irene Aldler – the woman who is as smart as Sherlock and who Sherlock never forgets. There is an “Irene” in this book, though that’s not their name. However, readers will see the name Adler appear! I think these books are a lot of fun and I like the little details throughout that pay homage to the original stories. There are even illustrations throughout, which I always find fun -adult or not! This may be a middle grade series, but it’s one that I think older readers (like myself) would really enjoy.
Want to read my review of The Great Shelby Holmes, the first in the series? Check it out! The sequel is out tomorrow.
It sounds nice for this one, I didn’t know about it!
I have never heard of this one before. Totally something I would have read back in the day. But I do know a little someone who it would make a great gift for! Will have to remember this book when Christmas rolls around.
Awww this sounds like a great book for middle school kiddos–as someone who adored mysteries I would have devoured this back when myself (who am I kidding?? I’d still enjoy a book like this!). Thanks for sharing, Lauren. Love that the books closely follow the original 🙂
This sounds like something I would have loved in middle school! I loved myself some Nancy Drew back in the day, lol. I’d probably even get a kick out of it now, sometimes a simple, easy read is nice when you’re short on time! I may have to check it out!
THis would be a great book for some kiddos I know. I will for sure be passing along the rec!
I have a 6th grader…will see if she will read it?!?! She’s not into reading, much to my dismay.
This sounds like a great book for middle schoolers. I will have to mention this book my friends who have kids in middle school.
This sounds like a really fun book! It reminds me of the “Harriet the Spy” books I used to read as a grade schooler. I absolutely LOVED Harriet and wanted to be her. She was a 12 YO detective LOL.
I would have loved this book when I was younger! (I’d probably like it now, too :))
Oh wow, female Sherlock? What fun! I could easily see this being a series I would have adored as a kid. Great review!
I feel like my students would love a book like this. Heck, I would love it as an old lady in my 30s! 😉
This sounds like such a fun book! I loved mystery books when I was a kid. 🙂
These books look so cute! I think I’d enjoy them and I think my niece might like them too. They might be a little young for her, but she really enjoys Sherlock Holmes, so I think she’d enjoy this too.
Oh my gosh my 9 year would love these! She loves detective stories. I am so glad you shared this one!
OMG this sounds right up my alley! Middle Grade novels are fun to read sometimes too, no matter our age. I love Sherlock Holmes and I always appreciate when the author weaves in those little details that are related to the original books. I’d seen this series before, but never thought on picking it up. I really am considering it now!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, the review was awesome. I’ll read this soon!