Official Review: Shasha and Wally Watson Vs. The Faker
Posted: 13 Feb 2016, 12:29
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Shasha and Wally Watson Vs. The Faker" by Ted Kelsey.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Shasha and Wally Watson vs. The Faker by Ted Kelsey is one of those children’s books that will make you laugh right from the first page. Ten-year-old Wally narrates this wacky mystery of a missing girl who was last seen with a white cat. He and his sister Shasha investigate the case with occasional input from their grandfather. Shasha is a wannabee detective and it certainly helps that Wally is a quirky sort that remembers minute details wherever he goes. Meanwhile, there is a smelly stranger going around town in various disguises and asking questions about the missing girl. Wally now has a new fear to add to his long list, the stranger he calls “the Faker.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The zany characters are realistically written. Wally appears to have Asperger’s syndrome or a similar disorder. He has these eccentricities where he has to start over if he colors outside the lines or sneezes while drawing, only eats foods of certain colors, quickly counts large amount of items in his head, etc. When Wally is under stress, he will count items repetitively to calm down. The siblings make a good investigative team since Wally has an amazing memory for details and Shasha is good at analyzing the clues. Their grandfather, a retired crime reporter, straddles the line between pertinent conversation and off-topic ramblings. In addition to causing a lot of eye-rolling, his comments are sometimes helpful.
The author’s easy, breezy writing is witty and flows at a quick pace. Many clues and details are included, but the storyline never feels weighed down. The sentences are relatively short, but Wally’s narration is smart and snappy. The siblings’ personalities are contrasted well with Wally’s obsessive counting and eye for minor details and Sasha’s methodical investigative style. She has a talent for making sense out of Wally’s random information, while he only sees the trees, not the forest. The author does a good job of subtly conveying Shasha’s fearlessness and her brother’s unrealistic, “king of the worrywarts” ways.
The ending is creative and hilarious. I thought I had figured out one part of the ending and then there turned out to be a few interesting twists that surprised me. I applaud the author for inserting bits of recognizable stories and reinventing them within an original plot.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It is an unconventional, rollicking mystery that will make you laugh out loud. The story seems more suitable for children ages 9-12, although parents could also read it aloud to younger children. I hope this talented author decides to write a sequel since the characters are so likeable, particularly Wally. A funny and absorbing children’s mystery is a rare gem.
******
Shasha and Wally Watson Vs. The Faker
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4 out of 4 stars
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Shasha and Wally Watson vs. The Faker by Ted Kelsey is one of those children’s books that will make you laugh right from the first page. Ten-year-old Wally narrates this wacky mystery of a missing girl who was last seen with a white cat. He and his sister Shasha investigate the case with occasional input from their grandfather. Shasha is a wannabee detective and it certainly helps that Wally is a quirky sort that remembers minute details wherever he goes. Meanwhile, there is a smelly stranger going around town in various disguises and asking questions about the missing girl. Wally now has a new fear to add to his long list, the stranger he calls “the Faker.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The zany characters are realistically written. Wally appears to have Asperger’s syndrome or a similar disorder. He has these eccentricities where he has to start over if he colors outside the lines or sneezes while drawing, only eats foods of certain colors, quickly counts large amount of items in his head, etc. When Wally is under stress, he will count items repetitively to calm down. The siblings make a good investigative team since Wally has an amazing memory for details and Shasha is good at analyzing the clues. Their grandfather, a retired crime reporter, straddles the line between pertinent conversation and off-topic ramblings. In addition to causing a lot of eye-rolling, his comments are sometimes helpful.
The author’s easy, breezy writing is witty and flows at a quick pace. Many clues and details are included, but the storyline never feels weighed down. The sentences are relatively short, but Wally’s narration is smart and snappy. The siblings’ personalities are contrasted well with Wally’s obsessive counting and eye for minor details and Sasha’s methodical investigative style. She has a talent for making sense out of Wally’s random information, while he only sees the trees, not the forest. The author does a good job of subtly conveying Shasha’s fearlessness and her brother’s unrealistic, “king of the worrywarts” ways.
The ending is creative and hilarious. I thought I had figured out one part of the ending and then there turned out to be a few interesting twists that surprised me. I applaud the author for inserting bits of recognizable stories and reinventing them within an original plot.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It is an unconventional, rollicking mystery that will make you laugh out loud. The story seems more suitable for children ages 9-12, although parents could also read it aloud to younger children. I hope this talented author decides to write a sequel since the characters are so likeable, particularly Wally. A funny and absorbing children’s mystery is a rare gem.
******
Shasha and Wally Watson Vs. The Faker
View: on Bookshelves
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