An engaging mystery with great characters and a setting we rarely see in novels: Newfoundland.

Benny lives with his mom at the nursing home she manages. His best friend is Mr. Tom, an 86 year old resident. Benny has Mosaic Down Syndrome, a condition that causes some physical conditions evident on the outside but isn’t bothered by other health and social issues often prevalent in typical Downs Syndrome cases.

Benny is finally going to attend regular school after growing up mostly in special education classes. There’s a bully who treats him terribly, but also a new friend with the sweet and understanding Salma.

Together they become Sherlock Holmes style sleuths as the duo try and find the person responsible for robbing the nursing home residents. The police department so far has not been very helpful. The pacing had me guessing again and again about the identity of the criminal. If the truth concerning the robberies isn’t discovered then the nursing home could be shut down.

Benny’s first person narration is perfect and the many heartfelt moments between himself, Mr. Tom, Salma, and Mom will have you smiling and maybe dropping a tear or two. Before Chapter one begins there is a a helpful guide of Newfoundland sayings. Be sure to read this as the dialog between characters will make more sense, b’ys.

They mystery’s resolution comes about in a very believable way. Benny on the Case is a memorable MG mystery with a big message about accepting differences and being brave enough to speak up. Highly recommended for girls and boys along with being a read aloud worth trying.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wesley King is the author of over a dozen novels for young readers. His debut, OCDaniel, is an Edgar Award winner, a Canada Silver Birch Award winner, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and received a starred review from Booklist. The companion novel, Sara and the Search for Normal, received a starred review from School Library Journal and was the recipient of the Violet Downey Book Award and the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award. King has also written The Incredible Space Raiders from Space!, A World Below, Butt Sandwich & Tree, Benny on the Case, and Kobe Bryant’s New York Times bestselling Wizenard series. He lives in Newfoundland.

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