Children's Writer, Book Reviewer, Teacher, Artist
I have a confession to make. This is the first of the Anisha Accidental Detective series I have read. I know! And now, after reading 'Fright Night', I absolutely must get the rest of them - partly because I know my class will be queuing to get their hands on one. 'Anisha Accidental Detective: Fright Night' is pure joy: fabulously funny, warm-hearted and with slime-fulls of Halloween chaos. Perfect if you love - or loathe - Halloween!
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'It's Halloween and everyone is excited about the school disco. It's a bit much for me - all that dressing-up and dancing. I'd rather cosy up with a good book, but Milo, Mindy and Manny are all super excited. Or at least, they were excited, until all these strange things started happening - messages appearing on the whiteboard, lights flickering on and off, books flying off the library shelves... Some of the other kids have been whispering that the school is haunted, but Mr Graft says that if the spooky mischief doesn't stop, then the disco will be cancelled. Looks like a mission for me, Anisha, accidental ghost detective!'
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As a new reader to the series, it is no surprise to say that Anisha, her friends, family and school feel already fully-formed. The characters are simply alive and kicking on the pages. Serena Patel's voice of Anisha is pitch-perfect, accompanied by dialogue that is zippy and authentic. Alongside this are Emma McCann's wonderful illustrations, which complement Patel's writing like peanut butter and jam. I can see why this series is doing so well: Patel and McCann are a dream team. Surely one of the best author-illustrator partnerships in children's fiction currently?
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I sooo enjoyed this instalment. I loved the episodic nature of the storytelling and how Anisha gathers new clues as spooky chaos descends at the school. Children will laugh out loud at scenes involving flying books, food fights with slime and a naughty skeleton. But the threat is two-fold: the school disco may be cancelled because of all the shenanigans but also that Anisha may be leaving as she may be moving house. Patel expertly balances these story strands while keeping pace, mystery, humour and heart. I adored her family too - I want to know them! Oh, I could go on about how terrific this series is and I've only just read book six!
As a teacher, Serena Patel just seems to get a lot of the dynamics of being at school and children reading this will be convinced of that. I have girls in Key Stage Two at my school who are much like Anisha and oh how they will jostle to get copies. This is clearly a brilliant instalment in a fantastic series! I must, must get the others...
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Thank you to Usborne for my copy to review.
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