Green Streak

I can't figure out why more kids (and adults) aren't reading the Zeke Armstrong Mystery Series. Red Card, the first in the Series, won the Agatha Award. The second, Green Streak, is an even better book. The plot, set in New York City, is fast, solid and tight. The main characters, Zeke and Pow Wow (who's Chinese-American, not American Indian) are smart, conscientious and highly likeable. The writing is clear and simple, but the authors (a nephew-uncle team who are, by the way, a couple of real cuties) never talk down to their audience. Pow Wow's parents (who always seem to end up looking after Zeke) are intelligent and involved, not reduced to the flat caricatures you find in many children's books. All readers - avid, reluctant, young, old - will have a ball with Zeke and Pow Wow. While Green Streak and Red Card are traditional mysteries, there's a certain Lemony Snickett quality to them. If I'm right, the Zeke Armstrong Series will prove to be just as popular as Mr. Handler's Unfortunate Events books.

This book is a great read for both kids and adults.As with "Zekes" first book Red Card, once I picked it up,I had to finish it before I could do anything else. Green Streak is better than the Hardy Boys. It is contemporary and fullof action. I wish there were as many Zeke Armstrong booksavailiable as the Hardy Boys.

A fun, fast adventure. Zeke zips from one predicament to another, each riskier than the last. Surprising plot twists and memorable characters make this a worthy successor to the Agatha-Award winning RED CARD. Dan Hale and Matthew LaBrot did it again!

When my ten year old wouldn't come to the dinner table a couple of nights ago, I went to his room to find his nose buried in this book, which his aunt had passed on to him. He finished it off before bedtime that night, said it was one of the best mysteries he'd ever read, so I decided to see what the fuss was about. I picked it up yesterday morning, planning to read a chapter or two at a time, but I couldn't put it down. It may be written for 9 to 12 year olds, but even I thought it was one of the best mysteries I'd ever read. When Ben got home from school yesterday afternoon, he and I spent an hour discussing Zeek and Pow Wow's adventures here in the city. I just ordered Red Card, the first in the series, and am looking forward to sharing that experience with my son as well.

Thirteen year old friends Zeke "Sherlock" Armstrong and Richard "Pow Wow" Gao are participating in the Big Apple Inline Skate-Off. Zeke's parents make their way home from overseas and his Uncle Dane is delayed; Pow Wow's parents supervise the two teens. While waiting on a line to buy refreshments, an elderly woman Ms. Natalie talks to the lads about sundry things including taking her medicine.Not much later, Zeke notices that a guy dressed in all green on inline skates races towards Ms. Natalie. The "Jittery Man" as Zeke calls him knocks the senior citizen down and flees with her purse. While Pow Wow attends to the unconscious Ms. Natalie, Zeke chases after the Jittery Man because he knows that his comatose new acquaintance needs her medicine immediately. Zeke tricks the Jittery Man and his accomplice regaining the medicine bottle, but at the cost of his skates. The thugs come after a recovering Ms. Natalie so that they can steal her fortune, but the two teens stand in their way.Think Hardy Boys and you have a reasonable indication of Zeke and Pow Wow though the stars of GREEN STREAK are unique in their own manner and Zeke is more a solo sleuth. The story line goes as fast as the guys go on their inline skate, which is at a terrific rate of speed. The sleuthing duo makes a fine refreshing pair as they try to keep Ms. Natalie safe whether it's skating around Manhattan or riding to Roosevelt Island. Young adults will appreciate this wonderful teen thriller and seek other colorful tales like the award winning RED CARD and the upcoming WHITE OUT.Harriet Klausner