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aliciaellen's review
3.0
Thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange network and Arthur A. Levine Books for the review copy of Doc and the Detective in: Graveyard Treasure by Tim Tingle. All opinions are my own. This book was released on October 15, 2019.
Twelve-year-old Timmy loves detective stories and aspires to be a detective. One night he has trouble falling asleep, and he notices a strange car driving slowly down his street in the middle of the night. When he goes outside to investigate, he runs into his elderly neighbor, Doc Moore. Doc is lost and confused because he suffers from dementia. Timmy becomes so distracted helping him that he forgets about the strange car he saw. However, his detective’s intuition was right. There is something strange going on in his Oklahoma town. Someone is preying on the town’s elderly citizens, and Timmy is determined to find out who.
This book has a great message about respecting the elderly and having patience with those suffering from dementia. There is also valuable information about the Choctaw culture and the Trail of Tears. This book would be ideal for grades 4 – 7.
Twelve-year-old Timmy loves detective stories and aspires to be a detective. One night he has trouble falling asleep, and he notices a strange car driving slowly down his street in the middle of the night. When he goes outside to investigate, he runs into his elderly neighbor, Doc Moore. Doc is lost and confused because he suffers from dementia. Timmy becomes so distracted helping him that he forgets about the strange car he saw. However, his detective’s intuition was right. There is something strange going on in his Oklahoma town. Someone is preying on the town’s elderly citizens, and Timmy is determined to find out who.
This book has a great message about respecting the elderly and having patience with those suffering from dementia. There is also valuable information about the Choctaw culture and the Trail of Tears. This book would be ideal for grades 4 – 7.
toryhallelujah's review
2.0
The only reason I'm giving this two stars instead of one is because I appreciate the exposure to and information about Choctaw culture. Beyond that, stylistically, this reads like a book from the 1950s -- choppy, unrealistic, dumb dialogue; roll-your-eyes narration; way too few contractions; a complete lack of realism (why would cops enlist -- and continue enlisting -- the help of a tween?); a million moments where I shook my head and said "WHAT?" The entire plot surrounding Doc's wart???!!!!!
This is a book I would expect a 12-year-old to write. For a kid, it'd be a decent effort. For an experienced adult, it's simply not.
This is a book I would expect a 12-year-old to write. For a kid, it'd be a decent effort. For an experienced adult, it's simply not.
kateteaching7and8's review
3.0
@KidLitExchange #partner
Thank you to @ScholasticInc and #TimTingle for sharing an advance copy Doc and the Detective in: Graveyard Treasure with the #KidLitExchange network. This book was released on October 15, 2019 and is currently available for purchase. All opinions are my own.
Timmy is a twelve-year-old detective who is very close to his next door neighbor, Doc. Doc is suffering from dementia and it appears it is worsening when Timmy discovers Doc alone in his yard in the middle of the night holding a butcher knife. Doc explains to Timmy that he had to hide something because things keep going missing. Timmy helps Doc into his own house and then overhears the robbers outside. Timmy, unknowingly, stumbled upon a robbery ring. He gets the police involved but, being a detective himself, has a hard time staying out of the case.
I have to be honest about this book. I wanted to like it so much, but it just didn't happen. That being said there were things I enjoyed about this book. I liked the overall mystery plot and the idea of a kid detective. I also liked that Timmy is Choctaw and that he shares a bit about his culture and family with the reader. Additionally, I loved the relationship between Timmy and Doc. Not a lot of twelve-year-olds would know how to handle having someone they care about go through the stages of dementia. Timmy shows a great respect for Doc both when he is the old Doc that Timmy knows and loves and this newer, confused Doc. I think this is a really important relationship for younger readers to see.
The part of the story I struggled with the most was the narrative voice and dialogue. The dialogue came off as stilted and unnatural. The narrative voice at times seemed too old to belong to a twelve-year-old. Also, I struggled with how easily certain elements fell into place. For example, Timmy was welcomed into the investigation virtually without any hesitation or reservation which just doesn't seem realistic. I know that not every book will be for every reader and this just happens to be one of those books that isn't a fit for me.
Thank you to @ScholasticInc and #TimTingle for sharing an advance copy Doc and the Detective in: Graveyard Treasure with the #KidLitExchange network. This book was released on October 15, 2019 and is currently available for purchase. All opinions are my own.
Timmy is a twelve-year-old detective who is very close to his next door neighbor, Doc. Doc is suffering from dementia and it appears it is worsening when Timmy discovers Doc alone in his yard in the middle of the night holding a butcher knife. Doc explains to Timmy that he had to hide something because things keep going missing. Timmy helps Doc into his own house and then overhears the robbers outside. Timmy, unknowingly, stumbled upon a robbery ring. He gets the police involved but, being a detective himself, has a hard time staying out of the case.
I have to be honest about this book. I wanted to like it so much, but it just didn't happen. That being said there were things I enjoyed about this book. I liked the overall mystery plot and the idea of a kid detective. I also liked that Timmy is Choctaw and that he shares a bit about his culture and family with the reader. Additionally, I loved the relationship between Timmy and Doc. Not a lot of twelve-year-olds would know how to handle having someone they care about go through the stages of dementia. Timmy shows a great respect for Doc both when he is the old Doc that Timmy knows and loves and this newer, confused Doc. I think this is a really important relationship for younger readers to see.
The part of the story I struggled with the most was the narrative voice and dialogue. The dialogue came off as stilted and unnatural. The narrative voice at times seemed too old to belong to a twelve-year-old. Also, I struggled with how easily certain elements fell into place. For example, Timmy was welcomed into the investigation virtually without any hesitation or reservation which just doesn't seem realistic. I know that not every book will be for every reader and this just happens to be one of those books that isn't a fit for me.
thisgrrlreads's review
2.0
This book definitely shines a light on Timmy, his Choctaw family and community, issues of elder abuse, what it's like to 12. Unfortunately, the dialogue in this book really is not doing this mystery or this boy Timmy any favors. The way everyone speaks is constantly telling, with repeated phrases we already know about people we already know. The mystery itself does have some good twists and turns, and I do have an ARC so it's possible that the final copy will be tightened up some from here. I also struggled to sit back and relax and enjoy the family here, even though you know they are close and wonderful, supportive parents. I wanted Timmy to give his life a little more room here, with less hyperfocus on the mystery, but perhaps, that may be the charm of the character and story for some.
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