Douglas Quinn (3)

As The Case of the Secret of Crater Lake begins, it is late summer and just a few weeks after The Case of the Gray Ghost’s Belt Buckle. In a few more weeks, Quinn Higgins will be entering the fifth grade at Churchland Elementary back home, but right now he is in Oregon. It is the start of a glorious three week period with his Dad at his home near the Oregon National Forest. This also means he is also going to be able to see his friend, Charlotte “Little Dove” Evans who is a year younger than Quinn Higgins.

A year ago Quinn, known to one and all as “The Boy Detective,” and Little Dove had spent a lot of time searching and exploring in The Case of Big Foot on the Loose. If either of the parents had known what the kids had been up to at the time, they never would have been allowed to go anywhere and do anything on their own ever again. This year, at least for the first week of Quinn’s vacation, they will be supervised as plans have been made.

Quinn and his dad as well as Little Dove will be going to see and stay with Little Dove’s grandparents. Quinn’s dad has a one week teaching deal lined up at the Klamath Reservation. While his dad is teaching his seminar, Quinn and Little Dove will spend time with her various relatives including a cousin Joseph who is close to Quinn’s age. Joseph likes to fish and knows some good spots so at least part of the time they will be spending their time fishing. It should be a fun time at the Klamath Reservation and educational for Quinn.

It is also going to be educational in a way the adults involved never expected. Quinn, Joseph, and Little Dove will learn exactly what is going on at Crater Lake and the meaning of the odd noise and strange underwater light.

As always in this series, author Douglas Quinn blends in some history into the mystery at work in the read. The Adventures of Quinn Higgins Boy Detective: The Case of the Secret of Crater Lake is another solidly good book in this highly entertaining series. Plenty of educational material about the Klamath and other related tribes is present in the read while not detracting from the primary mystery. The kids are smart, as are the caring adults in their lives in direct contrast to how adults are often portrayed as in various media forms today. The mystery itself has a sense of wonder to it, which often happens in these tales.

As a result, The Adventures of Quinn Higgins Boy Detective: The Case of the Secret of Crater Lake is another fun and educational read in the series. Plenty of action and character interaction keeps the book moving forward educating readers young and old along the way. While this is one of those series, you can safely let your kids read without checking it first to clear it; you ought to read it as well. They are just flat out fun books.

The Adventures of Quinn Higgins Boy Detective: The Case of the Secret of Crater Lake
Douglas Quinn
http://obxwriter.webs.com/
AAS White Heron Press (Via CreateSpace)
ISBN #978-1539572305
November 2016
Paperback
164 Pages
$7.95

Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2017… (plus d'informations)

The Undercover Beagle known as Gracie is back in Little Miss Stinky. Gracie has her morning routine that she goes through each day at the farm. She checks around the hen house, then moves to the barn which she checks inside and out, and then she moves to the edge of the nearby woods. She goes up and down the edge of the woods making sure everything is also okay there. It is while she is there that she is alerted to a horrible smell. A smell that not only Gracie smells, but one that Red the Rooster, the dog Boston Blackie, and others all notice and comment upon.

The search for the source of that smell as well as the hunt for a missing animal are the storylines of the latest adventure Little Miss Stinky. Latest in the line of books in the A Little Book for Little Readers by Douglas Quinn is another good. This book features another charming tale as well as short word list to help young readers build vocabulary. There is a certain melancholy to the read for those of us who are aware that the real life inspiration for the series passed while the author was working on this book.

Little Miss Stinky which is part of the Gracie Undercover Beagle and her sidekick Boston Blackie series is another good one. Interesting at times and plenty of illustrations make the read a good one not only for kids but the adults in their lives.

Gracie The Undercover Beagle and Her Sidekick Boston Blackie: Little Miss Stinky (A Little Book for Little Readers)
Douglas Quinn
http://obxwriter.webs.com/
AAS White Heron Press (Via CreateSpace)
ISBN #978-1515139089
August 2015
Paperback
60 Pages
$7.95

Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2015… (plus d'informations)

As the 5th book in this excellent series begins, it is spring break for young Quinn Higgins. It has been several years since he last saw his cousins Austin and Mathew. Because Aunt Judy is on her way home after a business trip, she can swing by with her van and get him so that he can come for a visit.

Aunt Judy and her sons Austin and Mathew live in Manassas, Virginia. The boys are eager to see Quinn as well as show him a civil war musket ball they just found. A musket ball they might take over to the museum at the Manassas National Battlefield Park to have somebody verify their find as the real deal. It also gives Quinn the opportunity to checkout the place as he has been studying the Battles of Bull Run in school and is very interested.

That trip to the museum will also lead Quinn and his cousins into a dangerous situation as there is a reason why his friends call Quinn “The Boy Detective.” It is a good thing that at least one adult is paying attention to what Quinn says or the results could be disastrous.

Reminiscent of the great Encyclopedia Brown series I devoured in my youth, the ongoing adventures of Quinn Higgins are powered by the same idea that observation of little things is very important. Small details do not escape the young teen's attention even if he isn't sure why something seems a bit off. That attention to detail as well as an appreciation of history are nearly always present in these books.

Thanks to the skills of author Douglas Quinn, children are taken on a read that blends mystery along with some history making the books serve a dual purpose of escapism as well as teaching. Along the way a value or two is imparted that manages to reinforce both the history as well as the mystery and yet at the same time never lectures the young reader. The result is a very good read whether it is the Charles and Hero series, The Adventures of Summer McPhee series or any of the author's other projects including The Adventures of Quinn Higgins Boy Detective series, parents can be assured of clean language, some life wisdom, and a tale very much worthy of reading. The Adventures of Quinn Higgins Boy Detective: The Case of the Gray Ghost's Belt Buckle is another excellent read.

The Adventures of Quinn Higgins Boy Detective: The Case of the Gray Ghost's Belt Buckle
Douglas Quinn
http://obxwriter.webs.com/
AAS White Heron Press (Via CreateSpace)
ISBN #978-1501009389
September 2014
Paperback
130 Pages
$7.95

Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2014… (plus d'informations)

Solstice, a beagle, was raised to be a hunting dog, but she never liked doing that. She has friends that do. One sunny day she decided to go see her hunting dog friends Brownie, Winky and Blinky who lived at an old farmhouse far from Solstice’s home. To do that she hitched a ride on a human’s truck.

Soon while the mom, Brownie, stays back at the farmhouse, Winky, Blinky, and Solstice go exploring and having fun in the nearby woods. They get separated which is okay at first. It is not long before Solstice is very much lost in the woods. If that was not bad enough, the beagle also has to deal with a storm, three hungry coyotes, and other problems. Solstice is known for being The Determined Beagle and is going to make The Long Journey Home.

Along with a short glossary of words at the back for young readers this cute book tells a great tale of courage and preservance. Part of a series of A Little Book for Little Readers by author Douglas Quinn, Solstice The Determined Beagle: The long Journey Home takes readers young and old on quite an adventure. One that is sure to end well and one the little ones in your life will enjoy again and again.

Solstice The Determined Beagle: The Long Journey Home (A Little Book for Little Readers series)
Douglas Quinn
http://obxwriter.webs.com/
AAS White Heron Press (Via CreateSpace)
ISBN #978-1500589745
September 2014
Paperback
64 Pages
$7.95

Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014… (plus d'informations)