GROOVES: A Kind of Mystery
by Kevin Brockmeier
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
ISBN-10: 0060736917
ISBN-13: 9780060736910
Ages 8-12
208 pages

Dwayne Ruggles's adventure begins when his favorite teacher, Mr. Fred, teaches his physical science class about how record players amplify sound. The kids use a construction paper megaphone/loudspeaker and a straight pin to pick up the music on an old-fashioned vinyl record.

Soon after science class, rich businessman Howard Thigpen gives a talk about wealth during school assembly. As Thigpen demonstrates that people will do anything if offered enough money, Dwayne notices that the factory owner has sparkles in place of a shadow.

When Dwayne arrives home, he decides to try the loudspeaker experiment again. He wonders if his corrugated wallpaper might have music inside, since it has grooves like a record. However, tracing the wallpaper with the needle only makes a scratchy sound. He tries several other objects without luck. But when he runs the needle over his blue jeans, he hears a call for help. The message is incomplete, until he and his friend Kevin get their hands on an antique Victrola record player horn. Then they can hear the entire message: "Please. You must help us. He's stealing the light from our eyes."

Now they truly have a mystery on their hands. Who needs help? Who is the eye light thief?

Dwayne idly runs the needle across a ridged potato chip and hears another message. The boys get their first big clue when they realize that both the blue jeans and the potato chips are Thigpen brand.

Dwayne and Kevin are off to solve their groovy mystery. Along the way they accumulate another detective, start a pig stampede, star on "wanted" posters, and much more.

The GROOVES characters are funny, including one recycler who wears mottled gray-pink shirts, which he weaves from dryer lint. The mystery is far-fetched but not nearly as wacky as it seems it might be. (In a very weird way it all makes sense.) This book is just plain enjoyable, from start to finish, and will appeal to both mystery and fantasy fans --- or to anyone who enjoys an imaginative, original story.

   --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

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