MR. CHICKEE'S FUNNY MONEY
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
ISBN: 0385327722
Ages 8-12
160 pages

Mr. Othello Chickee is Steven's blind, elderly neighbor. Every Saturday morning Steven accompanies Mr. Chickee to the grocery store to assist him with his shopping. Usually Mr. Chickee pays Steven with Vernor's Gingerale and a bag of potato chips, but one day he gives Steven an envelope that contains a most unusual piece of currency --- a quadrillion-dollar bill with a picture of singer James Brown on it.

Steven, his buddy Russell, and Zoopy (Russell's huge, bear-like dog) are the only members of Flint's Future Detectives, a rather exclusive group of budding sleuths. Steven and Russell are determined to find out if the bill is real. Russell already has plans to purchase a spiffy new bike with his share of the money. Steven consults Great-great Grampa Carter's dictionary for clues about the money, but the dictionary insults Steven with ever-changing comments on the copyright page. Steven's dad thinks the money is an advertising gimmick, but Steven's mother wants a second opinion, which is how Steven got entangled with the Treasury Department in the first place.

Special Agent Fondoo of the Treasury Department knew there was a huge reward for any government official who could locate and return the missing, accidentally-in-circulation, quadrillion-dollar bill, and he wasn't about to let Future Flint Detective Steven in on this secret. Before long Steven and Russell are being pursued by several secret agents with high-tech gear who are desperate to get their hands on the funny money in Steven's possession. Steven uses all his detective powers and tricks to elude them, but eventually the agents outnumber and overpower him. Russell meets with an accident and Zoopy disappears. In desperation Steven throws away the money. He feels that it is jinxed. Besides, what good is money without your best friend and dog to share it with?

This sleuth story does have a happy ending, and according to author Christopher Paul Curtis, the members of the Flint Future Detectives will appear in a series of books.

   --- Reviewed by Carole Turner

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