Synopsis
Hannah West may look like any other funky, artistic, street-smart Seattle twelve-year-old, but there's more to her than meets the eye. In addition to being a detective, adopted, and having a sixth sense for bus schedules, Hannah's also homeless, a fact that she and her single mom deal with by moving from one house-sitting job to the next. This time, they're taking care of a houseboat on the tranquil waters of Lake Washington. Before long, someone starts making waves, and before you can blink an eye, Hannah West is on the case. Hannah's not sure who is dumping chemicals in the water--or why--but one thing's for sure: if Hannah doesn't get to the bottom of things soon, they'll all be in deep water!
About the Author: Linda Johns lives in Seattle, Washington.
Children's Literature
Hannah West, twelve-year-old detective, photographer, artist, dog-walker, and all-around errand girl, is back for her second mystery in Puffin's "Sleuth" series. Hannah and her mom cope with their homelessness by house-sitting, and for this story, they move into a client's houseboat on Seattle's Lake Washington. Hannah plunges right into the live-aboard life, complete with the client's kayak and his dog, Mango, who loves to dive in the lake after tennis balls. But Hannah quickly learns that the beautiful waters of Lake Washington are not quite as placid—or as pristine—as they appear. With her best friend Lily, she discovers that someone is polluting the lake with chemicals. Whoever is involved is also connected to a film crew that is shooting a popular television show on the dock where Hannah and her mom are house-sitting. Hannah's curiosity and doggedness take her from the waters outside her front door to a research lab at the University of Washington to a ritzy yacht club—and, of course, ultimately to the mystery's solution. Linda Johns creates a convincing setting with plenty of detail about her hometown. Hannah is an appealing protagonist, who unravels the mystery efficiently, but with enough bumps along the way to be satisfying. This is fiction that is both fun and educational.