On the Case

TFK Kid Reporter Vivian Goldhirsh read The Sherlock Society and interviewed its author, James Ponti. Read Vivian’s thoughts below.

The Sherlock Society is a book about four kids in Miami, Florida, who start a detective agency. Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock love mysteries—as does their grandpa, who used to be an investigative reporter for the city newspaper. Alex, Zoe, and their friends study one of his old cold cases, which leads them to a shocking discovery.

As the characters sleuth around a massive scandal, readers will feel as if they’re in the backseat of Grandpa’s car. This book is not just a mystery: It’s an experience you can relate to. The writing helps you feel all of the characters’ emotions.

The Sherlock Society is the latest page-turner from James Ponti, the best-selling author of four middle-grade book series. Ponti has wanted to be a writer since he was in the fifth grade. He has always loved mysteries. His favorite stories as a kid were about Sherlock Holmes. He also loved From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler.

Before writing The Sherlock Society, Ponti was unsure how to proceed. He wanted his next book to be a mystery, but he didn’t know what the plot would be. “I went for a walk around the lake by my house,” he says. “There are 10 benches on the lake, and I made a rule: I said ‘I’m going to sit at a bench and I’m going to ask myself a question about the book, and I can’t get up until I give a good answer!’” Bench to bench, he got his first draft.

The Sherlock Society is an amazing read that you will surely add to your favorite-books-ever list. I did!