Three Times Lucky (Mo & Dale Mysteries)

Another great book and definite Newbery candidate, Three Times Lucky sends the reader on the hunt for a murderer with sixth grader Mo LoBeau and her best friend, Dale. Mo is delighted for summer vacation to start, hoping to spend time with Dale, and her crush, Dale's brother, Lavender as well as helping out at the cafe owned by her unusual adopted family. If she can find her biological mother all the better. But everything changes when a grumpy neighbor turns up dead, in the boat that Dale 'borrowed' for them to go fishing in and Dale turns out to be the last known person to see the man alive. Determined to help her friend, Mo sets out to help solve the mystery regardless of whether Joe Starr, a lawman, wants her help or not.Mo reminds me greatly of another great middle grade character, Jennifer Holm's May Amelia, with her spunk and determination. I found myself grinning more than once as I read about Mo's ability to insert herself into almost any situation with fervor and good intentions, although not always with good results. Her efforts to find her unknown mother using notes in bottles was creative if ineffectual. Mo slowly comes to realize that perhaps she already has all the family she needs.The setting is beautifully presented with a map included, something I always appreciate as it helps me visualize places and how they are connected with each other. A story like this requires a strong sense of place and Turnage pulls it off nicely. The cafe especially stands out as a place of great character, well worth visiting.Plotwise the story moves along at a nice clip with plenty of moments of tension mixed in with the humorous moments. I enjoyed the twists and turns and the subplots involving Mo's adopted family, Miss Lana and the Colonel, as well as the home situation of Dale. I think my favorite part though besides the part where Mo puts her karate skills to use, is the part where Mo sneaks down to the creek hoping to help search the crime scene for clues.I highly recommend this book, not only as great historical fiction but as an amusing and entertaining look at life in a small community where everyone seems to know everything about everyone else, but where secrets still have room to breathe.

So, my oldest daughter finally passed over her copy of Sheila Turnage's Three Times Lucky, the book her buddy Miss G. selected for their third-grade book club; I was not allowed to begin reading until she was completely finished.Winner of the Newbery Honor Book, a New York Times Bestseller, an Edgar Award Finalist, and an E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor Book, my eyeballs were drooling at the thought of cracking open this book.Immediately confronted with colorful characters such as the Colonel and Miss Lana as well as characters which will melt your heart as in protagonist Mo who gives vinegar bottles, full of notes addressed to her unknown mother, to the local townspeople who gladly throw them over bridges for her in the hopes they may find their way to her mother.In fact, my hub was wearing a Heisenberg t-shirt the other day, the one with Walter White's face on the front, and my daughter proclaimed, "That man looks just like Detective Joe Starr!" Starr, a man main character Mo didn't like due to the "hook of his nose, or the plane of his cheekbones . . . [and] the way he didn't smile" (13). Of course, I had to quickly turn my back to disguise the tears of joy running down my face at this unfolding, before those same eyeballs (mine), of literacy in action.Three Times Lucky, while containing some heavy themes (domestic violence, alcoholism, murder), does so in a manner which is not only digestible for the young reader but also educational.With my oldest looking forward to discussion of Turnage's book at an actual cafe, Sgt. Pepper's Cafe in Edwardsville, I am looking forward to witnessing firsthand the love of reading at this young age.

We absolutely full-on loved this book! I read it to my 8-year-old but after we started, my husband came every night to listen too; the book is just that good! Reading it aloud begged for a North Carolina accent so I obliged. We love accents at our house. For example, this past Thanksgiving we tried some fancy new recipes and we all spoke in French accents while cooking and even looked up phrases to say in French to sprinkle into our conversations. I give you that background because my daughter said the North Carolina accent was on of her favorites ever! High compliment. We had so much fun reading this very funny,very exciting book.Mo is a fabulous character and Turnage’s writing is pure genius. She brings all the characters from this small town to life. The book is packed with so many witty thoughts and sayings and you find yourself laughing out loud every few pages! One of my favorite lines of Mo’s wisdom is, “The Colonel always says not to lie, but sometimes the truth doesn’t feel like a good fit.” My other favorite line I cannot share because it gives away too much of the plot denouement but suffice it to say, those who have not yet read this book are in for a treat! Not only is this a super fun book to read but the plot is surprisingly good. My husband and I both found the mystery engaging until the end. The entire family highly recommends this treat!

Mo and dale is probably the best book I ever read at the start I wasn’t sure about it but after I got stuck into it I ADORED itMo and dale 1 quadrillion out of 1Well d9ne

mo and dale series, so enjoyable.one of my favourite books, bought the paperback initially had to pay the hardback version too.

Mo is terrific!! This serieshas all the required elements - humour, wit,suspense, adventure.... Will be loved by kids and adults alike! Suitable for 10plus years

I fell in love with Mo's voice from the very first page, and this turned out to be my favorite MG novel in ages. So funny, so deliciously fun, such a great cast of characters, such a fabulous setting and story…I loved everything about this novel. I can't wait to read the sequel!

Nice story with the right dash of suspense, really likeable characters, and above all- lovely, lyrical writing. Looking forward to read more!