 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse
- By Bruce Hale
- Genre: Mystery
Common Sense Media says
A tale that can make a grown-up giggle too.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book has a sharp ear for the lingo of pulp fiction and an intricate plot.
What's the story?
In a tale that can make a grown-up giggle, Chet Gecko follows clues through school to rescue a first-grade chameleon. The lizard hero walks a tightrope between the strict sweetness of elementary school and the rich tradition of film noir and pulp detective novels.
Is it any good?
Will the opening of THE CHAMELEON WORE CHARTREUSE set PC teeth on edge? "Some cases start rough, some cases start easy. This one started with a dame." But the next sentence clues us in to the Chet Gecko tone: "That's what we private eyes call a girl." From there, Bruce Hale sweeps readers into the wacky world of his school-age sleuth.
With tongue firmly planted in cheek, the author slips in some hilarious lines: "She was the kind of girl I could have fallen for. If I liked girls." Hale paints Emerson Hicky Elementary School as a benign and comical, if bizarre, world with just enough goofy reality to make it stick, and just enough style to make it pulpy. Kids (and adults) who've encountered classics of the genre will enjoy some good chuckles.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about pulp fiction. What are some of the hallmarks of the genre? Does this book qualify? Why or why not?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
October 31, 2011
AGE
laidback animal rebel + hardcore mystery solver = chet gecko
One of my favorite mystery books that has suave style in the midst of its mysterious adventure. Chet is one of my mystery solving heroes, and he will definitely appeal to younger ages with his laidback, rebellious "bad boy" style...or, "bad gecko", in this occasion. A book I definitely believe you should read, from a series you should catch onto to know and love.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Bruce Hale |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Mystery |
| Publisher: | Harcourt Brace |
| Publication date: | February 16, 2001 |
| Number of pages: | 97 |
| Paperback price: | $4.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
