Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun mystery romp has heart, Florida, mad research skills.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
THE SHERLOCK SOCIETY is the smallest club at Miami's Carver Middle School, being basically Alex Sherlock (hence the name), 12, his BFF Yadi (they've bonded over being bullied nerds since second grade, and blue-haired Lina, a recent transfer from Wyoming who doesn't care what people think of her. Also, reluctantly, Alex's 13-year-old sister Zoe, who's really mad about not being able to go to fancy camp with her queen-bee friends. And then there's the sibs' grandfather, a retired investigative journalist with a sweet vintage Cadillac and a lot of time on his hands. When the kids decide that a detective agency is a much better way to make some summer money than lawn-mowing and babysitting, he is only too happy to share his skills—the fact that notorious gangster Al Capone is said to have buried a million dollars somewhere in town doesn't hurt either. The quest is soon on.
Is It Any Good?
James Ponti's new middle-grade series launches with Florida history aplenty as Miami middle-schoolers team up with a retired journalist to find Al Capone's long-lost treasure. As The Sherlock Society soon discovers, the proverb is true: Miami is a sunny place full of shady people. Many of them putting on sunny faces while doing really bad things—like poisoning the water in the Everglades and killing the wildlife. Also counterfeiting. Blowing up boats. The list goes on, but the bonds of friendship, mad research skills, and snarky dialogue—not to mention Mom, the trial lawyer, and Dad, the marine biologist—are up to the challenges. Hometown author-dad Ponti delivers a kitchen sink of Florida facts, from famous hurricanes and real estate scams to where to find great food in Cuban neighborhoods, and never a dull moment as the wild, fast-moving plot unfolds.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about buried treasure, and those who seek it. In The Sherlock Society, it's Al Capone who buried the loot, but many tales have many people stashing the goods somewhere, for whatever reason, and others trying to find it much later. Do you have any favorite treasure hunt stories?
Has anything interesting ever happened in your town? What was it, and what do you think about it all?
Have you ever been to the Everglades in Florida? What did you like -- and did anything surprise you?
What are the different and unique skills each character brought to solving the challenges and mysteries in the book? Do you think teamwork is better when each member brings something different to the group? Why or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Integrity , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Aladdin
- Publication date : September 3, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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