Review of "Brixton Brothers: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity," by Mac Barnett

Review of

Brixton Brothers: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity, by Mac Barnett ISBN 9781416978169

Three out of five stars

 I grew up devouring the “Hardy Boys” series of books, they were a source of great amusement as they solved cases. While some of them were a bit unrealistic, their deviation from what one would consider realistic was always slight. That was always a strong point, a reader could always believe that such a situation was possible and engage in the fantasy that they could fill the roles. Fans of the “Hardy Boys” series will recognize the similarity to the “Bailey Brothers” referenced in this book.

 This is the first Brixton Brothers book that I have ever read and the scenario deviates massively from what one would consider plausible. The main character is Steve Brixton and he is in many ways an ordinary boy in what appears to be middle school. He draws what he considers to be a horrible homework assignment, an essay on American needlework. The adversaries and the reasons for the crime are absurd, even if they are meant to be humorous, they are so far away from realistic that the point is lost.

 While there are no doubt some young readers that will enjoy this book, those with a modicum of seriousness will find it of tepid interest.