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As the mom of a spirited little girl, I know very well the kinds of mischief a spirited girl can get into—and the more spirited girls you add, the more mischief you get. So I also know that the boarding school for spirited girls featured in The Book Case, the first Emily Lime Mystery by author Dave Shelton, offers plenty of adventurous opportunities.
The story arrives at St. Rita’s, an exclusive boarding school for girls (and, apparently, one boy named George), with the school’s newest student, Daphne. A troubled girl who hasn’t had the best of luck with other schools, Daphne is eager for a fresh start at St. Rita’s, working as an assistant to the assistant librarian, Emily Lime. But Daphne soon discovers that St. Rita’s isn’t just another school—and when there’s a break-in at the library and one of her classmates goes missing, Daphne finds herself working with Emily Lime and George to solve the mystery.
The Book Case follows the action-packed and quirky adventures of a trio of librarians turned sleuths at a boarding school for spirited girls. Though the mystery series is named after Emily Lime, Daphne takes center stage—a character whose past is a mystery in itself. Though there are hints that she’s gotten into trouble time and time again at her previous schools, there isn’t really any indication from the character and her actions in the book to support it. If she’s a troublemaker, she’s definitely a timid one. She tends to be more of a follower than a real problem child.
Emily Lime, however, is the rule-breaker of the bunch—or maybe the rule maker. If a school rule doesn’t appeal to her, she simply comes up with her own—all revolving around her very important duties as the assistant librarian. She’s tough and no-nonsense—and when someone messes with her books, she jumps head-first into the case, dragging Daphne and George behind her.
Middle grade readers will enjoy the characters’ personalities and their sheer spunk. Still, the period setting—and the fact that it takes place in a British boarding school—may be a challenge for some readers. At the same time, with its violence and crime and, occasionally, more mature language, it’s definitely better for older, more mature kids. And since the lingo and the tone will be unfamiliar for many, that can cause some difficulty in the reading.
The Book Case certainly introduces some intriguing characters—and its setting in a school for troublemaking girls offers plenty of potential for more adventures. But young readers will have to get accustomed to the style before they can really settle into the story.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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