THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY - Young Readers
Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the basis of the HBO TV show, and its proprietor Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. In this charming series, Mma Ramotswe navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, and good humor—not to mention help from her loyal assistant, Grace Makutsi, and the occasional cup of tea.
Have you ever said to yourself, Wouldn’t it be nice to be a detective?
This is the story of an African girl who says just that. Her name is Precious.
When a piece of cake goes missing from her classroom, a traditionally built young boy is tagged as the culprit. Precious, however, is not convinced. She sets out to find the real thief. Along the way she learns that your first guess isn’t always right. She also learns how to be a detective.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
Even grandmothers like it!
By Carol Ann
Alexander McCall Smith's series "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" books are among my very favorite books. Now he's done it for young readers. Okay, so I'm not young. I don't care. I hurried to purchase this book because I am such a fan, and now I will start my grandkids on the series (only after I read it first!). Underneath the simple and entertaining plots in all McCall's books of this genre are some of life's great pieces of wisdom. And that's what calls me to a book or a series -- let there be wisdom underneath entertainment, a few good laughs and a few good cries, and I am happy. I am definitely happy now.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful.The plot filled with twists and turns
By KidsReads
Precious, a little girl living in Botswana, wishes to be a detective someday. One night, her dad retells a story about a lion that enters a village. She listens intently and asks lots of questions, and at the end of the story, he wants to know how she could determine whether or not he was exaggerating. Precious has a hunch that parts of the tale are fabricated and tells him so. Listening, questioning and not jumping to conclusions are all traits of a good detective, characteristics that Precious possesses. She is excited to learn that she has what it takes, but wonders when she will be able to test out her skills.Precious' luck turns when a piece of cake goes missing from her school. Determined to locate it, she sets out to nab the culprit. She asks her friend Tapiwa many questions about where she lost the confection and when she noticed it was gone. Then the very next day, her classmate, Sepo, is missing his jam and bread sandwich. Although Sepo didn't actually see anyone take it, he instantly suspects that Poloko did the deed because Poloko is fat and probably has sticky fingers. Sepo and Tapiwa spread rumors that Poloko is a thief. Precious doesn't like the idea that an innocent person can take the blame for stealing and wonders how her classmates can turn on someone when there is no proof.Upset and seeking to uncover the real culprit, Precious decides to look for evidence. As she hunts for clues during her walk home from school with Poloko, something enlightening happens: they see the wrongdoers! Precious is excited by this discovery, but knows that she must prove who the perpetrator is to her classmates. Now she just needs a clever plan to reveal the truth behind the crime. At night, she has a dream that brings to light a perfect way to trap and expose the crooks. Like many detectives, Precious is able to crack her case using unlikely solutions. You'll have to keep turning the pages to find out what happens.The wonderful illustrations, which are in black, white and red, capture the tone of the tale and the magic of Africa. Wonderful pictures of the animals, characters and scenery appear throughout, and the images look like stamp art, which really makes them stand out and grab your attention. And don't forget to check out the useful information at the end of the book. There is a character guideline, a geography section and discussion questions for the reader to think more deeply about the story.Alexander McCall Smith writes a unique mystery, a prequel to his series for adults, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Not only is the plot filled with twists and turns, but the characters reveal both the ugly and forgiving sides of human nature. Children will love getting into Precious' head through her adventures, stories and dreams. Smith uses fun literary devices --- like a story within a story and a dream to help Precious solve her crime --- and challenges the reader to think about issues like honesty, accusations, helping others, and what makes a good friend.Reviewed by Kathleen M. Purcell on April 30, 2012
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.For Grandparents and Parents . . . as Well!
By Donald Mitchell
"You shall not steal." -- Deuteronomy 5:19 (NKJV)One of the greatest pleasures of my life has been reading mystery stories with intent to solve the mystery before the author reveals the solution. Almost all authors play fair and provide enough information for you to figure it out on your own. I like best those stories that emphasize the mystery and some enduring lessons about loving one another, rather than the sensationalism that can permeate a lot of contemporary mystery fiction.What a delight it was to discover The Great Cake Mystery and to realize that it's a perfect introduction to detective fiction for a youngster . . . whether a grandchild, a child, a niece, a nephew, or a little friend. I felt like buying a gross of this book and having them on hand to share with young readers.The story centers on Precious Ramotswe as a child and how her interest in becoming a detective was launched. The story fits in well with the very first book in the adult series, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which emphasizes interaction with Africa . . . not just Africans . . . as the later stories tend to do.The illustrations are particularly well chosen to increase interest and to provide context that someone who hasn't been to Africa might miss. I also appreciated the pronunciation tips. (I've been wondering how to say "Mma" ever since I first saw it in the series.)You'll feel youthful delight in this story which delicately captures a child's world . . . without talking down to the child.It's a major achievement from a masterful storyteller!Bravo!
