Friday Barnes, Girl Detective is a 2014 Children's novel by R. A. Spratt. It is about an 11-year-old girl, Friday, who uses her detecting skills to solve mysteries at her boarding school.
 First edition | |
| Author | R. A. Spratt |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Lilly Piri |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Published | 2014 (Random House Australia) |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 248 |
| ISBN | 9781742759623 |
| OCLC | 969822948 |
| Followed by | Friday Barnes, Under Suspicion |
Publication history
edit- 2014, Australia, Random House Australia ISBN 9781742759623
- 2016, Phil Grosier (illus.), 272p. USA, Roaring Brook Press ISBN 9781626722972
Reception
editA review in Kirkus Reviews of Friday Barnes wrote "Spratt begins this new series with a nifty, engaging protagonist who can keep readers laughing and help young geeks feel good about themselves.", and complimented Gosier's illustrations,[1] while Reading Time was somewhat critical of the apparent contradiction between its young reader format and older reader language.[2]
Common Sense Media and Booklist (that gave a star review) were both complimentary.[3][4]
Friday Barnes has also been reviewed by Publishers Weekly (star review),[5] BookPage,[6] The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,[7] Australian Literacy Educators' Association,[8] School Library Journal,[9] Horn Book Guide Reviews,[10] and School Library Connection.[11]
Entertainment Weekly in its 2016 list of best middle-grade books gave Friday Barnes an honorable mention.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Friday Barnes, Girl Detective". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- ^ Elizabeth Douglas (7 October 2014). "Friday Barnes, Girl Detective". Reading Time. Children's Book Council of Australia. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
the book poses something of a conundrum as the cover illustration, the large typeface and generous line spacing all suggest a novel for younger readers while much of the language suggests a book for older, more experienced readers.
- ^ Mary Eisenhart. "Friday Barnes, Girl Detective". www.commonsensemedia.org. Common Sense Media Inc. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
a fun romp
- ^ Snow Wildsmith (15 December 2015). "Friday Barnes: Girl Detective". Booklist. American Library Association. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
A sheer delight.
- ^ "Friday Barnes, Girl Detective". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
Spratt's (the Nanny Piggins series) effortlessly funny narration will keep readers laughing from start to finish
- ^ Alice Cary (19 January 2016). "Friday Barnes, Girl Detective". BookPage. BookPage. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
Spratt's characters are entertaining, although she relies too heavily on boarding-school stereotypes of both students and teachers. .. Spratt's writing is nonetheless snappy and smart, and her clever plotting moves the action right along.
- ^ Kate Quealy-Gainer (January 2016). "Friday Barnes: Girl Detective by R. A. Spratt (review)". The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 69 (5). Johns Hopkins University Press: 273. doi:10.1353/bcc.2016.0054. S2CID 201768540. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
Spratt has her tongue firmly in her cheek with this middle-grade homage to genius detectives, .. Black and white illustrations have a cartoony vibe with the multicultural cast sporting wide eyes and sharp angles.
- ^ Robyn English. "Friday Barnes - Girl Detective". alea.edu.au. Australian Literacy Educators' Association. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
This book is bound to appeal to many middle and upper primary readers .. It is a gentle story with likable characters and a well-paced plot.
- ^ Ashley Larsen (2016). "Friday Barnes, Girl Detective". School Library Journal. Media Source Inc. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
A good choice for voracious readers who enjoy a blend of humor and mystery.
- ^ "Friday Barnes, Girl Detective". Horn Book Guides. Media Source Inc. 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
Friday's creative sleuthing and amusingly odd classmates are brought to life by angular black-and-white cartoon illustrations that nicely complement her humor and heart.
- ^ Dionne Fox. "Friday Barnes, Girl Detective". School Library Connection. Libraries Unlimited. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
This novel is very clever, extremely funny, and thoroughly enjoyable. Students will be looking forward to Friday Barnes' next adventure!
- ^ Nivea Serrao (14 December 2016). "Best Middle Grade Books of 2016: Honorable Mentions". Entertainment Weekly. Meridith Corporation. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
If any young detective were to follow in Sherlock Holmes' footsteps, it would be Splatt's titular character.
