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About Ernestine, Catastrophe Queen
Product Description In this tantalizing mystery that's "filled with laugh out loud moments" and "reads like a middle-grade version of the movie Clue", Ernestine is the smart, spunky, and fearless Nancy Drew for today's young readers! We all know and love Ramona, Matilda, and Harriet the Spy. Now meet Ernestine. When a series of suspicious accidents befalls the wealthy residents of the retired artists' home where she works, Ernestine is determined to piece together clues to find the real culprit. She suspects it might be a zombie, but maybe greedy relatives can be just as scary! Catastrophe has never been so much fun! From School Library Journal Gr 4–6—Ernestine is determined to bring on the zombie apocalypse. She visits a neighboring graveyard with her younger stepbrother and partner in crime, Charleston, in an attempt to raise the dead. After a possible zombie sighting, Ernestine rushes back to her home where she lives with her artist/caretaker parents in the MacGillicuddie House for Retired Artists, Both Performing and Otherwise where a wild party is underway. The converted apartment house is filled with eccentric and colorful residents, presided over by the glamorous, kooky, art-loving, and incredibly wealthy Mrs. MacGillicuddie. The party reaches a raucous climax when a giant chandelier crashes down from the ceiling, practically squashing Mrs. M. More incidents prove that foul play is certainly involved. Are there really zombies afoot, and what is it about them that has the precocious, capable, and imaginative Ernestine so intrigued? All of these answers are eventually revealed, although one dangling loose end will draw readers into a potential sequel. Debut author Wyatt offers a plot-driven, humorous mystery that will keep kids turning pages. The diverse and intriguing cast of characters allows for multiple suspects, red herrings, and a surprise twist ending. Themes include the importance of community and family, the value of the older generation, the narcissistic nature of social media, and overcoming hurt from the past. VERDICT A traditional mystery filled with creepy zombie bits and laugh-out-loud funny moments make for a winning combination. A strong choice for most collections.—Kate Nafz, Fair Lawn Public Library Review Praise for Ernestine, Catastrophe Queen: "Harriet the Spy meets Coraline...Wyatt has created a bright, determined, and emotionally complex protagonist to join the illustrious roster of young mystery-solvers and monster-slayers...A heroine to warm the heart and a mystery to chill the blood."― Kirkus Reviews "A snarky, sparky Nancy Drew of the undead with more twists than a zombie zumba class. I sooo want Ernestine on my side when the zombie apocalypse comes!" ― Mo O'Hara, author of the NYT bestselling My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series "Among a cast of colorful characters who leap off the page, no one stands out as much as the wonderful Ernestine. She blends brains and bravery with heart and humor to pull the reader along for an unforgettable ride. Catastrophe has never been so much fun."― James Ponti, Edgar Award-winning author of the Framed! mystery series "A traditional mystery filled with laugh-out-loud funny moments make for a winning combination." ― School Library Journal "Wyatt's first novel reads like a middle-grade version of the movie Clue. Readers will enjoy this murder mystery."― Booklist "It will be a big hit with avid readers."― School Library Connection About the Author Merrill Wyatt lives in Toledo, Ohio, with her husband, daughter, three cats, and a hamster who might possibly be an immortal magician. She spent far too much of her childhood wandering around cemeteries and old Victorian homes. A middle-school technology teacher, she is dollphobic, donut-obsessed, and owns too many pairs of shoes.
