Benny on the Case - by Wesley King (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Two starred reviews!

A boy with Mosaic Down syndrome navigates entering a mainstream classroom, making new friends, and standing up to bullies all while trying to catch a thief and save his home in this "suspenseful, emotional" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) middle grade mystery from New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wesley King.

Benny isn't your average boy from Newfoundland. He lives in a retirement home that his mother runs, he has an eighty-six-year-old best friend named Mr. Tom, he knows more about fixing boats than video games, and he has Mosaic Down syndrome. When Benny transitions to a mainstream classroom for the first time, the other students tease him for his differences...except for Salma. She's new, too, and not your typical Newfoundland girl: she's tech savvy, speaks Arabic, plays basketball, and isn't afraid to eat lunch with Benny.

So when Salma's grandmother and several other residents in the retirement home are robbed, Benny asks Salma to help him catch the thief. Time is not on their side as an inspector threatens to close the home. And to make matters worse, Benny and Salma must crack the case while working on a class assignment with their bullies. Can Benny save his home and take a stand against the bullies once and for all? He's about to find out, b'ys.

Review Quotes

* "An immersive, empathetic, and endearing mystery, me duckies."--Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

* "Utilizing a POV seldom seen in children's fiction, King crafts a uniquely savvy mystery crackling with the chill and charm of rural Newfoundland."--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

"A heartfelt character-driven mystery featuring a neurodivergent male protagonist that explores friendship, belonging, and family, this is a story perfect for fans of R.J. Palacio's Wonder, Gayle ­Forman's Not Nothing, and Gordon ­Korman's Restart."--School Library Journal

"This riveting mystery hits all of the staples of the genre: red herrings, shifty side characters, climactic clue reveals, and allusions to popular sleuths like Sherlock Holmes and Matlock."--BCCB

"Young sleuths become best friends as they defeat scoundrels and save seniors in this page-turning mystery." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Wesley King is the author of over a dozen novels for young readers. His debut, OCDaniel, is an Edgar Award winner, a Canada Silver Birch Award winner, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and received a starred review from Booklist. The companion novel, Sara and the Search for Normal, received a starred review from School Library Journal and was the recipient of the Violet Downey Book Award and the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award. King has also written The Incredible Space Raiders from Space!, A World Below, Butt Sandwich & Tree, Benny on the Case, and Kobe Bryant's New York Times bestselling Wizenard series. He lives in Newfoundland.