I love the chapter headings in this cheeky YA book about an investigation agency where no case is too small and the rate is two dollars a day. Already we can see that THE PLEASANTVILLE JUNIOR DETECTIVE AGENCY will handle such serious issues as The Case of the Stolen Baseball Cards; The Case of The Missing Trophy; and The Case of the Donut Caper.

Perry Winkle is a quiet kid who enjoys reading detective stories. He likes to figure out the solution before the end. When his father wonders aloud how his sunglasses got stolen in his store that day, Perry decides to investigate. A girl named McKenzie Callahan appears to be to blame - she does badly at school and bullies other kids, but she's smart enough when she wants to be.

McKenzie appears to be at the bottom of some other inappropriate deeds, as Perry discovers when he establishes his detective agency. However, each case is different so just having a suspect does not prove anything. Perry understands he needs a good standard of proof. The reader gets a chance to consider the facts and provide a solution before the answer is provided. Since Perry is, after all, still a kid, he also has fun at a very spooky Halloween party, a town race day and other events.

I think this quirky collection of capers will appeal most to pre-teens, but I also think some teens will have a fine time solving the cases and wishing they ran a detective agency too. Johnny Copper is a pen-name for a crime author who has let his imagination loose in THE PLEASANTVILLE JUNIOR DETECTIVE AGENCY. The end of this book will certainly leave you wanting more.