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Thirteen-year-old Leilani Akamai and her friends, Maile and Sam, are the only official members of The Hawaiian Island Detective Club. Leilani pictures a summer full of secrets and stakeouts as she and her friends aim to solve their first real crime - a case of pineapple vandalism at Tong Plantation. It's all Leilani has to look forward to now that her younger brother, Kimo, has already ruined her summer. Thanks to him, surfing is out and she blames him for her broken arm, now in a clunky, itchy cast. To top things off, Kimo might interfere with the pineapple case and blow their entire investigation! The ugliness continues when Leilani's beloved surfboard ends up in the hands of her dreaded enemy. Can she get her board back and solve the first case of the Hawaiian Island Detective Club? This summer will be one to remember.
LeslieinTN
Posted April 24, 2013
My daughter was given a copy of this book to review. I told her to give an honest review no matter how she felt about the book and this is what she wrote. She asked me to give it a 4.5 star rating but since that isn't possible, I gave it a 5 star.
"At first glance for an almost-13 year old girl like me, a story about Pineapple vandalism seemed a bit childish. So, I was a bit bored with the beginning chapter and didn't have much interest at first. I was sure it was going to be silly. In short, I wasn't reading it open-mindedly.
But, I had promised to read it and I'm not a giver-upper on books, so even though I was a bit bored in the first chapter, I continued reading. As I continued, I got engrossed, very engrossed, in the story, the characters, and the story line. It turned out to be an amazing read! I enjoyed Leilani's personality, and how she dealt with whatever came at her.
I very much enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone ages 8-13, and anyone who loves a good mystery! I loved the story line of this book, it's very captivating and a good pace once you get started. The characters are great; I can see them in my mind perfectly. I love how this book has a hint of Christianity, and the small bit of romance is cute.
As you can tell, I loved this book and would definitely read it again, which is big for me because I don't like to do that often! I look forward to reading the other books in the series, and hope you will do the same!"
Review by Jill Williamson
When police can't figure out who vandalized a local pineapple plantation, Lelani decides it's time to turn her childhood detective club into something real. She and her friends set out to solve their first official case. But Lelani's little brother keeps following them, and if they aren't careful, he's likely to spoil everything!
Pineapples in Peril is a delightful middle grade mystery debut from author Cheryl Martin. A Nancy Drew-style story for the twenty-first century, Pineapples is packed with investigative fun that will bring young readers back for more adventures with the Hawaiian Island Detective Club. This is the first of several Hawaiian Island Detective Club mysteries for middle grade readers. I'm excited to see a series like this bring published.
Sadie-SophieCuffe
Posted October 4, 2012
We were Nancy Drew/Trixie Belden/Hardy Boys readers, so we enjoyed the first of the Hawaiian Island Detective Club series very much. The kids are realistic and age-appropriate in their actions and interactions with their peers as well as their adult contacts. The lilt of the dialogue captures the flavor of the Island and draws the reader into the laid-back pace of the tropics, while the description and lure of the Hawaiian setting is so great it gives readers a chance to feel like they're walking on the beaches in their flip-flops.
With a mixed cast of characters, this as a good read for both boys and girls, and is highly recommended by the Cuffe sisters.
Overview
Thirteen-year-old Leilani Akamai and her friends, Maile and Sam, are the only official members of The Hawaiian Island Detective Club. Leilani pictures a summer full of secrets and stakeouts as she and her friends aim to solve their first real crime - a case of pineapple vandalism at Tong Plantation. It's all Leilani has to look forward to now that her younger brother, Kimo, has already ruined her summer. Thanks to him, surfing is out and she blames him for her broken arm, now in a clunky, itchy cast. To top ...