10/14/2019
“Eleven-turning-twelve years old” Cassie narrates this story, set in small-town Australia. Her father, an English teacher who always wanted to be a writer, teaches Cassie many writing tips (“be good at details,” include an “Inciting Incident”) that she shares in the text. He also named the observant girl a “Peacock Detective” when noting details helped her to track down the neighbor’s escaped peacocks, William Shakespeare and Virginia. Cassie plans for her story to be about the latest peacock escape, but then her dad begins having more “Those Days”—depressive episodes—something Cassie understands because she sometimes has them, too. Though Cassie tries to avoid seeing the problems facing her family, she employs her observational prowess when her mother moves out, mean girl Rhea keeps telling Cassie her dad is “crazy,” and a secret about her beloved grandfather is revealed. This quietly powerful journey deals honestly with the impact of depression and such social issues as gun violence in the U.S. Debut author Nugent sensitively portrays Cassie’s struggles with family and friends as she grows to see that true bonds can be both hard won and well worth the effort. Ages 8–12. (Jan.)
[The Peacock Detectives] is satisfying in its energy, style, and use of metaphor [and] approaches tender topics with unflinching courage and aplomb.” — Kirkus Reviews
“This quietly powerful journey deals honestly with the impact of depression and such social issues as gun violence in the U.S. Debut author Nugent sensitively portrays Cassie’s struggles with family and friends as she grows to see that true bonds can be both hard won and well worth the effort.” — Publishers Weekly
“The Peacock Detectives comes to life with charming simplicity, careful symbolism and delightful imagery. Debut novelist Carly Nugent has added a tender touch to the serious life topics of family breakdown and change, grief and mental illness and gives hope in the form of friendship, self-discovery and acceptance.” — Magpies Magazine
“A tender and heartfelt story.” — Martine Murray, author of How to Make a Bird
“Heartfelt and funny…Carly Nugent’s debut is a lively and generous story that acknowledges the powerful feelings of its readers, and the space they occupy in the world.” — Books+Publishing
“Nugent gently explores issues of depression…and brings the whole adventure satisfyingly around with a delightful peacock discovery.” — SA Weekend
“This Australian import has plenty of quirky charm… the book touches on many family and friendship situations with which readers will empathize. Fans of Sheila Turnage and Susan Patron are a natural audience for this story.” — School Library Journal
“Cassie’s narration is friendly and inviting… Audiences will want to come along for the ride and will look forward to the crew’s next adventure.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Cassie has great appeal for the young crowd with her subtly poetic approach, lists, dialogue, and simple explanations- all while tackling some big topics…a highly rewarding read.” — YA Books Central
“This detective story [is] a good choice for any realistic fiction fan, mystery lover or not.” — Horn Book Magazine
Heartfelt and funny…Carly Nugent’s debut is a lively and generous story that acknowledges the powerful feelings of its readers, and the space they occupy in the world.
Cassie’s narration is friendly and inviting… Audiences will want to come along for the ride and will look forward to the crew’s next adventure.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Nugent gently explores issues of depression…and brings the whole adventure satisfyingly around with a delightful peacock discovery.
The Peacock Detectives comes to life with charming simplicity, careful symbolism and delightful imagery. Debut novelist Carly Nugent has added a tender touch to the serious life topics of family breakdown and change, grief and mental illness and gives hope in the form of friendship, self-discovery and acceptance.
Cassie has great appeal for the young crowd with her subtly poetic approach, lists, dialogue, and simple explanations- all while tackling some big topics…a highly rewarding read.
This detective story [is] a good choice for any realistic fiction fan, mystery lover or not.”
A tender and heartfelt story.
Cassie’s narration is friendly and inviting… Audiences will want to come along for the ride and will look forward to the crew’s next adventure.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
12/01/2019
Gr 3–6— Eleven-year-old Cassie is an expert when it comes to tracking down her neighbors' peacocks, which go missing frequently. She's less confident, however, when it comes to dealing with changes in her family. Her older sister is making choices that Cassie doesn't understand, her beloved grandfather is ill, her father is sinking into depression, and her mother seems to be separating herself from the family. Even her best friend Jonas is acting strange and moody. Can Cassie unravel the mysteries she's facing in life, or will they prove to be too much for her detective skills? This Australian import has plenty of quirky charm. Though the mystery element is slight, there's plenty of character development, and the book touches on many family and friendship situations with which readers will empathize. Fans of Sheila Turnage and Susan Patron are a natural audience for this story. VERDICT Purchase where there's a need for realistic fiction dealing with family issues.—Misti Tidman, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, OH
2019-09-15
Cassie, short for Cassandra, is not unlike her namesake from the Greek myth: She is cursed to know the truth, but no one quite believes her. Australian debut writer Nugent employs this disarming narrator to take readers through a painful period of her life in which she gradually discovers (like a detective) that her grandfather is dying, her father is struggling with mental health issues, her mother needs to move out of the house in order to cope, and her only sister, at 15, is becoming her own person. What saves her are her connection to her family; her friendship with Jonas, a science-minded, fact-oriented soul; and honest interactions with her unpredictable schoolmate Rhea. Cassie is also an aspiring and conflicted writer with a propensity for capital letters who shares with readers the many components of a good story even as she is engaged in telling one. This idea-packed book strains credulity at times but is satisfying in its energy, style, and use of metaphor—most of all the peacock, symbol of vision and awakening. Characters present white.
Approaches tender topics with unflinching courage and aplomb. (Fiction. 8-12)
Candice Moll transforms herself into 11-year-old Cassie Anderson, a peacock detective, in the way skilled narrators can do. Her delivery is rapid, the sentences pouring over listeners. Cassie is hired to help find missing peacocks in the neighborhood. Moll makes the most of both the mystery and the humor laced throughout the story. Listeners will appreciate the ironic observations told in a lively engaging style as the chapters fly by. Some may find this pace faster than that of the average audiobook, but speed is essential to this story because it helps convey the precociousness and vitality of the plucky heroine. Told in a broad Australian accent, this is a story to be enjoyed at full volume. M.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Candice Moll transforms herself into 11-year-old Cassie Anderson, a peacock detective, in the way skilled narrators can do. Her delivery is rapid, the sentences pouring over listeners. Cassie is hired to help find missing peacocks in the neighborhood. Moll makes the most of both the mystery and the humor laced throughout the story. Listeners will appreciate the ironic observations told in a lively engaging style as the chapters fly by. Some may find this pace faster than that of the average audiobook, but speed is essential to this story because it helps convey the precociousness and vitality of the plucky heroine. Told in a broad Australian accent, this is a story to be enjoyed at full volume. M.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
