num_pages: 288
description: An atmospheric late-1930s adventure with old-time cinematic appeal. Fans of fast-paced far-fetched action will lap it up as enthusiastically as Sam swallows his favorite brand of sardines.  Kirkus Reviews Lantern Sam is the wise-cracking sarcastic talking cat (for those who can hear him that is) who lives on board the Lake Erie Shoreliner train and is one of the best detectives no one knows about. He doesnt have much patience for humans (unless they bring him sardines) but when 10-year-old traveler Henry cant find his new friend the exuberant Ellie Sams enlisted to help. A ransom note is soon discovered and just like that Sam and Henry are on the case with the help of Clarence the Conductor (who supplies Sams sardines). But is Ellie still on board the train? Did the salesman with his trunk full of samples sneak her off? And why does that couple keep acting so suspiciously?Veteran middle-grade mystery author Michael D. Beil has crafted a hilarious and appealing adventure set in the 1930s thats chock-full of quirky characters and red herrings and all with an irresistible cat at its center.
language: English
title: Lantern Sam and the Blue Streak Bandits
publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers