The Case of the Prank that Stank #1 (Wright & Wong)
Gr. 5-8. Although they couldn't be more different, Agatha Wong and Orville Wright have been friends since second grade, when Agatha defended Orville from bullies. Enthusiastic Agatha loves people, and being on the bottom rung of the school popularity ladder drives her crazy. Orville, who has Asperger's syndrome, prefers calm and quiet. He is brilliant when it comes to math and science, but emotions make no sense to him. The kids' complementary skills, and their friendship, are tested after a school prank goes awry. Occasional spikes of situational humor and a recognizable junior-high milieu add some flash to the formulaic plot, but the likable, blundering sleuths are the real success here. Perceptive characterizations allow readers to peek at the kids from the inside out, and the authors' careful, but never intrusive, exploration of Asperger's presents a multidimensional view of a condition that's receiving increased attention in both life and literature. A solid beginning for a new series, called--you guessed it--Wright & Wong.Stephanie ZvirinCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved