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A Stranger Comes To Town, by Rod Van Wyndgarden – Book Review

August 15, 2012 by Lesley

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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When I was a child growing up, I had a tremendous love of books. I read everything from The Babysitter’s Club, Sweet Valley Twins, to Little House on the Prairie. I soaked up those books and had more adventures than you can even imagine.

It brings me a lot of joy to know that I’ve passed that love of books and reading on to my children. Recently, my daughter and I even read a book together for review, Rod Van Wyndgarden’s A Lake Alamo Mystery January 1967 – A Stranger Comes to Town.

Here is a little synopsis from Tate Publishing:

The Van Duren girls were all very smart and good at sports. Haylie and Rachel were ten-year-old twins. Haylie was strong and could even beat up the boys if she wanted to. Rachel could think her way out of any situation. She was the all-city checkers champion, and could even play chess and beat grownups, something that no other kid in her grade could do. Kayla was only seven, but she was a quick thinker and could keep up with her sisters, both on their bikes and using her brain.

When the three of them team up to form a detective agency, no mystery stands a chance! As the sisters patrol the streets of Lake Alamo on their bikes, they’re ready to take on any challenge. The Van Duren sisters solve mysteries of all kinds, from secret identities to stolen items to bullies, these sisters are ready to take it all on, one case at a time.
72 pages – $7.99 (paperback)

Since the book is written by a man, I wondered just how he would write a book about three little girls. Then I saw that he has three daughters and I knew that he was going to have plenty of insight into how girls think and act. Basically, I’d have to say he nailed it.

I loved the characters in the book. The girls are adorable and spunky. Very relatable to the little girls who would be reading it. I can actually picture some of the children I know wanting to start their own detective agency! I do believe they would charge more than 25 cents, though.

The way that the book is written it could easily be split up into chapters to be read at night with the parents or it could be a continued read for an older child. I loved how the girls used common sense and logic to solve each mystery. And you are told how they come to their conclusion. Not only is this a fun story, it’s also educational!

Another wonderful thing about the books is that proceeds from each sale go toward supporting two charities: Guide Dogs for the Blind and Feed My Starving Children.

If you have young girls in the 3rd to 6th grade range, I would highly recommend this book. It’s sure to be a hit with your little reader!

You can purchase this book directly from the publisher’s website or from Amazon.com.

This is a sponsored post. The opinions stated above are my own.

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26 Comments

  1. Teresa Thompson says

    August 28, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    I loved Charlotte’s Web.

    Reply
  2. Chuck says

    August 28, 2012 at 11:06 am

    As a kid I enjoyed reading many comic books.

    Reply
  3. Angela E. says

    August 27, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    Anything Dr. Suess was always fun to read.

    Reply
  4. andrea says

    August 26, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    Tales of the fourth grade nothing

    Reply
  5. June says

    August 26, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    I use to read to my children all the time when they were younger.

    Reply
  6. Chelsea says

    August 25, 2012 at 4:09 pm

    Strega nona was one of my favorites

    Reply
  7. claire says

    August 25, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Alice in Wonderland.

    Reply
  8. Garrett says

    August 25, 2012 at 2:18 pm

    We use to read the little golden books together.

    Reply
  9. Don says

    August 23, 2012 at 7:31 pm

    Horton hears a who.

    Reply
  10. Karry says

    August 23, 2012 at 1:16 pm

    Nancy drew series

    Reply
  11. Kimberly B. says

    August 23, 2012 at 2:46 am

    I loved to read Green Eggs and Ham.

    Reply
  12. Van says

    August 22, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    Use to read many of R.L. Stiens books.

    Reply
  13. Lori D. says

    August 21, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    Ramona & Beezus books were so funny to read.

    Reply
  14. Jessica T says

    August 21, 2012 at 12:35 am

    Anne of Green Gables

    Reply
  15. Sheila K. says

    August 20, 2012 at 2:55 pm

    As a child, my favorite book was A Wrinkle in Time!

    Reply
  16. Donna L says

    August 20, 2012 at 2:32 pm

    I liked the Nancy Drew series.

    Reply
  17. april yedinak says

    August 19, 2012 at 1:24 pm

    King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry

    Reply
  18. Jenny says

    August 16, 2012 at 11:11 pm

    Tuck Everlasting was one of my favorites.

    Reply
  19. Linda Kish says

    August 16, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    Charlotte’s Web

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  20. Idaho Jill says

    August 16, 2012 at 12:02 pm

    Little house on the prairie

    Reply
  21. Mia Dentice Carey says

    August 16, 2012 at 11:51 am

    Dr Suess – Go Dog Go

    Reply
  22. Vivian says

    August 16, 2012 at 6:38 am

    I loved to read the Little House on the Prairie Series.

    Reply
  23. Heather Hayes Panjon says

    August 16, 2012 at 12:28 am

    I loved the adventures of babysitting

    Reply
  24. Daniel M says

    August 15, 2012 at 9:18 pm

    horton hears a who!

    Reply
  25. Ron Thompson says

    August 3, 2012 at 2:55 pm

    Sounds like a great book! I appreciate how, as you mention, children can learn right along with the characters and apply their reasoning to solving the mysteries.

    Reply
  26. MommyPage says

    August 3, 2012 at 2:51 pm

    I’ve seen this book before and been considering if I want to read it. I loved reading your review on it. That is amazing that the proceeds go to those charities. Thank for you this review!

    Reply

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