Howard Wallace, P.I.

Gr 3–6—Twelve-year-old Howard Wallace is a private investigator. He is skilled at surveillance and has real clients and his own office courtesy of an arrangement with the school custodian. Howard also does not currently have any friends. His best friend moved away the year before, and something happened with his other friend, Miles, that is rather painful. The story opens with Howard's most recent case. Someone stole money from the student council treasurer, trying to set her up. To make matters more complicated, the new girl, Ivy, wants to be Howard's junior partner. Through the lens of an engaging mystery plot, the theme focuses on how friendship changes as one gets older and how some friendships fall away while others strengthen. Another subplot involves issues of bullying. There is plenty of humor, too, as Howard gets around on a busted old bicycle and wears a bathrobe in place of a traditional detective's trench coat.