Reviews

Gr 5-8-Arthur King channels Sherlock Holmes in this second tale about the nerdy boy by Dean Wilkinson (published in the UK by Scholastic Ltd, 2003). Strange occurrences are the norm at Basselton School this year. Rips in the fabric of time are leaving bewildered people hours out of sync with their lives. Cavemen mug Arthur's best friend in the restroom at school. Nightly rumblings are heard beneath the town; some say it's the sound of a ghost train. Arthur believes there is a link between the unsavory new physics teacher and these unusual incidents. Arthur enlists the help of several people, including the girl he has a crush on, to help him solve the mystery. British actor Steven Pacey employs different British accents for the characters, some so thick that they are difficult to understand. Boys will especially enjoy the toilet humor found here. British slang is used liberally throughout the book, and some of the strong language may be offensive.-Stephanie Bange, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.