The Case of the Barfy Birthday

“What seems to be the trouble, Ms. Jackson?” asked Drake.

“It’s my twin sister, Chloe.” Zoe pointed across the emergency room lobby. Both Drake and Nell gasped as Chloe bent over a basin on her lap and . . . well . . . barfed.

“Eew,” said Zoe.

“Ugh,” said Nell.

“Oh dear,” said Drake.

Nell flipped open her lab notebook. “Why don’t you take it from the top, Ms. Jackson.”

Zoe nodded. She cleared her throat. “You see . . .”

“Yes?” asked Drake, his pencil poised over his notebook.

“Yes?” asked Nell, tapping her foot.

Finally Zoe looked them square in the eye. “I think I poisoned my sister.”. . . .

Drake Doyle and Nell Fossey, Science Detectives. They’re in business together. Serious business. No case is too difficult for Doyle and Fossey, the best science detectives in the fifth grade. Is your pet pig trapped in a deep, dark well? Call Doyle and Fossey. Is a chilly ghost wrecking your tree-house sleepovers? You know the drill. Stop wasting time and pick up that phone. The four mysterious cases in this book are followed by related activities or experiments you can try at home. Button up your lab coat, scribble a secret code, and you’re ready to go!

Reviews and Honors

“Young readers will enjoy the fast-paced plot and the friendship between the two science detectives.” – The Standard Times
“The Encyclopedia Brown-type characters and short and simple episodes will quickly grab readers, even reluctant ones. . . . Teachers may enjoy using this book to illustrate a science lesson.” – School Library Journal
“All books in the series are excellent!” – Children’s Literature
“I’m reading The Barfy Birthday. I think your books are really awesome. I love mystery books. I like how you used real scientists in your book like Drake Doyle and Nell Fossey.” – Jessica, grade 4
“I love reading mysteries. I loved your describing words in this wonderful story. My favorites were Doyle and Fossey. My least favorite character was Doyle and Fossey’s enemy. My favorite part is when Doyle and Fossey got the baby pig out of the ditch.” – Lindsey, Grade 3
“I just wanted to write you to say that my kids LOVE your books! They’ve now read and re-read them over and over again with joy. You even got my daughter excited about epidemiology.” – Jocelyn
A Junior Library Guild Selection