Johnny Swanson by Eleanor Updale - ADVISABLE

Updale, Eleanor  Johnny Swanson, 382 p. David Fickling Books, 2010. $16.99 Language: G (0 swears, 0 'f') Violence: G, Mature Content: G. Johnny Swanson is desperate to make some money.  His paper route hardly pays enough to buy the weekly comics, but the rent his mother pays is being raised 3 shillings a week, and, in 1928, there aren’t that many jobs for an 11-year-old bullied little boy.  After being tricked himself, Johnny places advertisements in the newspaper to fool people into sending money to him for worthless advise.  One thing leads to another, and before long, Johnny turns amateur detective to help solve a murder and to get his mother out of terrible trouble.  I really enjoyed this historical mystery.  Johnny is a capable detective.  The bits of history – WWI information, post office rules and a TB scare add to the realistic feel of this well written detective story.  Look out Hardy Boys, Johnny Swanson is here!   EL, MS - ADVISABLE.  Lisa, Reading Teacher