Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy by Paula Berinstein

I had the opportunity of interviewing author Paula Berinstein about her Amanda Lester series and its connection to the world of Sherlock Holmes. I look forward to reading the further adventures of Amanda Lester in books two and three, and hopefully more! I highly recommend this book to all lovers of mysteries and young adult literature. Facing the dilemmas of parents who don't understand her, crushes which are unrequited, and friends who are not always friendly, Amanda is a character all students can understand. As a middle school teacher, I always look for books to share with my students, and I know my students, especially the girls, will find Amanda Lester a character they can relate to. What I found particularly compelling was how rich and believable the teen characters are in the book. At the school, Amanda must help her friends solve a mystery involving murdered cooks, sugar powered weapons, and the evil descendants of Professor Moriarty. Poor Amanda is out of luck as her parents, who don't understand her, send her away to The Secret Detective School, a Hogwarts of sorts for descendants of famous detectives. She would rather be a film student than work on solving a mystery.

Despite her rich ancestry, Amanda wants nothing to do with Inspector Lestrade nor with the world's first consulting detective. Lestrade, the Scotland Yard client of Sherlock Holmes. The book involves a plucky young girl by the name of Amanda Lester who is a descendant of Inspector G.

Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy is a smashing Holmesian debut from Paula Berinstein.

Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy by Paula Berinstein