Publishers Weekly Review
Seasoned chapter-book series author Giff gets her latest, The Adventures of Minnie and Max, off to a snappy start with this caper introducing an aspiring detective who has just finished sixth grade. Her refreshingly nontraditional heroine, Minnie, is an orphan who lives in a seaside town with her older brother, Orlando, owner of a restaurant. In a free-flowing, appealingly impulsive voice, the girl explains how she acquires Max, her feline sidekick, when he jumps from a passing truck into her arms. Moments later, Minnie finds in the street another object that has apparently fallen off the vehicle: an amber ring. Determined to discover the owner(s) of the cat and the ring, the spunky young sleuth tackles a double mystery that brings her into contact with a handful of eccentric characters, including Klutz (aka Kitty), a policewoman in disguise; Leo the Lazy, a shifty fellow who "slouched on the pier"; and Cash, a boy who has claimed an old boathouse for his "club." Like the fare at Orlando's restaurant, where just about every dish contains peaches and walnut shells, Giff's piquant plot mixes together some unlikely ingredients. Yet far-fetched as it is, this brief, whirlwind tale will keep even reluctant readers flipping the pages. Minnie teams up with Cash to find a stolen, prizewinning pigeon in Mary Moon Is Missing, due out the same month. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 7-11. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal Review
Gr 2-6-Minnie and Max stories by Patricia Reilly Giff are bound to become favorites with beginning readers. This first book in the series (Viking, 1998) is pure delight. It is intended for early readers, and the humor and subject matter are a perfect fit. Narrator Dana Lubotsky portrays Minnie and the other characters with style. Her New York accent is very convincing yet not overdone. Minnie has decided to open a detective agency, but her brother/guardian Orlando is not so sure she has the necessary skills. Her two friends, Cash and Kitty the Klutz, become her partners. The fun they have solving their first mystery is lively and entertaining. The audio quality is very clear, and the musical score enhances the story. Young readers will enjoy Minnie and her cat, Max, in this amusing story. Be sure to try Minnie's recipe for Peach Surprise at the end of the story.-Ginny Harrell, William McGarrah Elementary School, Morrow, GA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2^-4. This is the first episode of a new series that begins when fledgling detective Minnie rescues a cat from the back of a moving lumber truck. She names it Max and decides to keep it. Although her brother Orlando, owner of the Catfish Cafe and the person who has raised her since their parents died, says they can't afford to keep the cat, Max was responsible for leading Minnie to the amber ring she plans to sell to get Orlando's restaurant going. The fact that Max and the amber ring probably belong to someone is the catch that provides Minnie with her first two cases and paves the way for meeting a female police officer (who turns out to be the apple of Orlando's eye) and Cash, a newcomer who has started a detective agency of his own. Young mystery lovers will enjoy the witty story with its standout characters, as well as the second episode in the series, Mary Moon Is Missing [BKL O 15 98]. Illustrations not seen in galley. --Lauren Peterson
Horn Book Review
Likable characters and briskly paced stories make for an engaging mystery series. In these two cases, amateur detective Minnie, her pet cat Max, and her sidekick Cash, are pitted against wily robbers. Minnie's humorous, clipped narration helps smooth over the occasional believability-straining moment--such as the sleuth's ability to smell a would-be thief's "chocolatey" scent, despite her bout of the sniffles. From HORN BOOK Spring 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A spunky heroine, intrepid feline, and dastardly thief are among the quirky characters in the new Adventures of Minnie and Max series from Giff (Lily's Crossing, 1997, etc.). Orphaned sixth grader Minnie (short for Minneapolis), lives with her brother Orlando, a peach fanatic as well as chef and owner of the Catfish Café. Rescuing a stray cat, Max, off the back of a pickup truck provides Minnie with her first case for her fledgling detective agency. With the assistance of Cash, a new boy in town, and the earnest but bumbling Officer Kitty, Minnie solves the mystery of the thief behind a crime wave in the area. Giff's fictional Sharkfin Bay provides a glimpse into the workings of a fishing community and an intriguing setting for Minnie's daring escapades. The straightforward, engaging text encourages beginning readers while the well-crafted mystery will entertain a more advanced audience. Minnie's deadpan narrative and funny misadventures will have readers clamoring for more. (b&w illustrations, not seen) (Fiction. 7-11)