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Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective #1
The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit
Meet Randi Rhodes, the world's first ninja detective! Mystery abounds in this delightful new middle grade series from Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer.
Deer Creek is a small town whose only hope for survival is the success of their Founder's Day Festival. But the festival's main attraction, a time capsule that many people believe hold the town's treasure, has gone missing.
Randi Rhodes and her best friend, D.C., are Bruce Lee-inspired ninjas and local detectives determined to solve the case. Even if it means investigating in a haunted cabin and facing mean old Angus McCarthy, prime suspect.
They have three days to find the treasure; the future of their whole town is at stake! Will these kids be able to save the day?
Deer Creek is a small town whose only hope for survival is the success of their Founder's Day Festival. But the festival's main attraction, a time capsule that many people believe hold the town's treasure, has gone missing.
Randi Rhodes and her best friend, D.C., are Bruce Lee-inspired ninjas and local detectives determined to solve the case. Even if it means investigating in a haunted cabin and facing mean old Angus McCarthy, prime suspect.
They have three days to find the treasure; the future of their whole town is at stake! Will these kids be able to save the day?
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2013
25 people are currently reading
967 people want to read
About the author
Octavia Spencer
9 books50 followersIn addition to being a writer, Spencer is an award-winning actress. She is best known for her role as Minny Jackson from Kathryn Stockett's The Help; as the audio-book narrator, in the BBC's 15 Minute Drama radio play, and in the 2011 film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
July 16, 2015
Review by my 7yo. If you want to be a ninja and a detective this is the book for you! I want to be both and I learned a lot.
May 29, 2015
This Was So Much Fun To Read At Bedtime. I Even Got A Standing Ovation Afterwards. We Loved It!!!
July 4, 2013
Octavia Spencer, Academy Award-winner of The Help, started writing this book 13 years ago. Her Hollywood mentor, Sandra Bullock, gave it a read and encouraged her to seek a publisher. With her new stardom, she found a contract with Simon & Schuster, and the second in the series will follow shortly.
Scooby Do enthusiasts will recognize the formulaic plot -- those meddlesome kids, bad guys in suits, the secret treasure and the wholesome reward at the end. The chapters are peppered with inconsistent appendices -- activities that extend the action, Try this at home! -- an interesting idea that falls a bit flat in my view.
The best thing about this book is Spencer's attention to her heroine's emotional life, a recently deceased mother, a distant and preoccupied father, a move from urban New York to rural Tennessee. She also finds an unlikely (for rural Tennessee) multicultural mix of friends, a Latino, an African-American, and a Chinese nanny/daddy's girlfriend (?). Although the setting makes this a bit far-fetched, it's nice to have multiracial representation, and having a number of strong women, including a female Sheriff, is refreshing.
The story itself is trite and nothing new, but the character development and relationships are worth a quick read. Recommended for 3rd-5th graders. Thanks to Ms. Spencer and S&S for the signed ARC.
Scooby Do enthusiasts will recognize the formulaic plot -- those meddlesome kids, bad guys in suits, the secret treasure and the wholesome reward at the end. The chapters are peppered with inconsistent appendices -- activities that extend the action, Try this at home! -- an interesting idea that falls a bit flat in my view.
The best thing about this book is Spencer's attention to her heroine's emotional life, a recently deceased mother, a distant and preoccupied father, a move from urban New York to rural Tennessee. She also finds an unlikely (for rural Tennessee) multicultural mix of friends, a Latino, an African-American, and a Chinese nanny/daddy's girlfriend (?). Although the setting makes this a bit far-fetched, it's nice to have multiracial representation, and having a number of strong women, including a female Sheriff, is refreshing.
The story itself is trite and nothing new, but the character development and relationships are worth a quick read. Recommended for 3rd-5th graders. Thanks to Ms. Spencer and S&S for the signed ARC.
April 5, 2018
Octavia Spencer.....actress AND author!
This is a cute, simple, quick read that is great for middle school students. It's fast paced and provides the reader with a fun journey.
The characters are decent with a little character development.
The storyline is great and will be easy for younger readers to follow and understand.
This is a cute, simple, quick read that is great for middle school students. It's fast paced and provides the reader with a fun journey.
The characters are decent with a little character development.
The storyline is great and will be easy for younger readers to follow and understand.
November 19, 2013
I read this right after Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead. Both are aimed at age groups 8-12. I thought it would be very interesting to hear the writing voice of the versatile actress Octavia Spencer, and it was a fun mystery, well written and cleverly put together.
However, when held up against the power & messages in Liar and Spy, there is just no comparison; though Spencer's book deals with similar issues, Liar and Spy wholly eclipses the Ninja Detective; stylistically and emotionally how resonating & affecting the reader and in about every way. Here's hoping Ms. Spencer's terrific idea for a series gains in wisdom & depth with the next in its series.
However, when held up against the power & messages in Liar and Spy, there is just no comparison; though Spencer's book deals with similar issues, Liar and Spy wholly eclipses the Ninja Detective; stylistically and emotionally how resonating & affecting the reader and in about every way. Here's hoping Ms. Spencer's terrific idea for a series gains in wisdom & depth with the next in its series.
October 30, 2015
Spencer's book is an excellent middle school mystery. Twelve-year-old Randi Rhodes is the daughter of a popular mystery writer. Her mother has recently passed away. Randi is upset and resentful when her father decides they should move from New York to his small Tennessee hometown.
Randi, without her father's knowledge, has acted as a sleuth solving small mysteries in her old neighborhood. The only excitement in the new town is the upcoming Founder's Day Festival at the center of which will be the opening of a time capsule. Many people believe that a legendary treasure was hidden inside the capsule. The fate of many of the town's struggling businesses hangs on the tourists expected to attend the festival. Much to the dismay of the whole town, the capsule disappears. Randi is determined to solve this mystery and doesn't understand why her father who writes mystery novels isn't interested in investigating. The story follows Randi and her new friend D.C. as they search out the culprit behind the theft and save the town. Clues seem to lead to a haunted cabin and mean old Angus McCarthy. This is a very satisfying read with characters and plot twists that will satisfy middle grade readers. I hope Spencer will write more adventures for Randi.
Randi, without her father's knowledge, has acted as a sleuth solving small mysteries in her old neighborhood. The only excitement in the new town is the upcoming Founder's Day Festival at the center of which will be the opening of a time capsule. Many people believe that a legendary treasure was hidden inside the capsule. The fate of many of the town's struggling businesses hangs on the tourists expected to attend the festival. Much to the dismay of the whole town, the capsule disappears. Randi is determined to solve this mystery and doesn't understand why her father who writes mystery novels isn't interested in investigating. The story follows Randi and her new friend D.C. as they search out the culprit behind the theft and save the town. Clues seem to lead to a haunted cabin and mean old Angus McCarthy. This is a very satisfying read with characters and plot twists that will satisfy middle grade readers. I hope Spencer will write more adventures for Randi.
January 1, 2020
This is an interactive book (because it has ninja tasks in the back) that has recipes and other helpful detective tips. It is the kind of book that everyone will love. There are no unrealistic or cheesy parts and it has inspired me to try Tae Kwon Do. I loved this book!
June 11, 2018
My seven year old picked the book purely because he liked the title. He said it was the perfect combination of two things he loves - ninjas and detectives. Also, he loved that usually in the story the main character is the boys and he liked how in this story she changed it up and made it a girl. His final enthusiastic observation was that three kids who were stuck somewhere they didn’t want to be became friends and found that they actually kind of liked where they lived.
As a mom, this book was a huge winner. I started it as a read aloud - we would read two chapters before school in the morning. After a couple of days my husband confessed he was reluctant to leave for work because he didn’t want to miss out. Then I caught my son reading ahead. By the end of the book, he read the last few chapters out loud to me!
Thank you Ms.Spencer for writing such a great story that the whole family could enjoy. I loved that it showed a mighty girl without making boys look stupid, showed some sweet friendships, and the parents weren’t made to look foolish or overbearing. We’ve started on the second book with great enthusiasm and hope there are many more to come!
As a mom, this book was a huge winner. I started it as a read aloud - we would read two chapters before school in the morning. After a couple of days my husband confessed he was reluctant to leave for work because he didn’t want to miss out. Then I caught my son reading ahead. By the end of the book, he read the last few chapters out loud to me!
Thank you Ms.Spencer for writing such a great story that the whole family could enjoy. I loved that it showed a mighty girl without making boys look stupid, showed some sweet friendships, and the parents weren’t made to look foolish or overbearing. We’ve started on the second book with great enthusiasm and hope there are many more to come!
October 8, 2014
This was a cute little mystery for kids with a strong female lead. Recommended.
January 6, 2016
L.C. 5 stars
August 13, 2019
Great book to add to my mystery shelves!
March 23, 2020
More for younger kids. Its not interesting enough for teens or pre-teens. Age 9 recommended
September 13, 2020
This book is a very interesting book, it is very mysterious and the details helped visualize what was happening
September 9, 2018
My youngest teen loved this book, calling it the best book of the recent library checkouts. It does have an interesting plot, and interesting characters, and kept my attention (which isn't always easy for a kid-book to do.)
I think part of the attraction is that the main characters have various physical issues - asthma or hearing loss, etc. Kids who are interested in asthmatics as heroes might be interested in the old "Goonies" movie, and kids who are interested in kids with hearing loss as heroes might be interested in the TV series "Sue Thomas, F. B. Eye."
Speaking of asthmatics, though, I didn't think the characters handled one asthma attack very well in the book, although they were in a tight situation.
My mid-teen didn't even want to read the book because of the "obvious issues with historical accuracy" on the front cover - and sketched what would be considered a preferred front cover. (Insert cliche joke about judging a book by its cover here.) Never mind about the historical inaccuracies of some of the mid-teen's favorite books, either, which would be a whole other discussion.
But the characters in this story weren't going paying attention to the historical accuracy of ninjas; they were trying to live out their own adventures. At one point one character even corrected another character in the realm of martial arts. They were just kids, not perfectionists.
The back of the book included activities for ninjas, and one of them included a food recipe, so I suppose this makes this a culinary mystery, too, although that was certainly not the focus.
A couple other reviewers pointed out that the book wasn't always realistic, and that it had mixed-messages as to what is and what is not appropriate for kids. Both those complaints are valid, but somehow I never expected a book about 12-13 year old ninja detectives being realistic. The breaking and entering thing: Randi did a good job herself of contemplating and understanding the consequences of that one. Randi (a 13 year old girl) asking her dad to let her spend the night with a boy ... uh, obvious no. I would've been more disappointed if he'd said yes, but he only gave weak reasons.
I liked the book. I liked the plot. I think kids and maybe younger teens would enjoy it.
I think part of the attraction is that the main characters have various physical issues - asthma or hearing loss, etc. Kids who are interested in asthmatics as heroes might be interested in the old "Goonies" movie, and kids who are interested in kids with hearing loss as heroes might be interested in the TV series "Sue Thomas, F. B. Eye."
Speaking of asthmatics, though, I didn't think the characters handled one asthma attack very well in the book, although they were in a tight situation.
My mid-teen didn't even want to read the book because of the "obvious issues with historical accuracy" on the front cover - and sketched what would be considered a preferred front cover. (Insert cliche joke about judging a book by its cover here.) Never mind about the historical inaccuracies of some of the mid-teen's favorite books, either, which would be a whole other discussion.
But the characters in this story weren't going paying attention to the historical accuracy of ninjas; they were trying to live out their own adventures. At one point one character even corrected another character in the realm of martial arts. They were just kids, not perfectionists.
The back of the book included activities for ninjas, and one of them included a food recipe, so I suppose this makes this a culinary mystery, too, although that was certainly not the focus.
A couple other reviewers pointed out that the book wasn't always realistic, and that it had mixed-messages as to what is and what is not appropriate for kids. Both those complaints are valid, but somehow I never expected a book about 12-13 year old ninja detectives being realistic. The breaking and entering thing: Randi did a good job herself of contemplating and understanding the consequences of that one. Randi (a 13 year old girl) asking her dad to let her spend the night with a boy ... uh, obvious no. I would've been more disappointed if he'd said yes, but he only gave weak reasons.
I liked the book. I liked the plot. I think kids and maybe younger teens would enjoy it.
March 17, 2021
Randi Rhodes isn't happy to be moving to the small town of Deer Creek from New York City but she's only 12 and has no choice. Her father is oblivious to her since her mom died. He doesn't know that back home she was Glenn Street who solved crimes too small for the police to consider important. She's been honing her detective skills by reading Detective Weekly Magazine and her father's novels of Glenn Street.
Deer Creek has hit hard times. The town is mostly deserted and businesses that have relied on summer tourists are struggling to stay alive. Hope for recovery is set on the Founders Day Celebration where the President, a former Deer Creek summer resident, is supposed to come and unveil the 200 year old time-capsule contents. The secret service arrives to do the excavating of the time-capsule and the town has turned out to watch. Then craziness happens and Randi is on the hunt as the time-capsule goes missing.
During her search she meets D.C. who becomes her best friend. Together they train their ninja skills form a club and are determined to find the time-capsule thief. Angus McCarthy is the main suspect but their are others who may gain from the time-capsule missing. For the first time Randi doesn't have to work alone. Teaming with D.C. she has a confidant and friend becoming stronger and more sure of herself and her abilities.
They are only a couple of kids ... can they really do more than the sheriff to solve the crime? And can they do it in time before the foreclosure of D.C.'s house and the demise of Deer Creek?
Deer Creek has hit hard times. The town is mostly deserted and businesses that have relied on summer tourists are struggling to stay alive. Hope for recovery is set on the Founders Day Celebration where the President, a former Deer Creek summer resident, is supposed to come and unveil the 200 year old time-capsule contents. The secret service arrives to do the excavating of the time-capsule and the town has turned out to watch. Then craziness happens and Randi is on the hunt as the time-capsule goes missing.
During her search she meets D.C. who becomes her best friend. Together they train their ninja skills form a club and are determined to find the time-capsule thief. Angus McCarthy is the main suspect but their are others who may gain from the time-capsule missing. For the first time Randi doesn't have to work alone. Teaming with D.C. she has a confidant and friend becoming stronger and more sure of herself and her abilities.
They are only a couple of kids ... can they really do more than the sheriff to solve the crime? And can they do it in time before the foreclosure of D.C.'s house and the demise of Deer Creek?
February 6, 2019
Wow, this started and stayed VERY STRONG through the first 3/4ths of the book! I'm actually really in love with this title because it has SUPER hardcore Nancy Drew vibes. I think I described it to a friend as "Nancy Drew done in a more nuanced, authentic way." I really like how smart and capable the kids are, but how - through the writing - they're also shown as children. They make mistakes and KNOW it. I also like that not only do the adults LISTEN to the kids (or if they don't, they have solid, explained reasons), they're not shown as stupid. The adults in this book don't just do things with no reason, and Randi is proved WRONG several times; or if not wrong, then shown not to have context.
And I will say that the only reason I didn't ADORE the last 1/4th of the book has more to do with the serial nature of it, rather than the book itself. I would have loved some different choices for the last bit in terms of emotional growth or "bow on the end of the story", but I had to remember that this is the first in a series. The can needs to be kicked down the road for another book to pick it up. Still, this was absolutely lovely! And if you can, give the audiobook a try. The author narrates and does an absolutely wonderful job.
And I will say that the only reason I didn't ADORE the last 1/4th of the book has more to do with the serial nature of it, rather than the book itself. I would have loved some different choices for the last bit in terms of emotional growth or "bow on the end of the story", but I had to remember that this is the first in a series. The can needs to be kicked down the road for another book to pick it up. Still, this was absolutely lovely! And if you can, give the audiobook a try. The author narrates and does an absolutely wonderful job.
May 13, 2018
Soon after Randi and her Dad moved to the small town of Deer Creek they attended the Founder’s Day Festival which included the unveiling of a 200 years old time capsule. Everything was going well until they discover that someone stole the capsule. Randi who’s been dying of boredom decided to investigate because she loves solving mysteries and bring the culprits to justice.
The story is light-hearted but also full of emotion as you get to know more about Randi’s past and things her new friends and future partner’s in crime were struggling with. I laughed so much and rooted really hard for Randi to find the capsule.
This story made me feel the way I used to feel whenever I read a Famous Five book when I was a kid. I absolutely plan on listening to book 2 and I’m already bummed there aren’t more Randi Rhodes adventures published.
The story is light-hearted but also full of emotion as you get to know more about Randi’s past and things her new friends and future partner’s in crime were struggling with. I laughed so much and rooted really hard for Randi to find the capsule.
This story made me feel the way I used to feel whenever I read a Famous Five book when I was a kid. I absolutely plan on listening to book 2 and I’m already bummed there aren’t more Randi Rhodes adventures published.
September 30, 2023
This one's interesting, like a modern Nancy Drew but instead of being a lawyer, her dad writes the Nancy Drew books (she stole her "vigilante" name from her dad's character).
I like that it has lots of minority and lady representation (well, comparably lots... it's not a huge cast in the first place). Otherwise, it feels a bit cookie-cutter in its approach. Every other "child detective" mystery feels like it follows this same pattern, likely because there's only so much ground a child detective can realistically cover.
Still a decent read, and recommended for fans of Nancy Drew, "detective" books, and/or martial arts!
I like that it has lots of minority and lady representation (well, comparably lots... it's not a huge cast in the first place). Otherwise, it feels a bit cookie-cutter in its approach. Every other "child detective" mystery feels like it follows this same pattern, likely because there's only so much ground a child detective can realistically cover.
Still a decent read, and recommended for fans of Nancy Drew, "detective" books, and/or martial arts!
October 25, 2017
I listen to this as an audiobook and Octavia Spencer did the narration and she did a wonderful job with the different voices and accents. Randi Rhodes has moved permanently to Tennessee with her father, the ex-writer of detective stories. Randi misses being able to solve local mysteries in her old Brooklyn neighborhood, but there is a new mystery to solve as time-capsule has disappeared and the Mayor is giving the Sheriff only a few days to solve the case so Randi and her new friend D.C. form the Ninja Detective Agency to solve the case. Very much a Scooby Doo type mystery with those "meddling kids" solving the mystery. I would recommend it to children who like mysteries and are age 8-12 years old.
June 27, 2017
This book is really good. I'd recommend it for young readers who want to be detectives. The problem is that he can't find the time capsule that has been buried for over 200 years in deer Creek Woods Village. Everyone thinks Argus McCarthy has taken the time Capsule but he didn't he's dad, toot McCarthy, look for the time capsule everyone laughed at him and Argus was was in barest of his dad. But toot found the time capsule it was buried in a cave part of the cave caved in on him and that is why he was never found with the trace of where he went. The mayor of deer Creek Village took the time capsule and Deer
creek villagers made sure the mayor was caught and arrested.
creek villagers made sure the mayor was caught and arrested.
April 17, 2018
Randi Rhodes has just moved to Deer Creek from New York and is not happy about it. Her dad is a mystery writer who hasn't been writing since the death of his wife. Randi likes to solve small mysteries around her neighborhood and has gotten quite the reputation in New York. She is positive nothing like that will happen in Deer Creek.
When they get there Deer Creek is celebrating its 200th Founder's Day with the opening of a time capsule. The president himself is supposed to come to town to open it. But then while the Secret Service are digging up the time capsule, Old Mr. McCarthy lets a skunk loose and the time capsule disappears. Randi decides it is time to investigate with the help of her new friend DC. They uncover much more than a missing time capsule.
This was a fun middle grade mystery. The audiobook is narrated by Octavia Spencer herself and she does a fantastic job. There is a lot going on in Deer Creek besides the time capsule. Spencer manages to weave a pretty complex story about the town's founding, its impending demise and its future development all into a story about ninja detectives! It was a great read.
When they get there Deer Creek is celebrating its 200th Founder's Day with the opening of a time capsule. The president himself is supposed to come to town to open it. But then while the Secret Service are digging up the time capsule, Old Mr. McCarthy lets a skunk loose and the time capsule disappears. Randi decides it is time to investigate with the help of her new friend DC. They uncover much more than a missing time capsule.
This was a fun middle grade mystery. The audiobook is narrated by Octavia Spencer herself and she does a fantastic job. There is a lot going on in Deer Creek besides the time capsule. Spencer manages to weave a pretty complex story about the town's founding, its impending demise and its future development all into a story about ninja detectives! It was a great read.
September 26, 2018
I seem to be on a bit of a mystery kick recently. I enjoyed this story of Randi Rhodes, a young girl that acts single-handedly as a neighborhood watch. She follows in the footsteps of her favorite detective story heroine, who just happens to be written by her father. When her father decides to move from Brooklyn to a small town in Tennessee, Randi is resentful. That is, until the town's 200 year old time capsule disappears before it can be opened. Randi finds herself in a mystery with stakes higher than any other one she has solved. Can she risk taking on a partner or two?
February 17, 2020
Randi Rhodes is only twelve, but her black belt and the detective skills she got from her mystery writer dad make her a cool and competent defender of her Brooklyn neighborhood. Unfortunately, her father is moving them to tiny Deer Creek, TN to die of boredom. As soon as they get there, someone steals the two-hundred-year-old time-capsule that was the centerpiece of the Founders' Day Festival. If the festival fails, the whole town will go into foreclosure. Randi and her new friends are on the case. A cute little mystery. The Ninja Tasks at the end are a fun touch.
January 16, 2018
Although this book had some good talking points and perspectives, it also had kids breaking into a man's home without ever discussing that the action was inappropriate, lying to their parents, and easily defeating nine grown men in hand to hand combat. Most of the book is presented as being realistic about what the kids can accomplish, but these things messed that up. I won't be sharing it with my kids due to the mixed messages.
April 14, 2020
It's always fun to dive into a new series with its fresh voices and unique approach. The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit takes us along with Randi as she moves to small-town Deer Creek with her mystery-writing father. She misses the big city and her secret crime-fighting adventures, but there's a mystery afoot in the town. It isn't long before Deer Creek needs a ninja detective too!
July 27, 2020
A fast-paced mystery involving ninjas, time-capsules and hidden treasure, what could be better?!
NoveList Plus Info:
Genre: African-American Fiction, Mysteries
Storyline: Plot-driven
Tone: Suspenseful
Subjects: Child detectives, martial arts, moving to a new state, single-parent families, small towns, time capsules, treasure troves
NoveList Plus Info:
Genre: African-American Fiction, Mysteries
Storyline: Plot-driven
Tone: Suspenseful
Subjects: Child detectives, martial arts, moving to a new state, single-parent families, small towns, time capsules, treasure troves
November 11, 2017
I think this was really good for a children's book and it's pretty cool that Octavia Spencer wrote it.
May 20, 2018
A fun read that got everyone working together when a time capsule gets stolen in a small town in Tennessee. Emphasized by Octavia's narration with suitable voices and accents for the various characters.
November 5, 2019
Engaging story, strong female lead (tough but gentle hearted), urban-meets-country, widowed father. Randi helps the town by investigating the missing time-capsule and makes friends with two other town "outsiders" along the way.
June 10, 2017
this book is so great and tells you so much about the kids, it tells you that kids are able to fight crime
I finished this book in the library and while little kids thought it was a playground there.
I finished this book in the library and while little kids thought it was a playground there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews