Plot summary: Sammy Keyes' homeroom teacher at William Rose Junior High School, Mrs. Ambler, has just received two beautiful lovebirds as an anniversary present that she lovingly named Tango and Hula. The next day Sammy gets to school early and decides to drop off her backpack and skateboard in homeroom. She notices one of the birds is out of its cage and races to shut the classroom door. As she shuts the door hard because it is hydraulic and really needs a shove to close, she looks up and sees Tango crushed in the doorjamb! Butt-kisser Heather Acosta is heading towards homeroom, so Sammy grabs poor Tango and rushes into the classroom closet and hides. Through a crack in the door she can see Heather take a stack of blue ballots for the coming Class Personality elections in which Heather is listed as a nominee for Friendliest 7th Grader and Most Unique Style, and stuffs them in her backpack. When Mrs. Ambler comes in and sees one of her birds is missing, she accuses Heather of taking him after another student points out that Heather was seen coming and going from the classroom.
When Sammy gets to Mrs. Willawago's house after school to walk Captain Patch while Mrs. Willawago heals from foot surgery, she discovers the old lady upset and talking to another woman. This woman in a blue skirt, who Sammy coins "Blue Butt", turns out to be on the city council and is informing Mrs. Willawago that she is going to lose her house because there are plans to build a recreation center in its place. Actually, all the houses on Hopper Street are going. When Sammy takes Captain Patch for his walk she sees Blue Butt's car conspicuously parked by someone's house, so she goes investigating. She overhears Blue Butt's conversation with Leland Hawking, who she later finds out is a lawyer who is supposedly against the project. Sammy thinks they are in cahoots and is going to get to the bottom of it while also dealing with her guilt and the lies she's had to tell about Mrs. Ambler's bird. There is also Casey, a boy that asked her to the Farewell Dance who happens to be Heather's brother!
Genre: Mystery
Suggested age range: 9 to 12
Subjects/themes: Death, Abuse, Teen romance, Friendship, Secrets.
Reviews:
- Booklist (September 1, 2005)
- School Library Journal (November 1, 2005)
- Sammy Keyes - Lives with her Grams illegally in a retirement community while her mother is in Hollywood, accidentally killed her teacher's lovebird, might be "going out" with Casey, really dislikes Heather.
- Mrs. Willawago - Recovering from surgery, religious, may lose her house which Sammy call "The Train House" because it has an old caboose and parlor car attached to it.
- Grams - Sammy's grandmother, worries about Sammy because she's starting to act peculiar around her and her friends.
- Blue Butt AKA Coralee Lyon - Mrs. Willawago's arch enemy from way back, city council woman, may be in cahoots with Leland Hawking.
- Leland Hawking - Lawyer, lives on Hopper Street, kind of disheveled looking, may not have good intentions.
- Mr. & Mrs. Stone- Live next door to Mrs. Willawago, Mr. Stone keeps to himself, Mrs. Stone denies he beats her but Mrs. Willawago knows better.
- Heather Acosta - Wants to win Friendliest 7th Grader and Most Unique Style, has been a thorn in Sammy's side all year.
- Marissa McKenze - Sammy's best friend, wants Sammy to go out with Casey, notices there is something going on with Sammy.
- Casey Acosta - Likes Sammy, wants to go to the Farewell Dance with her and thinks 8th grade girls are stuck up.
- Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief
- Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man
- Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf
- Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy
- Sammy Keyes and the Search for Snake Eyes
- Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception
- Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen
- Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Moustache Mary
- Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy
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