Status
Available
Call number
Publication
A Yearling Book (Random House)
Pages
210
Description
Sammy continues to make life with her grandmother interesting as she tries to discover who is stealing from St. Mary's church, befriends a homeless girl, and plays in a softball tournament against a bitter rival.
Description
She is supposed to be in church to get "out" of trouble...
Sammy is working off some junior high detention time by helping out at St. Mary's, but when Father Mayhew discovers that his ivory cross has been stolen, Sammy becomes the prime suspect. While she's looking for the real culprit, Sammy is amazed to find how much gossip and petty jealousy there is bubbling under the church's serene surface. This is just like junior high!
And school is abubble with intrigue as well. Sammy's in the middle of softball playoffs when her catcher's mitt is stolen. She's sure the hated Heather must have it, but knowing whodunit and getting the mitt back are two different things.
With a cast that includes a trio of singing nuns, a homeless girl in high tops, a former safecracker, and a red-hot shortstop, it's not so easy to tell the saints from the sinners...
Sammy is working off some junior high detention time by helping out at St. Mary's, but when Father Mayhew discovers that his ivory cross has been stolen, Sammy becomes the prime suspect. While she's looking for the real culprit, Sammy is amazed to find how much gossip and petty jealousy there is bubbling under the church's serene surface. This is just like junior high!
And school is abubble with intrigue as well. Sammy's in the middle of softball playoffs when her catcher's mitt is stolen. She's sure the hated Heather must have it, but knowing whodunit and getting the mitt back are two different things.
With a cast that includes a trio of singing nuns, a homeless girl in high tops, a former safecracker, and a red-hot shortstop, it's not so easy to tell the saints from the sinners...
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999
Physical description
210 p.; 7.6 inches
ISBN
0375801839 / 9780375801839
Similar in this library
Lexile
850L
User reviews
LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
This series just keeps getting better! Sammy is working off detention by helping out at a local church, and is on hand to investigate (and be a suspect in) a series of thefts.
I'd hand these books to kids looking for realistic fiction about school, mysteries, families, friendships. Sammy has a great
I'd hand these books to kids looking for realistic fiction about school, mysteries, families, friendships. Sammy has a great
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depth of character, and her growth from book to book is nicely writte. Sure there is the huge coincidence that there is always a mystery for her to investigate, but without that hook, Sammy's stories would be almost just as interesting. Show Less
LibraryThing member desislc
I love Sammy Keyes. She is SO funny! This particular volume is my favorite so far. A series of church robberies, a runaway, two locked safes, a group of singing nuns, and Sammy's first disastrous attempt at driving make this a fun read.
LibraryThing member nmhale
Sammy Keyes is a respected mystery series aimed at an elementary age audience, with a spunky heroine who is tough and confident. Sammy lives with her grandmother in her retirement community, after her mom leaves her there to pursue her showbiz dreams. This is not the first book in the series, so
The adventure this time around begins with Sammy working off her detention in St. Mary's church. She isn't too happy about spending even more time there than her Grams insists on, but at least she does like Father Mayhew. During her mandatory work time, she meets the Sisters of Mercy, a trio of charismatic nuns who are going to put on a theatrical concert as a fundraiser for the church. Things are looking up for church detention time, until Father Mayhew's special ivory cross is stolen, and Father Mayhew accuses Sammy of taking it. She is devastated, and determines to find the real culprit, clear her name, and restore her relationship with Father Mayhew.
In the meantime, she is directed to work in the soup kitchen with Sisters Josephine and Mary Margaret. Sammy is soon to discover that the sisters are none too happy with the Father and his decisions. She also finds the girl her age that she saw at church the day cross disappeared, but this time, she is standing in the food line. Sammy wants to befriend the girl, but is held back by her suspicions that she could be the culprit.
Sammy continues to observe the people around her, finding suspects everywhere she looks. She can't devote her full attention to the mystery, though; her school's softball tournament is just beginning, and since she and her friends were lucky enough to land a spot on the advanced team (very few seventh graders make the cut), she knows she needs to give the games her all.
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the reader doesn't get introductory materials about how Sammy ends up with grandmother, why she has to sneak up and down the fire escape, or how she developed her relationships at her school, both good and bad. However, the story offers a bit of synopsis here and there, enough to clear up any confusion and keep the reader grounded in the story. Since this is the first book in the series I've read, I can attest that I never felt lost because I didn't read the first two books in the series. And because I enjoyed the book and liked the characters, I am interested in going back and reading the books that started it all. The adventure this time around begins with Sammy working off her detention in St. Mary's church. She isn't too happy about spending even more time there than her Grams insists on, but at least she does like Father Mayhew. During her mandatory work time, she meets the Sisters of Mercy, a trio of charismatic nuns who are going to put on a theatrical concert as a fundraiser for the church. Things are looking up for church detention time, until Father Mayhew's special ivory cross is stolen, and Father Mayhew accuses Sammy of taking it. She is devastated, and determines to find the real culprit, clear her name, and restore her relationship with Father Mayhew.
In the meantime, she is directed to work in the soup kitchen with Sisters Josephine and Mary Margaret. Sammy is soon to discover that the sisters are none too happy with the Father and his decisions. She also finds the girl her age that she saw at church the day cross disappeared, but this time, she is standing in the food line. Sammy wants to befriend the girl, but is held back by her suspicions that she could be the culprit.
Sammy continues to observe the people around her, finding suspects everywhere she looks. She can't devote her full attention to the mystery, though; her school's softball tournament is just beginning, and since she and her friends were lucky enough to land a spot on the advanced team (very few seventh graders make the cut), she knows she needs to give the games her all.
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LibraryThing member lkmuir
Sammy continues to make life with her grandmother interesting as she tries to discover who is stealing from St. Mary's church, befriends a homeless girl, and plays in a softball tournament against a bitter rival.
LibraryThing member ChazziFrazz
Energetic and curious Sammy Keyes is working off her detention by helping at St. Mary's. Painting walls, working in the soup kitchen, helping the Sisters of Mercy get ready for their three day concert and trying to find out who stole Father Mayhew's ivory cross. A very busy girl!
Father Mayhew is
Meanwhile the three Sisters of Mercy have arrived to put on a series of fund raising concerts for the church. They also stir up gossip and petty jealousies among the church folk.
On top of this Sammy's ball team is in the middle of playoffs against the number one team at school.
Can Sammy finish her detention? Can she solve the mystery of the missing items? Will the concerts go off without a hitch?
You will have to read the book to find out!
This is an enjoyable series with a cast of good characters.
Father Mayhew is
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crushed about his missing cross and becomes even more so when two gold chalices go missing. There has never been a theft at St. Mary's. The list of suspects keeps changing to further confuse the issue. Is it on of the Sisters? Is it Brother Phil? Meanwhile the three Sisters of Mercy have arrived to put on a series of fund raising concerts for the church. They also stir up gossip and petty jealousies among the church folk.
On top of this Sammy's ball team is in the middle of playoffs against the number one team at school.
Can Sammy finish her detention? Can she solve the mystery of the missing items? Will the concerts go off without a hitch?
You will have to read the book to find out!
This is an enjoyable series with a cast of good characters.
Show Less
Awards
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee — 2002)
Call number
J4B.Van