The Case of the Elevator Duck

by Polly Berrien Berends

Eleven-year-old Gilbert, self-styled private eye, takes on his toughest case when he finds a duck in the elevator of his housing project. In this easy-to-read mystery, "the solution is credible, the plot is fresh, the style casual and natural."-- Bulletin, Center for Children's Books.  

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Childrens

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encyclopedia Brown for a diverse readership in a world that isn't perfect, but everyone's okay.

Gilbert is an aspiring young detective who lives in a housing project. He and his mom were on the waitlist for years, and they're happy now, because their housing is affordable, and the project is fine. Gilbert likes it, despite an Absolutely No Pets! policy and frequent inspections by the authorities. Gilbert is doing his usual detective work, observing the people in his building in case they get up to any crimes or mysteries, by riding the elevator up and down during morning rush hour. The elevator is jam-packed with people leaving for work going down, but Gilbert is the only one to get in the elevator going up... until a duck gets on with him.

Who is this duck? Whose duck is this? Gilbert decides to solve the mystery of the elevator duck while he is waiting for a robbery or jewel theft to happen, because these are things that usually happen to private detectives. He brings the duck up to his apartment, where his mom gives him three days, because a pet might jeopardize their housing. Gilbert must find the owner of this duck. But what if they don't want to be found? Or if someone else doesn't want to him to find them? What if Gilbert uses a duck feather as a signal? And initiates a game of Cowboys and Indians? And this game is problematic in a way that it wasn't in 1974?

Super clever book, amazing illustrations, perfect ending for everybody, very 1970s, best 49¢ I ever spent.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so I read this because we found it being discarded @ my library and I am associated with ducks for reasons I shan't go into here. Additionally, I did not read this edition pictured, but a sweet Weekly Reader hardback published in 1973, the year before I was born. I was granted a good feeling over my lunch hour by the story of Gilbert, who is an amateur 11-year-old detective who lives in the projects and who discovers a duck on the elevator one day. That's all I'm saying.

[Antonio Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read in elementary school on my own and the character looked like me.
I checked it out from the school library and it meant so much when I finished it.

[Amber Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute little mystery!

I think this was a cute story.
Is the duck stolen, lost, or something else? Why would it be on an elevator in the projects? The young boy practicing to be a detective must find out!

[Ariana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was reviewing this book for literature circles and surprised to find it on the library shelves. It is an older book and one of the few I have seen with a child living in the projects. It definitely reads 1973, and the children in the book play "Cowboys and Indians" complete with the sounds of gunfire and whooping. Gilbert spends half the book wearing a belt around his head with a feather stuck in it. There is some examination of life in the projects and regulations of the residents there, but there are definitely better books for children now that uplift BIPOC protagonists without disparaging other BIPOC communities.

[Priscilla Gilman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet one.

[Satuma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEVER READ THE BOOK WEIRDOS. THAT'S WHY I WANNA READ IT. HOW DO I RATE IT IF I NEVER READ IT CRAZY HEADS

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting and heartfelt story about a young boy who tries to help a duck he finds wandering in the elevator of his housing projects building. He brings the duck home for a few days to figure out who owns it. But the projects rules strictly state that no pets are allowed and, if discovered, he and his mother could be forced to move out. It's a dramatic story with a happy ending and we enjoyed reading it together.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its about a duck and his adventures.M.A.

[Izhir]

I loved it.like when I Gilbert was trying to find the duck named easter owner and he had a hard time.

[Hillvan]

700L